A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
In one of my rides with Mary we went to the place called "Rocky Mountain
Point," where the forty thieves had their rendezvous. It was a lonely
place, with the waves rolling in over the rocky shore where we went to
the beach and the woods were dense. I had heard so many stories of the
Mormons' doings there I felt afraid and told Mary I wanted to hurry
away, which we did as fast as our horses could travel through the path.
When we came to "Page Town" then the spell was broken. No one could look
upon this beautiful place and feel fear. The view is grand out over the
water to the neighboring islands and the evergreens are most beautiful.
"Page Town" is just on the Lake Michigan side of Font Lake. We could see
the Johnson House as we rested on the bank of the lake. There were about
a dozen houses scattered about, some right near the bank and others back
in among the evergreens. It was named in honor of Mr. Page, who first
built his house there with several of his relatives. The location is
most beautiful. At this spot Lake Michigan is not quite a half mile from
Font Lake.
The land is a little rolling going out to Font Lake, which gives it a
most beautiful view all about. The road was good to the portage. We rode
around by the Station Hill, a station put there for government survey,
and is a most beautiful place for a look-out, with its white sandy beach
and clear water sparkling in the sunlight. During my stay on the island
that was always a favorite place to go for a quiet, restful stroll, and
our summer visitors never failed to visit Station Hill. There Garden
Island, with its lovely green trees, was a pleasant view.
VISITING THE LIGHT KEEPER AND HIS WIFE.
From there Mary and I turned our horses' heads toward the point to visit
the light keeper and his wife. They were a dear old couple. They would
not let us go before we had tea with them. Their children were all
married but one daughter. She was visiting with her sister, Mrs. E.
Kanter, in Detroit, and expected to remain there for the winter. The old
couple had a young boy named Anthony Frazier living with them. Their
home was a marvel of neatness. Their name was Granger. He had been
light-keeper at Bois Blanc, near Mackinac Island. His son had taken his
place and Mr. Lyman Granger had come to take charge of Beaver Island
harbor light, just erected the year before. They took us in the tower to
see the lamp It was in beautiful order. Mrs. Granger seeing to the
polishing of the lamp and fixtures herself. A few years later I was
married and lived neighbor to them until they left the light-house.
Then Mr. Peter McKinley was appointed keeper, where he remained nine
years with his two young daughters, Effie and Mary. He lost his health
soon after his appointment, but the girls took charge of the light house
and were faithful to their charge during the whole time of their stay,
finally resigning to go away.
OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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