[Joseph] Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, in 1905 [1805], coming to New York State at an early age.

His father was a fortune-teller, and had a poor reputation among the townsmen. Joe was an ungainly looking lad, clothing poor, with associates of the lower class. He had for a library a copy of the “Arabian Nights,” stories of Captain Kidd, and a few novels.

Though of a coarse wit and of some influence, he gave no promise in his youth of the power exercised in his later years.

The attention of the people was first called to him by the claims made that Joe could find anything lost or hidden. Once in a while he would succeed in telling where a thing was to be found, and, forgetting his many failures, the one success was loudly proclaimed.

This prepared the public to believe him when he claimed to know where Captain Kidd had hidden money in Palmyra. A company was organized to dig in a certain hill specified by “Joe.” This company was solemnly told that a spell was upon the treasure.

No one could find it unless digging in the night. When they came near the devil would frighten them away. They must never mind him but dig on, or he would drag the treasure down deeper.

The men worked hard and long but saw no signs of gold, when Mr. Ellsworth, growing convinced of his folly, determined to play a joke upon his comrades. Going to the hill before the others, he scattered a train of powder around. About midnight, when the men were thinking of the signs that might come any moment, Ellsworth dropped his pipe on the powder. As it flashed, he shouted: “The Devil is coming! The Devil is coming!” when one and all ran for dear life. Thus ended the work by Company No. 1.