Jonathan A. Hadley was the seventh of eleven children born to Jacob Hadley and Mary Cunningham. He was born on May 9, 1809 in Goffstown, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Goffstown, known for textile mills and a cotton factory, was home to the Hadley family for generations. There, they worshiped with fellow Congregationalists, a religious tradition continued by Jonathan.
In 1816, the Hadley family moved from New Hampshire to the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. They settled in Riga on the western border of Monroe County. In Riga, Jacob Hadley took up farming. For the next three years, Jonathan helped his father establish a reputable farming enterprise.
A Newspaper Apprentice in Rochester
At age twelve, Jonathan left his family in Riga and moved to nearby Rochester where he was trained to be a printer’s apprentice by E. Peck of the Rochester Telegraph. In the summer of 1825, E. Peck approached Thurlow Weed about buying his newspaper and said, “It was time I was doing something better than working as a journeyman, and offered to sell me the “Telegraph” establishment. . . . In September I became the proprietor.”[1]
Thurlow Weed used the Rochester Telegraph to express his political support for DeWitt Clinton, a candidate for governor of New York, and the election of John Quincy Adams for US President. Thurlow’s strong views on politics led him to enter the political arena himself as a state legislator. As Thurlow turned his attention to politics, young Jonathan was left to the supervision of Benjamin Franklin Cowdery, the print foreman. Pomeroy Tucker, another suspect, was also an apprentice under Benjamin’s supervision. The relationship between Benjamin Franklin Cowdery and Oliver Cowdery is unknown.
As Thurlow Weed immersed himself in politics and the Anti-Masonic Party, the financial benefits of being the sole owner and proprietor of the Rochester Telegraph lessened. Thurlow sold half ownership of the Rochester Telegraph to Robert Martin, a friend and former journeyman. Between the two owners, sixteen year old Jonathan maintained closer loyalty and friendship with Thurlow. They continued corresponding for over thirty years. As for Pomeroy Tucker, he also maintained a relationship with Thurlow. Thurlow gave a written endorsement of Pomeroy’s anti-Mormon book.
In 1827, Jonathan advanced from apprentice to employee at the Rochester Telegraph. All was well until William Morgan was abducted for disclosing Masonic rituals. Thurlow Weed and Robert Martin took opposing sides on the abduction. Unable to resolve their differences, Thurlow ended their partnership. With his mentor gone, Jonathan’s loyalty to the Rochester Telegraph waned.
At age nineteen, Jonathan accepted employment with D. D. Stephenson of Palmyra to print the Palmyra Freeman, a weekly anti-masonic newspaper. With the Palmyra Freeman being published in Palmyra, there were now two newspapers in town—the Palmyra Freeman, an anti-masonic paper, and the Wayne Sentinel, a masonic paper printed by E. B. Grandin. There was healthy competition between the two young men, but E. B. Grandin had more solicitors and more support.
Editor of the Palmyra Freeman
Jonathan was barely twenty years old in the summer of 1829 when he became the sole editor and owner of the Palmyra Freeman. Although it sounds young to take on such responsibilities, Jonathan was only three years younger than E. B. Grandin.
According to Jonathan, Martin Harris visited him in 1829 when searching for a publisher for the Book of Mormon. By his own admission, this puts Jonathan in the same category as Elihu Marshall, Thurlow Weed, and E. B. Grandin as being approached and asked to print the Book of Mormon. Jonathan was not in a position to consider printing a book at that time. He wrote of Martin’s visit,
Soon after the translating was completed, I was one day waited up by Harris, and offered the printing of the Book of Mormon. This was in the summer of 1829, at which time I was carrying on the printing business at Palmyra. Harris owned a good farm in that town, and offered to mortgage it to secure the expense of printing. Though he was a subscriber to my paper, and had frequently “labored” to convert me to the Mormon faith, I was so skeptical as to utterly refuse to have any “part or lot” in the imposition, telling him at the same time, that if he proceeded with the publication, I should feel it my duty, as the conductor of a faithful public journal, to expose him and the whole Mormon gang. He took the work, however, to the other office [E. B. Grandin] in the village, and it was soon put to press.”[2]
Jonathan also wrote and printed the first article to ever appear in a newspaper “exposing the impudence and absurdity of Joseph Smith’s pretensions to be a prophet.” He gave the earliest surviving description of the gold plates and “spectacles” and printed the earliest account of the translation process and the visit of Martin Harris to Dr. Samuel Mitchell. Jonathan Hadley’s article was printed in the Palmyra Freeman on August 11, 1829. In mid-August 1829, Hyrum Smith carried the first twenty-four pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript to E. B. Grandin for printing.
