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
Father now thought it best to move to the head of the island, his work
being there with Mr. Cable. We were beginning to fear the Mormons, as
they had greatly changed toward us. In their travels up and down the
island they most always stopped at our house. And sometimes there would
be five or six, and very often they would ask for a meal, which we never
refused to give them. Very often they remained all night, and then they
were always sure to let us see the big knives they carried hanging to
the belt they wore. Towards the last of our stay they carried a gun with
them as well. When they came to our doors they never rapped, but simply
walked in and helped themselves to a chair. We were told by some of
their own people who were disgusted with Strang's doctrine that these
men were just obeying the King's commands. He was trying to make all the
Gentile people know the Mormons were to have their own way on the
island. Just as fast as the Gentiles moved away from the Mormon
settlement the Mormons followed and built their homes near to them. The
Bennett brothers had already left their home at the harbor and gone to
the Gentile settlement.
THE COUNTY SEAT OF SAINT JAMES.
Strang had now got the county organized, being attached to Mackinac
county; later it was changed to Manitou county. The county seat and post
office was at the harbor, named in honor of the King "Saint James." The
island was divided into three districts and townships. The town at the
harbor was named in honor of the Indian Chief at Garden Island, town of
"Peain." The district at the head of the Island was called Gallilee, the
center, Troy, the lower, Enoch. Strang was always very kind to the
Indians, trying hard to have the Chief "Peain" give him one of his
handsome daughters for a wife, which the Chief refused to do. Strang now
established a school for the Indians at his own expense, sent a young
Mormon over to Garden Island, where he taught school for three years. At
a later date the government appointed teachers and gave many years of
schools to the Indians, my husband being one of the teachers appointed.
Chief "Peain" ruled his tribe with great kindness and firmness. He was a
man of noble appearance. Their tribe was the Ottawas. Myself and husband
remained on their island as teachers two years, from '62 to '64. Chief
"Peain" was always the friend of the Chemokamon (white man.)
MOUNT PISGAH AND INLAND LAKES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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