Orsamus Turner had a familial tie with suspect Pliny Sexton, a banker in Palmyra. The sister of Orsamus married Pliny Sexton.
At age seventeen, Orsamus became an apprentice printer of the Palmyra Register. Also working as an apprentice at the Palmyra Register office was Pomeroy Tucker, who later wrote the anti-Mormon book Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism: Biography of the Founders and History of the Church. During his apprenticeship, Orsamus was assigned to accompany a blind newspaper carrier in 1818 and 1819. This put him out of the office on Main Street and into neighborhoods in Palmyra.
In 1821, Orsamus moved to Canandaigua where he secured a second apprenticeship at the Ontario County Repository. By late summer 1822, twenty-one-year-old Orsamus had moved to a home on Chestnut Ridge Road east of Lockport, New York, about a hundred miles west of Palmyra. In Lockport, he acquired his own newspaper—the Lockport Observatory. His printing office was in a frame building on the site now occupied by the Exchange Bank.
The Lockport Observatory was published for five years (1822 to 1827) before Orsamus agreed to partner with the Niagara Sentinel. The title of the combined newspaper was the Democrat and Sentinel.[1]
During his years in Lockport, Orsamus became a member of the Masonic Lockport Lodge #73. He served the Lockport community as an inspector of common schools.[2] He visited “Mr. Carpenter’s Institution for the cure of impediments of speech,” which suggests he had a speech problem.[3]
We could assume from the above that Orsamus left Palmyra in 1821 and never returned and therefore, should be dropped as a suspect, but here is where our story begins.
Orsamus writes of the Smith Family and of Oliver Cowdery
In the winter of 1819, Orsamus recalled seeing the Smith family “in a rude log house, with but a small spot of underbrush around it.” He specifically recalled being an associate of Joseph Smith Jr., four years his junior. He wrote of inking Joseph’s face with ink balls at the Palmyra Register office—
[Joseph Smith Jr.] was lounging, idle, (not to say vicious,) and possessed of less than ordinary intellect. . . . He used to come into the village of Palmyra, with little jags of wood, from his back-woods home; sometimes patronizing a village grocery too freely; sometimes finding an odd job to do about the store of Seymour Scovell; and once a week he would stroll into the office of the old Palmyra Register for his father’s paper. How impious, in us young “dare Devils” to once and a while blacken the face of the then meddling inquisitive lounger—but afterwards Prophet, with the old fashioned balls, when he used to put himself in the way of the working of the old fashioned Ramage press!
Orsamus claimed to be in a debating club with young Joseph Smith in Palmyra. He also claimed to be included “in the Smith fireside consultations.” What are the chances? Why would the Smiths include a bully in their family circle who inked their son’s face?
Orsamus also claimed to accompany the Smiths on a treasure digging expedition to “Mormon Hill”—
They pretended that in digging for money, at Mormon Hill, they came across a chest, three by two feet in size, covered with a dark colored stone. In the centre of the stone was a white spot about the size of a sixpence. Enlarging, the spot increased to the size of a twenty-four pound shot and then exploded with a terrible noise. The chest vanished and all was utter darkness.[4]
How could he have gone on a treasure digging expedition to Mormon Hill when he left Palmyra in 1821 and was living in Canandaigua?
On April 30, 1830, in a short article written by Orsamus for the Rochester Republican, he “alluded to published extracts from, the book but not yet published by the Prophet Joseph Smith.” Now this catches our attention. The Book of Mormon was being sold at Grandin’s bookstore on March 26, 1830, a month before his statement. What are the “extracts . . . not yet published by the Prophet Joseph Smith?”
On May 31, 1831 in the Lockport Observatory, Orsamus claimed to know Oliver Cowdery personally as “an itinerant pamphlet peddler and occasionally a journeyman printer.” Orsamus credits Oliver Cowdery as the first authorized translator of the Book of Mormon, with magic “spectacles” provided for his sole use in the work.[5]
His information on the Smiths and Oliver Cowdery is not on solid footing.