Most of the information in Jonathan’s article came from his visit with Martin Harris. The text below is a reprint of the article published in the Niagara Courier on August 27, 1829. The article published in the Palmyra Freeman no longer exists. [3]
“GOLDEN BIBLE.” The greatest piece of superstition that has ever come within the sphere of our knowledge, is one which has for some time past, and still occupies the attention of a few superstitious and bigoted individuals of this quarter. It is generally known and spoken of as the “Golden Bible.”— Its proselytes give the following account of it:
In the fall of 1827, a person by the name of Joseph Smith, of Manchester, Ontario county, reported he had been visited in a dream by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was deposited this Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of divine nature and origin. After having been thrice thus visited, as he states, he proceeded to the spot, and after having penetrating “mother earth” a short distance, the Bible was found, together with a huge pair of Spectacles! He had been directed, however, not to let any mortal being examine them, “under no less penalty” than instant death!
They were therefore nicely wrapped up, and excluded from the “vulgar gaze of poor wicked mortals!” It was said that the leaves of the Bible were plates of gold, about eight inches long, six wide, and one eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphics. By placing the Spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, Smith could (he said so, at least,) interpret these characters. An account of this discovery was soon circulated. The subject was almost invariably treated as it should have been—with contempt.
A few, however, believed the “golden” story, among whom was Martin Harris, an honest and industrious farmer of this town. So blindly enthusiastic was Harris, that he took some of the characters interpreted by Smith, and went in search of some one, besides the interpreter, who was learned enough to English them; but all to whom he applied (among the number was Professor Mitchell, of New York,) happened not to be possessed of sufficient knowledge to give satisfaction!
Harris returned, and set Smith to work at interpreting the Bible. He has at length performed the task, and the work is soon to be put to press in this village!! Its language and doctrines are said to be far superior to those of the Book of Life!!!
Now it appears not a little strange that there should have been deposited in this western world, and in the secluded town of Manchester, too, a record of this description: and still more so, that a person like this Smith (very illiterate) should have been gifted by inspiration to read and interpret it.
It should be recorded as a “new thing under the sun.” It is certainly a “new thing” in the history of superstition, bigotry, inconsistency, and foolishness! It should, and it doubtless will, be treated with the neglect it merits. The public should not be imposed upon by this work, pronounced as it is, by its proselytes, to be superior in style, and more advantageous to mankind, than the Holy Bible!
Jonathan then quotes the title page verbatim, including “JOSEPH SMITH, Junior, Author and Proprietor.”[4] The article does not contain any information about the 116 page manuscript. Jonathan jumps from gold plates to translating the work to it being published.
Who was influenced by Jonathan Hadley to become bitter toward the Book of Mormon? In 1829, Cornelius Blatchley, a radical Quaker advocate, supporter of the Anti-Masonic movement, and a devout believer in the divinity of Christ but the follower of no man, woman, party or church, became interested in the Book of Mormon. Why? Jonathan Hadley sent him pages of the Book of Mormon. Where are those pages? Cornelius knew about the weight of the plates. He mocked phrases such as, “and it came to pass” and “yea.”[5] E. D. Howe of Painesville, Ohio became interested in Mormonism after reading Jonathan’s article and re-printed the article in his newspaper, the Painesville Telegraph.
Newspaper editor in Lyons, Penn Yan, and Warsaw, New York
By 1830 there were three newspapers being published in Palmyra—the Wayne Sentinel (E. B. Grandin owner and proprietor), the Palmyra Reflector (Abner Cole owner and proprietor), and the Palmyra Freeman (Jonathan Hadley owner and proprietor). The newspaper with the least subscribers was the Palmyra Freeman. In 1830, Jonathan stopped publishing his newspaper and took his press to Lyons, New York, about fifteen miles from Palmyra.
In Lyons, Jonathan made the acquaintance of Myron Holly, the editor of the Lyons Republican. Jonathan and Myron became partners in the Lyons Countryman. In 1831, the name of the newspaper was changed to the Lyons American. It was published until 1835, when it was then sold to William H. Child. In 1831, Jonathan was also the editor of the Enquirer published in Penn Yan, New York, approximately thirty miles from Lyons. Finding it difficult to write for two newspapers, Jonathan Hadley ended his editorship in Penn Yan on September 5, 1832.
