Sectes

A History of the Grand Traverse Region by Dr. M. L. Leach written for the Grand Traverse Herald Traverse City Michigan. Copyrighted 1883 by Thos. T. Bates. Contains significant content on the Strangite settlement of the early "Mormon" Latter-day Saint church.

1883 · 64232 — Traverse City MI: Grand Traverse Herald Thomas T. Bates editor and proprietor 1883. First edition. Very Good . 59pp. Quarto 29 cm; in original side-stapled binding three staples and tan printed wrappers. Internal pages printed in three columns. Condition is very good with minor foxing as well as some small bumps and minor chips at the edges of the wraps. Very mild toning to the internal pages. " "Mormons" - p. 30" written in a contemporary hand in neat pencil at the bottom of the front wrap. Rare. Chapters 18-24 pages 30-44 deal with the "Mormon" Strangite settlement that was centered at Beaver Island and led by James Strang. <br /> <br /> An interesting albeit slanted contemporary account of the saga of 'King James' and the Strangites. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith there was some dispute to who was in charge. Brigham Young claimed the mantle of leadership. Joseph Smith's heirs claimed the leadership for their family. And James Strang a relatively unknown convert from Wisconsin claimed the leadership of the fledgling LDS Church. Strang's claim came from a letter he received from Joseph Smith shortly before his murder urging Brother Strang to set up a colony in the isolated area of Wisconsin where the Saints could be free from persecution. During Strang's short lived leadership the 'Strangites' turned the wilds of Beaver Island into a private kingdom for their revered leader. Flake/Draper 4817.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /> The chapter/subject headings dealing with the "Mormon" Strangite content read as follows:<br /> <br /> "Chapter XVIII: The Mormon Settlement on Beaver Island - Strang is a Prophet Priest and King - Several Kinds of Subjects - Polygamy - "Consecration" - Religion and Robbery - Destroying Angels - Forts - Society of the Illuminati - The Covenant - Mormon Worship."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XIX: Pretended Loyalty to the State - Mormon Depredations - Horses and Cattle Stolen - Tannery Robbed and Burned - Piracy - Men Robbed on the Island and set Adrift in a Boat - Gentile Fisherman - Strang and Gen. Miller on an Expedition - Fisherman and Refugees at Pine River - A Battle."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XX: Mr. Dixon and family at Pine River - The Mormons Already There - Reorganization of Emmet County - The First Township Meeting - County Election Controlled by Mormons from Beaver Island - Property Stolen - Mormon Picnic on Holy Island - Intimidation - Mr. and Mrs. Sterling - The Women Left Alone - A Mormon Plundering Party - Preparation for Defense - A Night Watching."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XXI: Mrs. Dixon's Journey - Difficulties of the Way - Surprise at Bear Creek - Return to Pine River - A Courageous Woman's Stratagem - A Part of the Stolen Property Found - The Mormons Commence a Lawsuit - Sterling Leaves - Arrival of Pratt - A Consultation - Women and Children Sent Away - Arrival of Friends - Watching for Thieves - Pine River abandoned by the "Gentiles."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XXII: The Wheat and the Tares - Bitter Indignation Against the Mormons - The Conspirators - How to Enforce a Dress Reform - Strang Makes Enemies at Home - "Forty Stripes Save One" - Plans of the Conspirators - Assassination of Strang - The Assassins of Mackinac - General Rejoicing Among the "Gentiles."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XXIII: Fisherman's Expedition - Retribution - The Innocent Suffer with the Guilty - Narrative of a Mormon Witness - The Mormons Driven From Pine River."<br /> <br /> "Chapter XXIV: The Pine River Country after the Expulsion of the Mormons - Arrival of Immigrants - The Rover and her Passengers - Mr. Dixon's Return - Mr. and Mrs. John Miller - A Dream and its Fulfillment - A Mormon Demand for Rent - Early Settlers on Pine Lake - Lost in the Woods. Grand Traverse Herald [Thomas T. Bates, editor and proprietor] unknown