In 1827 Orsamus is accused of kidnapping William Morgan
On October 23, 1827, Orsamus transferred interest in the Lockport Observatory to N. D. Lathrop and C. P. Turner. In other words, he quit the newspaper business. Why? Answer—he was arrested and accused of kidnapping William Morgan (1774-1826).
Background of the kidnapping and murder of William Morgan. Morgan, a mason, announced that he was going to publish an exposé titled Illustrations of Masonry, critical of Freemasons and revealing their secret ceremonies. Morgan further declared that newspaper publisher, David Cade Miller, had given him a sizable advance for his upcoming book.
Masons in Batavia, New York published an advertisement denouncing Morgan for breaking his word by authoring a book on masonic secrets. The masons of Batavia demanded Morgan’s silence. He refused. On September 11, 1826, Morgan was arrested for supposed nonpayment of a loan and allegedly stealing a shirt and tie. He was held in a debtors’ prison in Canandaigua. When publisher David Miller learned of this, he paid the debt and secured his release. Morgan was re-arrested and charged with failing to pay a two dollar tavern bill.
The next evening, a coach drew up to the debtors’ prison. A man got out and entered the jailhouse. After some discussion with the jailer’s wife, he paid Morgan’s debt. Morgan was released. Outside the jailhouse, he was coopted into a coach by a handful of men and driven 125 miles to Fort Niagara near the Canadian border. There. it is presumed that William Morgan was drowned near the banks of the Niagara.
[An aside—the widow of William Morgan, Lucinda Pendleton Morgan, married Latter-day Saint, George W. Harris. She and Elizabeth Marsh, the wife of Thomas B. Marsh, had a falling out over milk stripping and cream].
How does Orsamus tie into the William Morgan kidnapping and disappearance? The answer is found in the Rochester Album on October 23, 1827—
The resignation of the former editor [Orsamus Turner] appears to be partly owing to the embarrassments in which the publication had involved him, and partly to the situation in which he stands in relation to the abduction of Wm. Morgan. As the publick are aware that he is indicted before the grand jury of Ontario County, they can perhaps judge how far this circumstance may have contributed to render such a course prudent or necessary. He has long maintained a respectable character for talents and integrity, and we regret the existence of any cause so unfortunate as to deter him from prosecuting his heretofore successful labours.[6]
The trials against the accused. There were several court cases on the disappearance and possible murder of William Morgan. One case was “The People vs. Ezekial Jewett” held on July 28, 1830 in the courthouse at Canandaigua, New York.
In attendance at the trial was Thurlow Weed, a suspect from Rochester. Orsamus knew before the trial began that he would be asked to testify about the disappearance of William Morgan.[7] When called to the witness stand, Orsamus stated his name and gave his residency as Lockport, New York since September 1826. He testified that he knew the defendant Colonel Ezekial Jewett, the keeper of Fort Niagara, the last place William Morgan was seen alive.
Orsamus admitted there was a conversation among masons in September 1826 about a certain William Morgan planning to publish a book on Freemasonry. From this point on, Orsamus refused to answer questions. When Judge William L. Marcy asked him four questions, Orsamus would not reply. The judge cited Orsamus with contempt of court for refusing to testify. He fined Orsamus $1,000 (reduced to $250) and sentenced him to three successive imprisonments of thirty days each.[8]
According to family tradition, while Orsamus served his prison terms the masons furnished and carpeted his jail cell. When he was released from jail, there was a triumphant march of the masons.[9]
Although it could be said that there was no evidence presented to convict Orsamus Turner of a crime against William Morgan, the issue remained front and center in his life for years. Seventeen years after the trial, on October 22, 1847 Orsamus wrote to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lockport Lodge (Masons), “If I may be allowed to say, that I have for long years—through a period of persecution and severe trials – be deemed as sincere a friend [of masonery], as those who have only known it in the days of sunshine and good repute.”[10] He then went onto say that he has been insulted by continuous insinuations from this lodge that he was involved in the murder of Mr. Morgan.[11]
The 116 Manuscript Pages and the printing of the Book of Mormon
It is well known that Orsamus Turner served three jail sentences and was suspected of the kidnapping and murder of William Morgan before the manuscript pages were stolen. Although we could easily assume that in June/July 1828 that Orsamus was a hundred miles away in Lockport, he was not. Orsamus was in hiding, hoping to avoid arrest. Was he in Palmyra in June/July 1828? Good chance! The reason being, years later he wrote,
The wife of Harris was a rank infidel and heretic, touching the whole thing [the 116 pages], and decidedly opposed to her husband’s participation in [Mormonism]. With sacriligious [sic] hands, she seized over a hundred of the manuscript pages of the new revelation, and burned or secreted them.[12]
Take note of his last comment “secreted them.” In that comment, he leaves open the door that the pages are still around.
