Dogberry, Obadiah
While in Palmyra, Obadiah Dogberry (a pseuodnym adopted by Abner Cole, 1783-1835) served as editor of a local newspaper, the Palmyra Reflector, in 1830. The paper was produced in the shop of Palmyra printer Egbert B. Grandin, the same printer who was then engaged in preparing the first edition of Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon. While checking Reflector proofs, Dogberry could wander about the print shop and read advance galleys of the Book of Mormon, literally while the ink dried. Dogberry wrote the earliest criticism of the Book of Mormon (or as he called it, "Jo. Smith's Gold Bible").
Dogberry published his critiques in the pages of the Reflector, challenging Book of Mormon claims at length, quoting long passages without permission, and engaging in pointed satire. For samples see here and here. All of this greatly annoyed the self-styled Mormon prophet Joseph Smith.
Subsequently Dogberry returned to Rochester where he edited a weekly paper, The Liberal Advocate, for almost three years. This paper was written against "superstition and ignorance," and in it Dogberry claimed that ignorance, superstition, and bigotry were fighting losing battles (Liberal Advocate, March 10, 1832). A Dogberry memorial website contains much information on Dogberry's Rochester years. It's a very tall page; scroll to the bottom for links to scans of complete issues of The Liberal Advocate.
In 2006 Rochester performance artist Bleu Cease coordinated a series of outdoor installations commemorating Dogberry and his work: see a link here.
