The halo: an autobiography of D. C. Densmore ...

Front matter

5 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f iillll Ml Hi!

Chapter XV

At Home on a Visit — Experiences in New York — Visit to Cincinnati — Gas Regulator, What became of it — Visit to St. Louis — Work in Shipyard — Driven out of Town by Advance of a Rebel Army- — Stay in Paducah, Ky. — Town occupied by Gen. Forrest — Flee to Metropolis City — Steamboat-building, etc. . 309

Chapter XVI

Publishing a Spiritual Newspaper called the " Voice of Angels," edited and managed by Spirits — How and by whom it was first projected, and why it was gotten up . 346

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF D. C. DENSIOEE.

Chapter I. Childhood

I was born in the town of Bowdoinham, Me., on the banks of the Kennebec River, the 10th of April, 1813. While I was an infant, my father purchased a tract of wild land in what was then called the town of Harlem (but subsequently named China), where he erected a log-house, cleared off a few acres of land, and commenced getting a livelihood in our forest home. There was no other habitation for miles; and here, amid wild beasts and screeching owls, my dear mother, with health impaired, was compelled to endure a toilsome existence for a few years. She being naturally of a very sensitive nature, her life was one of continual anxiety, from fear that she should be unable to procure the necessaries of life. Here we lived until I was two and a half years old, when father purchased another farm some little distance off, on which was a frame house partially finished.

In this house I passed the earlier part of my life ; in fact, I made it my home until I had grown to manhood. Our family increased nearly every year by a new-comer, until the children numbered sixteen boys and girls. Among them were eleven boys ; making the family circle, in round numbers, eighteen human beings ; all the children from the same father and mother. It was a beautiful sight to see us all sitting at the table at one time. This I witnessed only during a few weeks ; for generally some of the children were away from home. Of course it required tact, with industry and strict economy, to feed and clothe so many ; and consequently all who were able to had to contribute their quota to its maintenance. Here I passed a happy portion of my life ; yet although I had a harmonious, contented disposition, I was uneasy under the restraint I was constantly compelled to submit to in working on the farm, a kind of labor which I very much disliked ; my mind would be running upon the building of mills of various kinds. At one time, when father had gone away for a few weeks, instead of working on the farm faithfully, I got it into my head to build a miniature saw-mill; and, with the aid of some of . my younger brothers, managed to construct a dam across the brook, a stream running through our farm. After the dam was completed, I made a flume, with an apron for the wheel to run the machinery. After a good deal of difficulty for want of tools, I constructed what millwrights call a " breast-wheel." I had got the lower part of the mill completed, and the wheel running, before father came home. As it was located in the " alder-bushes," I was so screened from observation that no one knew what was going on, until I had the wheel set, or hung, in its place. Although it is over a half-century since the operation, I remember how pleased I felt when for the first time I hoisted the gate, and let the water on. The wheel was four feet long, and about fourteen inches in diameter. I was so elated at my success, that farm and every thing pertaining to it was quite forgotten.

After I had the lower part of my mill completed, and the wheel . running, I changed my mind about building a saw-mill, as there was so much machinery attached to it, and I had no suitable tools to work with. I concluded to make a turning-lathe instead, similar to one a neighbor had, with this difference : he worked his with the foot on a treadle, while mine was to be run by water-power. After overcoming incalculable difficulty, for the want of proper tools to construct my lathe, I got it completed. With the belt in its proper place, I hoisted the gate, and set it spinning ; how grand I felt at my success ! Now, to prove its efficiency, I must turn out something. Not having anj^ turning-tools, I went to the house, and got the butcher-knife, the end of which was quite round and very thick. I got a piece of green poplarwood, such as spools are made of for winding yarn for weaving, and turned out one, which looked as perfect as those I had seen mother use. With this trophy of my success, I ran as fast as I could to show it to her. She said it was. a nice one, but there was one objection to it: it had no hole for the spindle, which deficiency I had quite overlooked. When I told her I did it myself, she thought I had been down to Varney's, and turned it* in his lathe ; but when I told her I had built a lathe myself, and it run by water, she was quite astonished, and rather questioned the truthfulness of my assertion. To prove what I told her was true, I persuaded her to accompany me to my field of operations, which she did. After we got to the mill, I hoisted the gate, and turned out another spool. She seemed pleased with my ingenious turn of mind, but feared " father would not like it ; " but, when he found it out, he was not displeased with me, but rather encouraged me by suggesting some improvements. A long-continued rain caused a freshet, before I had finished my works, and swept the unfinished mill, and every thing belonging to it, down the stream ; which so discouraged me that I never attempted to rebuild it. This little boyish operation has no particular importance beyond showing what hard work and perseverance under difficulties may accomplish.

