[1865 Autograph Letter Signed by Freethinker and Atheist Otto Wettstein of Rochelle, Illinois, the “Father of Materialism in America”].

Known as the “atheist watchmaker”

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Densely written letter by noted free thinker Otto Wettstein, known as the “Father of Materialism in America,” here writing in 1865 about religion, spiritualism, and materialism.

A native of Germany, Wettstein emigrated to America as a child and eventually settled in Rochelle, Illinois where he established himself as a jeweler and watchmaker. Because of his unorthodox views on religion he was popularly known as the “atheist watchmaker.” The Treats were residents of the the progressive utopian community of Vineland, New Jersey.

Wettstein’s letter is addressed to “Friend Treat” who is also interested in spiritualism and had written an article on the subject. This would be Dr. Joseph Burrell Treat, a professor and abolitionist and enthusiast of spiritualism. Dr. Treat was married to Mary Treat (1830–1923), a noted botanist, author, and later correspondent of Charles Darwin.

Wettstein mentions both a popular spiritualist traveling lecturer, Emma F. Jay Bullene, and a popular book on spiritualism by Asaph Bemis Child (1813–1879), Whatever Is, Is Right (Boston, 1860). Wettstein begins his letter directly:

I want to talk with you a little while to night, not expecting to entertain you, but myself. There are very few in this world of my acquaintance that I would ask any favors of as regards their “religious” opinions, very few I think (vain though it be) that know any more about “religion,” “God,” “Devil,” “Future state,” “Immortality” etc. than I do. But I do want to hear you talk, want to get your opinions in regard to everything in this line that is not clear to me that I do not understand. I do not see half enough of you in the Investigator [newspaper] of late, how is that? Do you forsake the many friends you have among the readers of that paper or, can it be true that [indistinct name] is afraid of your Radicalism for fear he might tread on the corns of some chicken hearted half baked Infidel, & therefore serves us in his columns such trash as that in the last paper [indistinct] the hear of: “Materialism etc., vs. Spiritualism etc.”? Have you seen it? If it is worthy of notice I hope your sledge hammer will pound some sense in the subscriber. … There are several things in this number which I should like you to “handle.” A small talk on Whatever is, is Right, which of course if Childs [sic] sees it he can easily swallow up in victory, that is, come out ahead, as that argument is over & over again analyzed in his books & to the casual reader it appears quite logical and correct. But I believe Guns of a different calibre can & should be brought out against the sophistry of A.B Childs! What do you think about the doctrine? I think it is very shallow & can only be compared with the referred to article of Mr. G.W. Lewis, who boldly tries in 2½  columns to prove his spiritualism by disproving (?) the existence of matter or at least disputing the power in man to recognize the same!!! —What are these “Spiritual” Professors coming to? A “Medium” Mrs. Bullene lectured here three nights ago to an appreciating audience; her “spirit influence” stated among other “facts” (?) that he had met in the spirit world the inhabitants of two other planets besides these from the “Earths sphere”; the first were “a robust giant like race” & from Saturn & the others were from—(stuck! it took nearly 5 minutes of thinking before she procured in her answers)—Venus! & were a beautiful feminine intellectual race!!! What do you think of this Friend Treat? There’s hope for old bachelors yet! — Some weeks ago I read with considerable interest your article on spiritualism, mesmership etc…

Wettstein is noted for designing a jewelry badge or emblem for the Free Thought movement. It shows the torch of reason dividing the light of free though and science from the darkness of superstition. Wettstein also designed a souvenir spoon for Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899), the celebrated 19th century orator, free thinker, and agnostic.¹

A very good letter with interesting spiritualism content by free thinker Otto Weinstein, an engaged, intellectually curious, and opinionated correspondent.

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