In his book History of Pioneer Settlements of Phelps and Gorham’s Purchase and Morris Reserve, Orsamus claimed that Martin Harris showed Turner’s informant an untranslated copy of the Book of Mormon title page in an attempt to convince him—Orsamus Turner—to print the Book of Mormon. Did Martin Harris really approach Orsamus Turner through “an informant” about printing the Book of Mormon? By this point, Martin Harris would know of the widely publicized case of William Morgan and the possible link to Orsamus Turner. Why would Martin approach a man with such a sullied reputation to publish the word of God?
A Citizen of Lockport
On February 10, 1834, at age thirty-three Orsamus married nineteen-year-old Julia Bush in Batavia, New York.[13] Soon after their wedding, Orsamus took his young bride to Niagara, New York where he started the Niagara Democrat in 1835. Two years later, he was publishing the Niagara Democrat and the Lockport Balance.
In 1837, Orsamus went to Rochester to address a convention as an advocate of needed improvements on the Erie Canal.[14] In Rochester, he met Henry O’Reilly, editor of the Rochester’s Republican and Daily Advertiser. O’Reilly suggested the Orsamus write a book on the history of Western New York. Orsamus liked the idea. When he returned to Niagara, he withdrew from the Niagara Democrat feigning poor health. His withdrawal, however, had more to do with his owing $625 for pocketing money from subscribers.[15]
Turning away from the newspaper business, Orsamus threw himself into writing books on Western New York. He gathered documents and papers about people, places, and things of Western New York. Giving him boxes of information was O’Reilly.
Orsamus Turner published three volumes on the history of Western New York—
1. History of the Holland Purchase (1849) 2. Pioneer History of the Phelps and Gorman Purchase (1851) 3. Pioneer History of Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Yates and Allegany County together with Sketches of the War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier and Events connected with the Completion of the Erie Canal (1852).
Henry O’Reilly penned, “Dec. 1, 1876, I freely loaned my papers by the boxful to Mr. Turner— whose books are largely made up from the materials I furnished.”[16]
Here’s a question—Did O’Reilly pass to Orsamus Turner anything from the Book of Mormon?
Why the question? Henry O’Reilly wrote,
A copy of the work [the Book of Mormon] had been brought to Rochester by a Journeyman printer named Macaully, then employed in OUR office [also employed by E. B. Grandin to do the press work on the Book of Mormon]. And he, supposed it would interest me, loaned it to me. Hence I learnt first about the contents, and mentioned it in my paper, giving some extracts as indicated of the contents.
In the Rochester Republican on the 30th of April 1830 in the New York Historical Library, is an article in which I (then the Editor of that print as well as of the Rochester Daily Advertiser) alluded to and published extracts from, the book just then printed but not yet published by the “Prophet” Joseph Smith.
Mr. [Abner] Cole, told me, that, when that “Prophet’s” attention was called to my comments as they were republished in some neighboring journal, he swore, with more than comical vigor, that he would “go to Rochester and thrash that damned O’Reilly, for writing that way about his book.”[17]
What information or papers in the boxes that Henry O’Reilly loaned to Orsamus Turner is unknown? Letters have been sent to repositories throughout Western New York searching for source material once in the possession of Orsamus Turner and Henry O’Reilly.