I used to work on the farm with the rest of the boys; and, when called to our meals, it was a common saying with them, that I must put a stick down where I left off hoeing corn or potatoes, to know where to begin again.

My mother, before and at the time of her marriage, belonged to the society of " Friends," or " Quakers." My father was a Methodist in good standing. The Quakers doft't allow any of their flock to marry other than their own denomination. As a matter of course, my parents could not marry according to the ordinances of the Friends, unless father renounced his Methodism, and allied himself with the Quakers.

This he did not or would not do at that time ; and, as they wanted to get married, they were joined in wedlock in accordance with father's religious belief. For this act of disobedience to her church, mother was hauled over the judicial coals, and was either compelled to say she was sorry for what she had done, and publicly condemn her act in the monthly meeting, or be "turned out" of the society. Whether she was ever really sorry, and condemned the practice, or not, I never heard her say. At all events, she chose to say so, and thus regained her standing as a good and exemplary Quaker, and kept it as long as she lived. When both parents belong to this church, the children are born members, thus obviating the trouble of joining it after they have gained their majority. Since mother, at the time of my birth, was under the ban of her Christian friends for "marrying out," as a matter of course, I was neither a born Quaker, nor a Methodist. However, when I was four years old, father determined to leave the Methodist persuasion, and join the Quakers. In'the mean time, mother had been "dealt with," as they call it. But, after due consideration by the Friends, after she had confessed repentance of thQ disobedient act, they took her in again. By some process, which I never comprehended, they have a way by which minor children, when both parents belong to the society, no matter if neither belonged to it when the children were born, to take them into the church without their will or consent, and compel them to conform to all the requirements of the society ever after. When I was four years old, father became convinced that the

Quaker religion was the surest and shortest road to heaven ; and like any other sensible, thinking man, felt justified in taking the shortest cut and the safest boat to cross life's tempestuous seas in, and therefore renounced his- Methodism altogether, and joined the Quakers. After he had got firmly fixed in the church, they, the " meeting folks," went through some process by which we children were all taken in as good members of the " society." After this, as father and mother belonged to the society, all the children born afterwards belonged to the same before they ever saw the light of day.

I have been subject, from my earliest remembrance, to strange prophetic dreams, or visions ; and one or two of the earlier ones I will relate, to show that I was subject then to unseen influences, which I now know were really and substantially my guardians, who have been controlling me in all my movements through life ; also some experiences of hearing voices telling me in distinct and clear words what to do to relieve me when in embarrassed circumstances ; but not until all hope of relief had forsaken me would such put in an appearance. These voices, or impressions, or whatever folks may choose to call them, have attended me from my earliest childhood ; and not until the advent of modern Spiritualism had become a fixed fact in my mind did I realize from whence they came. Before that, although I hadn't the slightest faith that there were unseen spirits, either good or bad, yet I paid the most profound respect to these strange interferes in my business affairs, and treated their advice with the courtesy and consideration that I would give to the advice of a valued friend, in whose wisdom and ability to guide and direct I had the utmost confidence.

The first distinctly remembered dream or vision of coming events, which I could not have otherwise known any thing about, occurred when I was about nine years old. I dreamed, that while the family were taking breakfast, I with the rest, a flat-iron fell from the mantle-piece, and broke the handle off. When it occurred, mother said, " How sorry I am ! what shall I do?" (being in straitened circumstances, the repair or replacing of this was quite a draft upon the slender means), when father said, " Never mind, mother : I have a broken axe, and I will send David out to Bragg's, and get them both mended." (This Mr. Bragg was a blacksmith, living some three or four miles from us.) I did not know that the axe was broken, until I heard of it in my dream. I saw father put the iron in one end of a meal-bag, the axe in the other, put the bag across the saddle, adjust the stirrups to correspond with my short legs, and start me off. The axe was on the left, and the flat-iron on the right side, of the horse. This dream did not occur to me when I awoke. While partaking of our breakfast the next morning, Louis Bean, a domestic living in our family, in moving something on the mantle-piece, pushed off the flat-iron, which broke the handle. When mother saw the accident, she repeated the same words that I dreamed she did ; and father consoled her misfortune in precisely the same words I heard him use in my sleep; and he put the broken articles into a meal-bag, the axe and iron on the" same sides of the horse that I saw in my dream. It was not till I heard father's consoling remarks to mother about sending me out to Bragg's to get them mended, that my dream came vividly to my mind.

