Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-09

The Detroit Journal of Feb. 10, under
the hending, king strangs Sons sim
Live in Michigan" gives an account of
the family and career of man whose
connection with the Mormon Church
and detection therefrom have become
matters of history. Portions of 1t do
not read like carefully prepared and
strictly authentic history; but 1t is here
reproduced for whatever 1t may be
worth:
"Sunneld. Mich, Feb. lS.-Special.-
This little village has the distinction Of
numbering among Its inhabitants a son
of the famous Mormon king, who
reigned with indisputable power and
authority on the islands OF northern
Michigan for 50 many years. The citi-
zen to whom reference Is made Is
Clement j. Strang, editor and proprie-
tor Of the Sunfield Sentinel who Is one
of the most industrious and honored
residents of this village. Another son.
Charles j. Strang, IL a printer In the
employ OF the Robert Smith Printing
company, state printers and binders.
He Is secretary OF the Lansing Typo
graphical union and stands well among
the craftsmen in that city. Neither OF
the sons, it is said. have any sympathy
WIN tne tehCnlnRs OF tneir somewhat
distinguished father.
THE career of James j. Strang, or
King Suang, az he was better known.
Is full of interest. The records of the
state pioneers society show that In ISi7
he led a colony of immigrants. who set
Ted ON Beaver island, the largest
island In the group comprising the now
disorganlzed county Of Manitou. St
James, the county seat. was founded at
that time and named In honor of the
king. who located there with his fol-
lowers soon after the colony at Nau-
VOC was broken up by the murder of
Joseph Smith.
"Both strang and Brigham Young
claimed to be Smiths legitimate sue
cessor, but Young succeeded In enlist
Ing by far the greater number of fol-
lowers, while Strang, after being ex-
communicated for his pretensions, took
his band of faithful adherents first to
Nuree WIS, and soon after to Beaver
island, where he set UP his kingdom.
"Strangs native shrewdness was man.
Tested in his selection of the location
for the establishment OF his colony.
There were grave doubts as to the
iurlsdctlonal position of the Island, so
that when the Mormon king set up his
court at st. James there was no legal
authority to dispute his right to do SO,
The monarchy he established there was
both ecclesiastical and religious, and
he assumed the prerogative OF both high
priest and king. He promulgated laws.
enforced rules of morality. and not
only prohibited the sale OF ardent
spirits. but actually enforced such pro-
hibition. He placed all the local Of
fees In the hands of his followers. and
the poor settlers whom they found there
carrying on a peaceful business, trad
ing. fishing. and in few instances
farming. We're forced to betake them
selves to II more congenial locality.
"AlI visits and advances OF outsiders
were discouraged by King Strang. who.
however, established a newspaper, in
troduced stock raising on quite an ex-
tensive scale, observed the seventh day
OF the week as the Sabbath. and built
tabernacle, collecting from the people
one tenth of all their earnings or In
con.s for religious uses, and, of course,
never failing to come in for a liberal