His Later Years
In 1847, Orsamus was a collector of tolls at Lockport on the Erie Canal.[18] A year later, he was appointed Lockport’s postmaster. Within a few years, he was appointed to a committee to receive subscriptions for a proposed railroad extending from Lockport to Rochester.[19] By 1851, Orsamus had moved to Rochester and was residing at 10 Elm Street.[20]
While living in Rochester, Orsamus began to gather source material to write a book on Mormonism. On September 22, 1851, Orsamus wrote to Thomas Sharp of Warsaw, Illinois seeking information about the Mormons. In the letter, he explained, “I am preparing for the press a History of Mormonism. I start with them from Palmyra, in this state, where I am familiar with their history and trace them to Salt Lake and Beaver Island.”[21] His book was never published or finished. What he gathered for the book is housed at the Chicago Historical Society. We have contacted the society.
On May 6, 1854, Orsamus returned to the newspaper business. He purchased the Lockport Democrat, his old newspaper.[22] On July 30, 1854, The Buffalo Daily Courier printed, “We cannot but admire the energy, industry, and enterprise, with which our friend Orsamus Turner, Esq., has returned to the business editorial.”[23]
Death of Orsamus Turner
After a weeks of suffering from an inflammation of the lungs, on March 21, 1855 Orsamus died in Lockport at age fifty-four. His funeral was held at the Grace Episcopal Church under masonic rites. The Reverend and Rector Harry F. Zwicker wrote, “Orsamus Turner died at his home on Chestnut Ridge near Lockport, N. Y. March 21, 1855. Cause of death pleurisy. Aged 54 years, 7 months, 2 days. A wife, son and daughter survive him.”[24] He was buried in Section F, Lot 67 in the Cold Springs Cemetery at Lockport.
On January 16, 1893, the widow of Orsamus Turner died of paralysis at the home of her daughter Mrs. George H. Harris in Buffalo, New York.[25]
[1] Morley B. Turpin and W. DeWitt Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society vol. 17, 1939.
[2] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[3] “To the Public,” Argus and City Gazetteer, October 3, 1826.
[4] “To the Public,” Argus and City Gazetteer, October 3, 1826.
[5] Lockport Observatory, May 31, 1831.
[6] Rochester Album, October 23, 1827.
[7] “Abduction Trials,” Jamestown Journal, July 28, 1830.
[8] “The Lockport Trials,” Onondaga Register, June 30, 1830.
[9] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[10] Orsamus Turner letter to Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lockport Lodge (Masons), October 22, 1847.
[11] Orsamus Turner letter to Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lockport Lodge (Masons), October 22, 1847.
[12] Turner, History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorham’s Purchase, p. 215.
[13] “Married,” Rochester Daily Democrat, February 20, 1834.
[14] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[15] “Public Meeting,” Albany Journal, 1837.
[16] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[17] Henry O’Reilly Papers. Rochester City Library, Rochester, NY.
[18] Henry O’Reilly Papers.
[19] “Railroad from Lockport to Rochester,” White Plains New York State.
[20] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[21] Mormon Collection at the Chicago Historical Society.
[22] Turpin and Manning, “Orsamus Turner,” Rochester Historical Society, vol. 17, 1939.
[23] “We copy from . . .,” Buffalo Daily Courier, July 30, 1854.
[24] Lockport Daily Journal, August 19, 1898; Rochester Daily Union, March 21, 1855; “Orsamus Turner,” Albany Argus, March 21, 1855; “Death of Orsamus Turner,” The Tribune, April 5, 1855; “Death of Orsamus Turner,” Dansville Herald, March 28, 1855.
[25] “Death of Mrs. Orsamus Turner,” The Daily News [Batavia, NY], January 16, 1893; “The Late Mrs. Orsamus Turner,” The Daily News, January 18, 1893.