Sometimes in later life, as well as in boyhood, these dreams would relate to things that had previously occurred, or were transpiring at the time I dreamed them, but under circumstances that precluded the possibility of my knowing any thing about them in the usual way ; one of which I will relate : —

In 1860, when in Birmingham, Eng., engaged in experimenting on some patents, and selling others, I arose one morning, dressed, preparing to go to the shop ; but, it being rather early, I thought I would lie down a few moments, not thinking of going to sleep ; but I did lose myself, although I don't think I was in a sound slumber. When I aroused from my lethargy, I remembered very distinctly of going home, and finding 'Helen, my oldest child, very sick. I thought I told my wife what to do for her, and then came out of my trance-like sleep. This was the sixth day of August ; and, the dream getting a strong hold of me, I could not resist an inclination to write. I did so, and described the disease, and told them what to do if she was no better when my letter arrived. On my way to the shop I mailed it. When I arrived at my place of business, I told Mr. Edwards, the proprietor of the building, my dream ; remarking, at the same time, that by due course of mail I should receive a letter corroborating in every particular Helen's illness. He laughed at my credulity, and left me. I had told Mr. Edwards, before . this, some of my experiences in relation to spiritual matters, more particularly to clairvoyance, &c, all of which he ignored as fanatical and positively absurd. I felt just as sure that I should have my dream corroborated, as that I had dreamed it. Time passed ; and, being very busily engaged in my business, I quite forgot my dream, till one morning Mr. Edwards came into the shop, swinging a letter over his head, saying, " Here's a letter all about Helen." My letters came to his care. His remarks put me in mind of my dream. I sat down at once, and read it, he watching me all the while to hear the dream corroborated. I read the third page, which wound up by saying, " We are all as well as usual ." There was not a word about Helen's sickness. I told Mr. Edwards that for once I was mistaken ; when he whirled on his heel, and went up-stairs to his office, laughing at my credulous disposition. I sat there wondering how it could be possible that I was mistaken, when, in doing up the letter to put it back in the envelope, I saw on the fourth page a postscript dated the 8th, in which wife said, " Helen has come home very sick to-day ; " and there was given a description of her case in precisely the same words that I had used when writing home. The letter was dated the 6th of August, the same date of mine to them; but they did not close it until the 8th. I went immediately up-stairs, and let Mr. Edwards read the corroborating testimony of my going three thousand miles to diagnose a disease, and back again

2* in a few moments. He looked astonished, and finally told me I was a "wizard," and playfullysaid he " wouldn't have me on his premises."

The facts of the case were these; Helen being five miles away, teaching school, was taken violently sick with diphtheria ; but the folks with whom she boarded thought she would soon get over it, and didn't consider it necessary to carry her home ; of course her mother, who was five miles away from her, knew nothing about it until two days after she was taken ; but I, though three thousand miles away, knew it (as I heard afterwards, calculating the difference in time between the two places) the moment she was taken. This proves that there is no limitation to the range of spirit, whether in the physical form or out of it. I could relate many others of similar nature in my experience, but this must suffice for this time. As I go along in my history, I shall have occasion to refer to many similar experiences, especially about the time when I commenced the investigation of modern Spiritualism, which will show how and why I became convinced of its profound truths.

From the time this occurred, that is, the first dream related above, when I was about nine years old, there was nothing of note transpired until the spring when I was eleven years old.