In 1836, Jonathan moved to Warsaw, New York, eighty-five miles from Lyons. In Warsaw, he published the American Citizen, the first issue appearing on June 22, 1836 and the last under his ownership on June 14, 1837. In his valedictory address, Jonathan informed readers that he was retiring from the newspaper business and intended to become a “Missionary Printer” in Asia for the American Board. Sickness frustrated his noble purpose and Jonathan eventually abandoned the idea.
Jonathan returned to Rochester
In 1837, Jonathan returned to his family in the greater Rochester area. He became the foreman of the Daily Democrat published by Shepherd and Strong in Rochester.[6] After three years in Rochester, Jonathan met and courted Laura Janes, seven years his junior. On January 13, 1840, at age thirty, Jonathan was married to Laura Janes in the city of Greece (located on the eastern border of Rochester) by Reverend George Beecher.[7] To their union were born six children, four living to adulthood.
Letter of September 14, 1842
Jonathan had plenty of opportunities to write about Joseph Smith and Mormonism as a newspaper man from 1829 to 1841, but did not. It was not until September 14, 1842 that Jonathan wrote a letter on the “Origin of Mormonism” at the request of the Wayne County Whig. The letter repeats much of his 1829 article, adding Jonathan’s version of Joseph Smith’s interviews with angel Moroni, his certainty that Solomon Spaulding was the author of the Book of Mormon, and treasure hunting in Palmyra. Curiously missing is any reference to the lost pages. Rather than include all of the lengthy letter, only the part not printed in the Jonathan Hadley 1829 article is included below—
July 14, 1842 Rochester, N.Y., July 14, 1842.
Dear Brother: —Yours of the 10th inst., making inquiries about Jo Smith and the origin of Mormonism, I proceed to answer without delay.
I went to Palmyra, the residence of the Smiths and of the early dupes of Jo, in the Spring of 1828, a year or two after the pretended finding of the plates from which the book of Mormon was translated. The story of the manner in which it is said the plates were found, I have often heard from Martin Harris, (the only honest man, if there was one, among the original Mormons,) which is briefly as follows:
Jo was one night visited by an angel, and told that in a certain hill in Manchester, a town adjoining Palmyra, was deposited a record of God’s ancient people, which he was commanded to disinter and cause to be translated, for the benefit of the present and future generations. In the morning, as Jo afterwards said, he supposed this “vision,” as he used to call it, to be no more than “the baseless fabric of a dream,” and paid no attention to it. Soon afterward he was visited again, and told that through his agency, the Lord purposed to do wonderful things for fallen man; the locale of the record was distinctly brought before his mind’s eye, and he was still more strongly urged to execute the command previously made.
On awakening from his slumbers, Jo said the hair of his head stood on end, like the quills of “the fretful porcupine;” that he hardly knew what to think of his holy visitor; but still he hesitated, thinking, after all, that the matter must have been only the creature of a disordered imagination. A third time was Jo visited, and threatened with the most direful calamities in this world, and eternal damnation in the next, if he did not immediately enter upon the glorious task to which he had been appointed. As there appeared to be no longer any room for doubt in the mind of Jo, the next night he took a lantern and proceeded to the spot indicated and applying a crow-bar to the end of a flat stone which projected an inch or two from the surface of a small mound, the plates were revealed to his anxious eyes!
They had been deposited in a miniature vault, and rested on a flat stone, and were preserved from contact with the earth above, by the first-mentioned stone being placed upon four small stone pillars, one at each corner of the vault.
