Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-02-20
BIG BEAVER MORMONS.
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH STRANG
AND HIS 200 FOLLOWERS.
A Phase of sEormonism OF Which Com
paratively Little Is Known--A Leader
Feared by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with the
SettIers--When the End Came.

In coy little home on West Adams street
lives Mrs Eliza Stearns. Sh vas at one
time follower of Joseph L. Strang. the Nor
mon renegade who in 1869 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 Mormonism
is as yet comparatively unwritten. About
the time the Mormons established themselves
at Nauvoo, Strang come into prominence. He
had been slightly identified with the Young,
Kimball, 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 1876 the in
habitants there were surprised by an invasion
of Mormons numbering about 200, who pre-
empted the choicest territory and squatted
upon it as if they had come to stay.
WHEN sTRANG TOOK POSSESSION.
The Beavers, or Beaver group as they are
called, consist of Big and Little Beaver, North
and South Fox, High, Gull, Garden, Hat,
Hog and Squaw islands, and arc located near
..
took possession the islands were inhabited by
Indians and half-breeds, who made precari-
Gus living by fishing, hunting and wrecking.
AStrang,n said Mrs. Stearns few days ago.
"was feared by everybody and loved by none.
knew him for two years previous TO 1916
and during the ten years while my husband
and were numbered with the people under
him. He cared nothing for his religion and
used ii only as a cloak to hide his real char
acter When we first went to the beavers he
bad only two wives, but in the course of "a
few years the number was increased to six.
He was about to take a seventh wife, when
the blow fell which destroyed his power and
drove out Mormonism.
awe settled on the northern side OF the
island, on the bay, at the place now called
st. James. The Indians were quite peaceful
and friendly, and gave us no trouble except
that they stole, and in that art they were
soon taught lessons by Strang and his disei.
pies. We lived in log huts, built mostly OF
the cedar which grows profusely there, and
put in our time fishing, hunting, wrecking,
and stealing from vessels which made the
port. We had a religion in name but very
little in action. Strang used TO exhort to us
frequently, but the majority of his time was
devoted to deviltry. He lived in q larger
and better house than anybody else and as
sumed all the authority of king.
Everything moved smoothly for a number
of years, and our numbers grew, there being
at one time over 1900 Mormons in the settle
ment. But the time came when murmurines
arose. The Big Beaver and other islands in
the group had been increasing in population
as well as our principal settlement. Fisher.
men and farmers began to come in from
Michigan and Wisconsin They were mostly |
quiet, peaceful people, who wanted to behave |
themselves, raise potatoes, and trade with |
vessel-owners.
THE MoRMoNs AND THR SETTLERS
"Strang had too much of the devil in him to |
allow this, and the result was frequent con. |
flicts between the Mormons and the settlers |
AT last the settlers, in conjunction with YES
/. sel-owners-for the Beavers and the lawless
ness OF the inhabitants had become terror
70 vigatOrs-petitioned the government to
3 investigate the trouble and endeavor to rem
@edy the evil. This was in 1853. In the spring
#of 1854 the answer came in the form of the
& revenuo cutter Michigan. Whatever report
they made. Strang never heard of it, and il
\ devolyed upon the settlers themselves to ad
5udicate their troubles.
III "Seeing the futility of appeals to the gov
ernment, they armed themselves ono night il
4 July, 1856, and made descent upon our set
Element. We Were taken completely by sur
s prise, and were hardly awake before oui
homes were in flames and our forces disor
ssganized In the melee Strang was severely
Z Wounded and three Of the Mormons were
Z killed. Strang, with his lawful wife, sue
seeded in escaping to a neighboring island
nhere be was picked up by a vessel and car
aried to Milwaukee. / heard afterward that
szhe died in a small town near there somt
4 months later from the effects of his wounds
Tic settlers gave the rest of US the option OF
4 1eaving the islands within twelve hours or OF
remaining if we would give up our religion
and our habits. My husband and l were
!: among those who accepted the former alter
!. native, as we had had enough of Mormonism
The next day a small schooner took us anc
& anite a number Of others on board, and We
tere landed at a Wisconsin port. That wa.
end of Mormonlsm in the Beaver islands
Chicago News Interview.