The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-01-20
BADGE R own
PASSING AWAY
Early Home of Mormonism
Near Burlington, Reduced
To Few Buildings.

BURLINGTON, Wis, Jan. 16.-With-
In mile and half of this city work.
men are putting on new roofs and
otherwise repairing a number of stone
houses the building of which sixty
years ago caused to be written a chap
ter of Walworth county history that
probably will last for all time.
1t is the story Of a deserted village
on White river that started out to be
what Salt Lake City became. 1t is the
site of Mormon settlement that start
ed to build city and to SOW the seed
or polygamy in one Of the most beau
t1tul sections of southern Wisconsin.
It was in Spring Prairie township,
WalWorth county, that followers of
Joseph Smith took up with a new lea
der and founded the village Of Voree.
Through a period of six decades these
OF the undertaking of a queer people
that ended in disaster and failure.
Within the limits of the abandoned
village had been found two golden
plates and the roots of the oak tree
that marked the spot are still to be
foud. The stone quarry that furnished
the material for the substantial build
lngs that were reared to house polyga-
nous colony is still in operation.
House OF tho Prophet.
There is still standing stone house
IN which the prophet maintained a
household Of two wives, and across the
river is another in which two more
were taken care Of In clump of
cherry trees are the foundation stone
OF what was once temple, and within
ten minutes ride Is the deserted bury
ing ground where Mormon bones are
rotting to dust.
Living around the place are men who
were boys when the Mormon village
was III full swing. A steel bridge now
spans White river where once the Nor
mons maintained a ferry. The village
had been located on both sides Of
meanders through Spring Prairie town.
ship Of Walworth county and then
empties into Fork river.
In 1874, before the shooting of Joseph
Smith, there appeared in Spring Prairie
township a sinister-appearing individ-
ual, who gave his names as James J.
Strang and his occupation that of a
lawyer.
On the death Of Nauvoo Prophet,
Strang claimed to receive an appoint
ment as the successor of Smith to lead
the Mormon church. The Nauvoo people
had scattered after Smiths death and
A ooooiy AuLAOSl "CIc dltEdClSU u
Strang.
strang bought 200 acres Of as fine
land as there was to be found in
Southern Wisconsin, all lying on one
tract washed by the White. The place
was plated and named Voree, name
that hangs to it yet.
Strang proceeded to appoint patri-
archs, high priest, twelve apostles and
likewise following Of seventy"
On Sept. 10, 1S45, everything being
ready, Strang directed Aaron Smith,
high priest; Jirah B. Walker, j. M.
Van Ostrand and Edward Whitcomb to
an oak tree on the east line of Spring
Prairie township. Digging beneath the
roots Of this there there were unearthed
three golden plates in a case Of baked
clay. The priests reported the find and
Strang translated the inscription to
mean that Joseph Smith had appointed
him as his successor.
In one of the buildings there is still
standing, the one that the neighbors
say was occupied by Strang and his
two wives, Betsey and Mary. There
was published paper known as the
Voree Herald. Later it became the
Reveille. and finally the Gospel Herald
There are sufficient number Of
buildings left to show that a certain
style of architecture was followed. They
were all of stone. the openings for doors