Jonathan goes on to describe the plates and his visit with Martin Harris and Martin’s visit with Dr. Samuel Mitchell before making conclusions about the Spaulding manuscript:
An old manuscript historical novel, the property of a deceased clergyman in Pennsylvania [suggesting the Solomon Spaulding manuscript], had previously fallen into Jo’s possession, by means best known to himself—the novel having been written during the college days of the deceased, and preserved in the family as a relic . . . If I recollect right, it was about a year after Jo obtained possession of this volume, (he having spent a few months in the neighborhood of the widow,) that the Mormon plates were alleged to have been found. It is believed that the locality of its scenes, and the historical nature of its contents, first suggested to him the origin of this miserable humbug. Hence, the coined story of the angel’s visits, the finding of the plates, their wonderful contents, &c. The “translator,” whether Cowdery or some other person, dressed up this old manuscript, merely adding to it whatever the Book of Mormon can be said to contain of a religious cast, and adapting its general phraseology as far as possible to that of the bible; but preserving the general original narrative as nearly, as to enable everyone who read the manuscript, readily to detect the plagiarism on a perusal of the Book of Mormon. Affidavits to this effect are already before the public. . . . The appearance of their Bible, (which by the way, cost Harris his farm,) seemed to inspire them with fresh hopes, and in the course of a few months they were able to muster for their Western tour, some hundred and fifty or two hundred souls, including women and children. . . . But you wish to know something about the earlier history of the Smiths. They were always considered by their own townsmen as a lazy, vicious, profane, unlearned, superstitious family. They lived “from hand to mouth,” spending most of the time not required for the provision of their immediate wants, in digging in the hills of Manchester for money, under the belief often expressed by them, that Capt. Kidd or some other person of wealth, had there deposited their treasures. For many, many years to come, traces of these excavations will be visible monuments alike of the superstition and folly of the Smith family. . . . Thus have I complied with your request, though with great hast; but imperfect as this sketch is, I doubt not that you have not always thought so, you will now concur with me in the opinion, that, to say the least, Mormonism was “conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity. Ever yours. J. A. H.[8]
Jonathan in Watertown, Wisconsin
In the summer of 1846, Jonathan visited Watertown, Wisconsin, thirty-four miles from the residency of Flanders Dyke.[9] After his visit, he corresponded with leading men in Wisconsin, expressing interest in establishing a weekly newspaper in Watertown. Receiving confirmation that a newspaper in Watertown was warranted, Jonathan packed up his Ramage press, type purchased in Lyons, and moved to Wisconsin in May 1846. His wife and children arrived a few days later and thought him crazed, suggesting “the family return to Rochester forthwith.”[10]
Ignoring the suggestion, Jonathan set up his print shop. On June 23, 1846, the first issue of the Watertown Chronicle came off the press. Jonathan ran his newspaper from 1847 to September 7, 1853. Under his energetic management, the Chronicle became one of the leading journals in the state.
As the paper grew in prominence, so did the reputation of Jonathan Hadley. His subscribers suggested he would make a good political candidate. On October 12, 1848, Jonathan was nominated by the Whigs of Jefferson County to be the county clerk.[11] Even though ill-health threatened his chance of election, Jonathan was elected to the office. He regarded his election as a “high compliment” and referred to himself as the “True Whig of the Western New York School.”[12] Soon thereafter, Jonathan was initiated into the Watertown Masonic Lodge—contrary to his early anti-Masonic sentiments in Rochester and Palmyra. He later served the county as a police justice.[13]
In 1853, Jonathan suffered from a throat and lung infection. Believing his health may not return, he disposed of the Watertown Chronicle.[14] His newspaper and press was sold for $1,500 to Mr. Miner and Mr. Skinner.[15]
On January 3, 1856, Jonathan wrote to the Honorable William H. Seward in support of his candidacy for US President: “I can’t image who our candidates will be next fall, but if William H. Seward shall happen to be the man, I should not hesitate in warranting him the vote . . . I think I know whereof I speak. Ever thine, J. A. Hadley.”[16] About eight months later, while visiting family in Rochester, Jonathan contracted a severe infection of the lungs and throat and was placed for a week under the care of a Dr. Sanborne. When he returned to Wisconsin, he was in better spirits than when he left.[17]
On August 25, 1856, Jonathan was nominated the Whig candidate for secretary of state of Wisconin. He was defeated in the election, as were all Whig candidates.[18] However, he did win a later election and became a state senator representing the district of Watertown.[19]
On March 16, 1857, Jonathan wrote a short letter to his mentor Thurlow Weed:
Thurlow Weed Esq., I will be in Albany early next month and call on you, or in case I am not you may expect to hear from me and all will be right as talked in Washington. I wanted to see you before you left, but had not the opportunity and you started before I was aware of it. In haste and awe, your friend, J. A. Hadley.”[20]
For the next four years, Jonathan was restless. From 1857 to 1858, he was an insurance agent for the Phoenix Insurance Company.[21] In 1858, he once again ran as a Whig candidate for secretary of state. He lost the election. His insatiable desire to be a part of the political scene in Wisconsin led him to move to the capital. In 1861, Jonathan was appointed (not elected) the Senate Sergeant at Arms. In 1862, he was appointed printing clerk to the secretary of state. Five years later, Jonathan was elected assessor of the first Revenue District of Jefferson, Wisconsin.[22]
Death of Jonathan Hadley
On September 24, 1868, Jonathan died of consumption at his residence in the first ward of Watertown at age fifty-nine. His funeral was held in the Watertown Congregational Church on September 26, 1868 with Reverend Charles Boynton delivering the sermon. Jonathan was buried with masonic rights in Block 10 of the Oak Hill Cemetery in Watertown.[23] An obituary eulogizing his life appeared in the Chippewa Falls Union and Times on July 9, 1869.
