A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons — John Shaqi
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
My father had now finished his contract with Mr. Frankle at the mill.
Hearing that there were many people settling on "Beaver Island," several
families that we knew from York State, Ohio and Canada, he made up his
mind to go there. Our goods were put on board the staunch little ship
"Eliza Caroline," the vessel my father had built the year before. The
Chief and his daughter Mary came to say good-by. Good-bys were said to
our good neighbors across the river in the big house. We had all become
very dear friends to each other. There were many kind wishes and
God-speeds for us when the Captain said "all aboard." White sails were
set and we glided from the river out onto Lake Michigan just as the sun
was sinking in the west. Darkness soon shut out the forms of our friends
that stood waving to us from the shore. We knew we were once more out on
the water on God's great rolling cradle of the sea. We children, with
mother and grandpa, said our prayers in the little cabin and were soon
fast asleep with the sound of the rippling waves singing to us a sweet
lullaby of peace and rest.
_PART II._
BEAVER ISLAND.
Beaver Island was once the home of the Mormons. This island is the
largest in the group of islands in lake Michigan, containing about
fifteen thousand acres of land.
To many who may read these pages it may seem like a fairy tale to know
that a kingdom ever existed within the borders of the United States. A
kingdom has existed, and that little kingdom was on Beaver Island, now
commonly known as St. James, being named in honor of him who made
himself a king. James Jesse Strang was born and educated in New York
State, graduated from the Fredonia Academy of the same state. He studied
law and was classed among the brilliant lawyers of his day. In his eight
years rule on Beaver Island he was twice elected to the State
Legislature of Michigan. His speeches were considered among the most
brilliant delivered in the halls of Lansing, the State Capitol. He spoke
with ease, his manner was winning, he aimed to be a leader. Strang was
living at Voree, Wis., at the time of Joseph Smith's death at Nauvoo,
Ill. Having joined the Mormon Church he now claimed to have "Divine
Revelations" from God that he was chosen to fill Joseph Smith's place to
lead the people left without a leader. After a hard struggle which he
made for the leadership, Brigham Young was chosen as Smith's successor.
BEAVER ISLAND CHOSEN AS A KINGDOM.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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