Chapter II. Precocious Shipbuilding

My father was a farmer, and, to enhance his income, annually peeled hemlock bark for tanning purposes, which when properly dried he would haul to a market, and exchange for money, or household commodities used in the family. The last of November, 1824, he had a large load of this bark ready for transporting to Pittston, on the Kennebec River, some sixteen miles from our farm. He had intended to start in company with a neighbor by tKe name of Estes, Uncle Jonathan as he was familiarly called, who had a load of the same material ready loaded. In taking large loads of any material to market, it was customary for two neighbors to go together, so that they could " double up the hills," as they call it, when one team assists the other; by this process each can carry a much larger load than if alone. After father had made all his arrangements to go in company with this neighbor, some business matters coming up which had to be attended to, he made up his mind to defer going till another day. While we were taking our supper, Uncle Jonathan came in to inquire what time father intended starting. He was told that he couldn't go at all, father giving his reasons. Uncle Jonathan said he must go if he went alone, in which case he would be obliged to leave a part of his load behind. After a few minutes the old man says, " Why can't thee let David and Henry go ? I will do the selling and buying, and I can have thy team to assist me up the hills." After a few minutes' reflection the proposal was favorably received; and so it was settled that Henry and I should go to the great town of Pittston, where we should see so many new things. For us, who had never been over five miles from home before, to go so far was quite an event in our secluded lives. After we had finished our evening meal, we were told to go to bed immediately, as we were to start at twelve, midnight. The idea of our going to sleep with such prospects ahead of us, was simply ridiculous. We lay and talked, and speculated in a suppressed tone about what we probably should- see ; and, as new thoughts constantly came before our excited minds, sleep was getting farther and farther away from our eyelids. We had no means for knowing the time, but at last the joyful word came, to " get up." We were not long in getting our clothes on, and ourselves down stairs, where mother had provided a bountiful breakfast, steaming hot, to which we did ample justice. While we were eating, father was yoking up the oxen, and getting them ready. Before we had finished our early meal, we heard. Uncle Jonathan drive along, and by the time father had our team " hitched up " we were ready to start. Mother provided us an ample lunch to eat the next day. All tilings being ready, the teams were started, Uncle

Jonathan taking the lead. Father attended us a short distance to see that all was right, when he retraced his steps, and we were fairly under way on our first journey to a distant town. We trudged along by the side of our team, and that was about all we had to do ; for the cattle followed the team ahead, and seemed to know they were on their own u hook." Towards morning there was quite a shower of rain, but about daylight the clouds broke away, and before sunrise not one was to be seen. We arrived at our destination about eight, A.M., tired, foot-sore, and hungry. After the teams were disconnected from the cart, chained to the wheels, and eating their " cornstalks," we ate our cold breakfast sitting on a log, our eyes all the while wandering all " over the lot," scanning critically every thing ; for every thing was new to us. What attracted my attention more than any thing else was what I subsequently learned was called a topsail schooner. She lay tied up to the wharf just below where we were sitting. After we had finished eating, and while Uncle Jonathan was hunting up a purchaser of the bark, I went down to the head of the wharf to inspect more closely the " ship," as I thought every thing that sailed on the ocean was called. At this time all the sails were hoisted up to dry, having got wet from the rain of the night previous. Of course I knew nothing whatever about -a vessel of any kind, not the names of the different sails or rigging, or, in fact, any thing which went into the make-up.

I thought she was,* and in fact she was, the grandest thing I had ever seen ; and I contemplated her with the greatest possible interest. I inspected critically her hull, masts, and rigging, also the sails. The vessel was " light ; " that is, had no cargo in her hold, consequently there was but a small portion of her hull under water ; and, judging from what was above the water-line, I was enabled to determine very near how the part under water must be formed to correspond with the portion above. After my inspection of the vessel was through with, it seemed to me that I had the whole of her, sails, rigging, and hull, within, my comprehension. How to ascertain the proper proportions of the length of the masts and spars to the length of the vessel somewhat puzzled me : to get this important knowledge I went up to the head of the wharf intuitively, and compared the length of the masts with the length of the vessel, and found, as near as I could tell, that the masts were very near as long as the hull of the vessel, which conclusion I subsequently ascertained was very near correct. From the first look at the vessel, I got a longing to build one myself ; and, by the time I had got through with my inspection, I had fully determined that I would, and that I would sail her over a large pond on our farm. Exactly how this was to be brought about, I hadn't the slightest idea, for father was decidedly opposed to my " foolish notions," as he was wont to designate my architectural proclivities ; but somehow or other I couldn't disconnect the conviction from my brain that I should build a vessel some way. I said nothing to my brother about my plans until nearly half-way home, when I told him of them, or rather of my determination to build a ship the ensuing spring, but enjoined the strictest secrecy.