Following Jonathan’s death, his widow Laura Hadley moved to San Francisco to live with her daughter, Mary, and Mary’s husband, A. R. Wells. Laura lived in prosperous circumstances in San Francisco, as the Wells had amassed a fortune in real estate. She resided in San Francisco from 1869 until her death on March 27, 1884.
Children of Jonathan and Laura Hadley
1. Susan E. Hadley (January 9, 1841–December 10, 1868).
2. Mary E. Hadley (February 5, 1843–July 30, 1883). She was born in New York. She married Asa Reynolds Wells (1829–1904) on August 9, 1864 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Mary and her husband resided in San Francisco. Asa made his money in the shipping industry in San Francisco. He had financial reverses, but eventually amassed a fortune in real estate. He was a Republican and the auditor of San Francisco. In his Last Will and Testament, Asa left $100 a month to his widow provided she didn’t remarry. Mary never remarried. She died in San Francisco.
3. Henry C. Hadley (April 17, 1844–February 15, 1891). He married Sarah Mary Parker on February 14, 1875. Henry became a lieutenant and an adjutant in the Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War.
4. Laura Hadley (July 20, 1846–February 8, 1849).
5. Charles W. Hadley (November 1, 1850–July 9, 1918). He was a skilled tradesman and machinist. He was employed by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco. He married Helen in 1880. Charles committed suicide by shooting a bullet into his heart at age 66 in the Olympia Hotel on Twentieth Street in San Francisco. He left a note asking that his money be used to purchase a headstone.
6. Estella Hadley (December 15, 1853–February 10, 1857).
[1] Thurlow Weed Autobiography, p. 207.
[2] Palmyra Freeman, August 11, 1829.
[3] See the Painesville Telegraph, September 22, 1829, for an abridged version of Hadley’s article.
[4] First printed in Palmyra Freeman (Palmyra, New York) New Series, Vol. 1, no. 38 (August 11, 1829), p. 2, Digital copy from the Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, NY; reprinted in the Niagara Courier (Lockport, NY), August 27, 1829. Also printed in the Rochester Daily Advertiser and Telegraph (Rochester, NY), August 31, 1829 and New York Telescope (New York City), February 20, 1830. The title page had previously been published in the Wayne Sentinel (Palmyra, New York), June 26, 1829; “Letter to Oliver Cowdery, October 22, 1829,” Joseph Smith Papers.
[5] MacKay and Dirkmatt, From Darkness unto Light, pp. 202, 205.
[6] “Death of a Former Well Known Citizen,” Union and Advertiser, July 24, 1869.
[7] “Marriages,” Rochester Daily Advertiser, January 25, 1840.
[8] “Origin of Mormonism,” Wayne County Whig [Lyons, NY], September 14, 1842.
[9] “Death of Hon. J. A. Hadley,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 23, 1868; “Death of J. A. Hadley,” Democrat, October 1, 1868; “Death of a Former Well Known Citizen,” Union and Advertiser, July 24, 1869.
[10] “Death of Hon. J. A. Hadley,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 23, 1868; “Death of J. A. Hadley,” Democrat, October 1, 1868; “Death of a Former Well Known Citizen,” Union and Advertiser, July 24, 1869.
[11] “Another Editor in Office,” Rochester Daily Democrat, November 25, 1848.
[12] J. A. Hadley, New York Newspaper Index.
[13] “Letter from J. A. Hadley” Watertown Democrat, June 27, 1860.
[14] “Homeopathic Medical College of PA,” Rochester Daily Democrat, August 6, 1852; “An Old Rochesterian Returned,” Rochester Daily Union, August 25, 1856.
[15] “Letter from J. A. Hadley,” Watertown Democrat, June 27, 1860.
[16] Letter of Jonathan Hadley to William H. Seward, dated January 3, 1856, in William H. Seward Collection at the University of Rochester.
[17] “Restored to Health,” Rochester Daily Union, October 18, 1856.
[18] “An Old Rochesterian Returned,” Rochester Daily Union, August 25, 1856.
[19] “Rochesterians in the Wisconsin Legislature,” Rochester Daily Union, November 18, 1855.
[20] Jonathan Hadley to Thurlow Weed, March 16, 1857, in Thurlow Weed Collection at the University of Rochester.
[21] “Letter from J.A. Hadley” Watertown Democrat, June 27, 1860.
[22] “Jonathan A. Hadley; Pioneer Editor of Watertown” Watertown Democrat,” September 1868.
[23] “Death of J. A. Hadley,” Watertown Democrat, October 1, 1868.