The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-30
ONCE A MORMON TOWN.
Last of Voree. Illinois, Where Strang
 Set Up as Prophet.

From the Chicago News.
 | Within 20 minutes auto ride of Lake Geneva workmen are putting on new roofs and otherwise repairing a number of stone houses, the building of which in September 60 years ago, caused to be written q chapter of Waworth county history that probably will last for all time.
 A large contingent of Brigham Young's people settled in this locality about the time the oldest of the Chicago colony camped on the beautiful lake only few miles away. It is a matter of history that Edward T. Aver began going to Lake Geneva as early as 1S46, but in 1Sl4 the seed of Mormonism had been planted in the same county and within a short drive of the palatial palaces of the Chi cago summer people.
 There Is still standing a stone house in which the leader of the community main tained a household of two wives and across the way may be found the founda- tion Of another in which once dwelt two more. In clump of cherry trees are the foundation stones of temple reared from the material of the quarry, still In op- eraton. and within 10 minutes walk to the deserted burylng ground now form
 ing a corner of a barnyard.
 In 1S44 the year before the shooting of Joseph Smith. there appeared in Spring Prairie township slnisterappearlng in- dlvldual who gave his name as James J Strang. and his occupation that of lawyer He took up his abode with his brother-in-law Benjamin c Pierce.
 On the death of the Nauvoo prophet Strang claimed to receive an appointment es the successor of Smith to lead the Nor mon church. The Nauvoo people had scat tered after Smiths death and goodly number had been attracted to Strang trof l,ptt trrhA t,,n tro, ed by the White river in Spring Prairie township, Walworth county. The tract was plated and the place called Voree, a name that hangs to it vet Strang pro- ceeded to appoint natriarchs. high priests 19 apostles and Likewise a following of seventy"
 September 1s, 1915. evervthing ready. Strang directed Aaron Smith, high priest Iirah B. Walker. J M. Van Ostrand and Edward Whtcomb to an oak tree on the east line of Spring Prairie township. Dig ging beneath the roots of this tree there were unearthed three golden plates in a case of baked clay The priests rcported the find, and Strans translated the in- cident to mean that Joseph Smith had ap- pointed him as his successor In one of the buildings that are still standing, tho one that the neiehbors say was occupied by Strang and his wives Nary end Petsv. a nnner known as the Noreo Herald was published.
 II is related that Stranr became so in- soent and overbearing and practced so many irregularities that 2 follower named Scott started an opposition paner for the purpose of unmasliing the prophet Among other things that Strarg had promised was the Illumination of the heads of his followers in the darkened temple There was a stronr odor of nhosphorus after the heads had been anointed and in the ceremony the hair of one of the followers took fire
 Affairs at Voree went from bad to worse until in 1s47. Strang asserted he had re- ceived revelation to move to Beaver Island. in Lake Michigan. and most of the outfit pulled m stakes and followed their leader On the island Strang was shot and killed by two men whom 1t is said he had grossly abused. His body