There was but a solitary chance for me to accomplish any thing in that direction. In early spring father usually went to Bowdoinham on the Kennebec River, his native town, and from there went afishing three or four weeks ; seldom more than three, but occasionally he would prolong his visit to four. He might not go this spring, which was the only formidable hinderance I had to fear. I had told my brothers over and over again through the winter what I intended to do when the snow was gone, all the time cautioning them to the profoundest secrecy. I told them if father found it out u the fat would all be in the fire ; " assuring them that if they kept it to themselves, and would assist me, they should all have a sail in my " ship." They promised compliance with my wishes ; and I don't think there- existed a doubt ill their young minds, but that I would build one, and that they would have a sail in her. This confidence was greatly enhanced, I think, by the fact that I was forever building dams and mills, or making something. They evidently thought me a superior genius ; and hence, when I desired the dear confiding creatures to assist me in my works, they were always ready and willing to comply.

There was a piece of uncleared land about half a mile south-east of our house, which went by the name of the "Pine Woods." It was once covered with great white pine trees, the most of which had been made up into shingles ; but there were many parts of logs still lying on the ground. I had often passed through this land with the cattle, and I remembered p.art of one large log which, if sound, would do for the hull of my miniature ship. I had often spoken of this to my confederates through the winter ; but, as the snow was deep, I had no way of examining it until the snow left. Some time about the middle of March, the snow had so far gone that I could prospect pretty well. I did so, and found that if that log was sound I could have a " ship " over twenty feet long. Its soundness I could not tell until I cut it off, which I had as yet no opportunity of doing without risking my secret. " Hope deferred maketh the heart sick," it is said, and it did in my case. Up to this time father had said nothing about " going fishing : " at least, I hadn't heard him. Time rolled slowly on, my patience pining, till one Thursday evening, just before we were sent to bed, I heard father tell mother he was "going down river next week." Now, thought I, in a few days I shall commence my enterprise.

I lay half that night thinking over my project, and wondering where I should find a log suitable, if the one I was thinking about proved unfit.

Father got away on the 10th of April, my birthday which made me twelve years old.

The day previous to his leaving, he took me out into the " Pine Woods," and informed me that he was going to " clear up " a part of it ; and, as there were many remnants of old pine-trees scattered all over it, he wanted us boys to cut them up for " summer wood " while he was gone. To encourage me he said, " If thee'll be a good boy, and see that the rest work well, I'll bring thee home something." I readily made most faithful promises, my feelings being intensely aroused by my good luck in being placed right where of all others I most desired.

Here I could carry on my works without exciting the suspicions of mother or any one else as to what we were up to ; and, if the great log I had selected was only sound, I was all right. Before father was out of sight I had the boys, four of us, on the spot, when I told them, that, if they would work hard enough to make up for me, I would get up the ship, and they should all have a sail in her. They promised to do so, and all went to work, they to chopping wood, I to cutting off the big log. Oh, with what vigor I worked until I had got it off ! To my intense satisfaction, I found it was as sound as a nut. I cut it off twenty-one feet long : my rule for measuring was the axe-handle. I had no tools to work with except a broad and a narrow axe, drawing-knife, one and a fourth inch auger, and a one-inch chisel. With these tools I commenced forming the outside of the hull. I seemed to know just how to begin to save work ; and to-day I couldn't begin and carry on the work by any better system, with such tools as I then had, notwithstanding my lifetime experience, than I did in that operation.

In the first place I hewed what I intended for the top side of the boat, then shaped the outside as I remembered the vessel looked that I was modelling from.

After I got the outside to suit me, I commenced " digging it out ; " and it was several days before I had the inside completed, I intending to .have the sides and bottom about an inch thick. At length the hull was complete. The next thing was to make the masts and spars (sticks, as I called them then), which I soon accomplished. I set her upright on some blocks, secured so as not to topple over. I remember with how much pride I looked on the hull, with her masts standing, and she sitting upright on the miniature stocks.