“A man of much force of character, of indomitable will, and well fitted as a pioneer in the unbroken wilderness that this country possessed.” — William D. Purple¹

Josiah Stowell, born in 1770 in New Hampshire,² wanted to find the Spanish silver mine rumored to be hidden in the mountains near Harmony, Pennsylvania. He hired Joseph Smith Jr. to help him, believing the young man's gift with seer stones would help locate the treasure. The group never found anything, and eventually, Joseph convinced Stowell to call off the search.³

Stowell and Joseph remained friends, and the man was even present at the Smith home when Joseph obtained the plates.⁴ Stowell was baptized in 1830.²

1. Appendix: Reminiscence of William D. Purple, 28 April 1877, josephsmithpapers.org

2. "Stowell, Josiah, Sr.," josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 4, 31-33

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 4., 38-39