Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-24
BIG BEAVER MORMONS.
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH STRANC
AND HIS 200 FOLLOWERS.
A Phase OF Aormonism Of which Com
paratively Little Il Known-A Leader
Feared by Eserybody-Connictsw with the
Settlers-When the End Came.

In COY little home on West Adams street
lives Mrs. Eliza Stearns. She was at ons
time follower Of Joseph L Strang the Nor
mon renegade who IN 1855 was the ruler Of
Big Beaver island, at the foot Of Lake Mich
igan. Mrs. Stearns came TO this city from
northern Wisconsin about two months ago
and is making her home with her SON
History of the Strang phase of Mormonis,r
is as yet comparatively unwritten- About
the time the Mormons established themseive.
at Nauvoo, Strang come into prominence HI
had been slightly identified with the Young
KimDall. Smith, and the other factions which
were powerful while the church was in its in
fancy, and it was doubtless through realiza-
ton Of their superior strength that he was led
to receive revelation and set himself up
under alleged Divine guidance, as leader
He selected the Beaver islands for the home
for himself and his followers. In 1915 the In
habitants there were surprised by an invasion
Of Mormons numbering about 300, who pre-
emp;ed the choicest territory and squatted
upon it as if they had come 10 stay.
WHEN srRANG TOOK POSSESSION.
The Beavers, or Beaver group as they are
called, consist Of Big and Little Beaver, North
and South Fox. High, Gufi, Garden, Hat
Hog and Squaw islands, and are located near
the mouth of the straits. At the time Strang
tool nossesson the Islands were inhabi,s,i bv
Indians AMI half hre,.ds who made > nrs,car;.
o,,S living nv fishing. hunting and wreck;np
@Strang,- said Mrs. Stearns few days ago
.,,-as foorad NV avarvhoIv and lovad ,,y ron,
II.n,.. h;,,, ~, t,,,o go ,ra,,o,,. :, Is,c
ard d,,r;no the ,., vears while NV busb.nd
and 7 ,rare numbered with the neonls undar
hin, uo c,roI ro,b;ro for his reI;g;or ord
,,sa5 II o,,,, as . clo.k 20 hida HE rsaI ch.-
80 W., M Ct r.,,, e., ,ha -. be
h.a on,v t,rn v;veS hut :, the co,,rss ~ :
few vaars tho numIsr was Increased 10 s,r
10 w,s abort 20 ,at. , ss,e,,b ,r;fs y,hor
,b. hlo,v ION which des,rovsd his ,.o,xar a,d
drove ont NormoniSm
We settled on the northern side of the
island. ON the hay. at the Mace now callasi
81. lanes The Indians were or,i.e peacefr,l
and friendly. and gave us no trouble except
that they stole. and in that arr they were
soon Taught lessons by Strang and his dist.
ples. We lived in log huts. built mostly O:
the cedar which grows profusely there. and
mt in our time fishing. hunting wreckino-
and stealing from vessels which made the
mort We had n religion in name hut very
little in action. Strauc us ID to exhort TO us
freouently. bu. the majority of his time wa.
devoted 10 deviltrv He lived in a larger
and better house than ANYBODY else and as
sumed all the authority of n king.
aEyerything moved smoothly for q number
of wears and our Numbers grew there being
at one time over 900 Mornons in the settle
ment B,,t the time came when murmur;nps
arose The Big Beaver and other islands in
the proup had been increasing i'm nopulatiop
as wen as our principal settlement. Fisher
men and farmers began to come in from
Michigan and Wisconsin. They were mostly
oriet peaceful peop,e who wanted IN b.have
themselves. raise POTATOES. and trade with
yessel-owners
rur wopyoxs AKIN THE srrr,r,s
aS.,anr, ia o., -, Ter. I'll =, IL; .,
.,,o,. th;s a,,d ~. raS,,,, ,,.oS ,,'',,ar, 60
a. ,.a,uooan ,ho wor,,.o,s al a. Ell.
A, 1.s. Oh, sn,.iar, j., ,c,;,,no,;o,, ,,,,h -
s,,I -,,r,,o,S Coz. tho po,,.arS a,,d a.. ,.,,.,.s
NOS Of The ;nhah;,,nts h,d hacon,a go.
- ,,.,-;a,.t,.- ,,o,;,;r,,.,, a., ro,,a~'. -
;nras,;, a. tho t,onhIa ord a,So.,or 80 49,, -
-, .ter,.;, tn 80. -.,sso T.. a.,
of 1854 the answer came in the form Of the