Strangite Mormons
James Jesse Strang claimed that on June 27, 1844, a few hours after the murder of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, that an angel appeared to Strang and anointed him Smith's successor. The Mormon church's leadership rejected Strang and appointed Brigham Young to lead the church. Young and the majority of the Mormons eventually settled in what would become Utah, while Strang and his followers moved to Voree, Wisconsin, to establish their own church. Between 1847 and 1850 the Strangite Mormons left Voree and relocated to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan.
On Beaver Island, Strang mixed religion with worldly ambition. Two hundred thirty five of Strang's followers witnessed Strang's coronation as the self-proclaimed king of Beaver Island on July 8, 1850. King Strang's actions toward the non-Mormon residents of Beaver Island quickly became of interest to both state and federal authorities, who issued indictments against him and his followers. Despite legal problems, Strang was elected to the state legislature in 1852. Strang was a lightning rod of religious and civil turmoil that culminated on June 16, 1856 in an attempt on Strang's life. The mortally wounded Strang was carried by ship to Wisconsin, where he died on July 9. Strang's murderers were never punished.
The Clarke Historical Library has one of the finest collections in the nation of material regarding the Strangite Mormons. The Clarke possesses a large number of the publications issued from Strang's printing press on Beaver Island. Even more significant is an excellent collection of letters and diaries written by Strang and his followers that tell their innermost views. A strong collection of photographs visually tells the story of Michigan's Mormon kingdom.