Abner Cole, born on September 17, 1783, held important community roles in Palmyra, New York in the early 19th century. Before beginning a career in publishing, Cole served as a justice of the peace and a constable, ensuring law and order were maintained in the community.1
In the mid-1820s, Cole transitioned to the field of publications and started a newspaper named The Reflector. It is interesting to note that the print shop where The Reflector was issued was also being used for printing the Book of Mormon, the key scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was able to take the unbound pages of the Book of Mormon which were fresh off the presses and make copies of these then unpublished text.
Under the pseudonym Obadiah Dogberry, Cole took the liberty to publish the first few chapters of what he nicknamed as "Jo Smith's Gold Bible," referring to Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Golden Plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. His publication of these chapters included his own commentary, which was known for its mocking and disparaging tone towards the contents of the Book of Mormon. These unauthorized publications did not go unnoticed, and they culminated in a confrontation between Cole and Joseph Smith. Cole, who was obviously irate at being challenged, threatened Joseph Smith with physical harm. However, the altercation did not turn violent and was instead resolved peacefully through legal arbitration. It was agreed that Cole would cease to publish any further content from the Book of Mormon in The Reflector.2
