Backus Told Strang's Story

Source - The King of Beaver Island by Charles K. Backus

Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University houses a Strangite Collection, which included letters sent and received by Clement J. Strang.

Letter #7

Postmarked July 18 [Probably 1875]

C.J. Strang

Respected Friend:

Your postal came.  I will send the Diamond.  It is the only one I have.  I am jealous of the man Backus, and fear that he will not give James J. Strang a fair representation.  Would it not be well to hint to him?

I have a letter from young Joseph, in which he offered to let me be a co-worker if I will affiliate with his disciples.  But I cannot adopt his and usurpation.

Other Notes:

Joseph in Plano, Illinois    Sept 1877....Where is Clement and how is your mother's husband....Gabriel is in Ohio, or was last I heard from him.

Clement Strang

Clement Strang indicated (in a letter) that he had made his home with Thomas Phillips, the husband of his sister Eugenia. He (Clement) published the Independent, a local paper for the City and vicinity of Black River Falls, Wisconsin.  

Clement Strang (minister) was living in Antrim Co., Michigan, in 1900; he was also living in Michigan with his mother and stepfather in 1870.

An article dated March of 1898 indicated that Clement J. Strang was a publisher of the Sunfield Sentinel in Michigan according to the Deseret Evening News.

Apparently Clement Strang was a Sparty (graduate of Michigan State).

In 1910 Clement was living in Austin, Texas:

United States Census, 1910

name:  Clemment J Strang

birthplace:  Michigan

residence:  Austin Ward 6, Travis, Texas

father's birthplace:  New York

mother's birthplace:  Ohio

Household Gender Age Birthplace

self  Clemment J Strang M 55y  Michigan

wife Nevada M Strang F 43y  Michigan

Ruth Strang F 7y  Illinois

From THE SEBEWA RECOLLECTOR Historical Newsletter:

"In 1944, Clement J. Strang was in Yankton, South Dakota, where he died and was brought back to Michigan for burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery."

What About Thomas Bedford?

The Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University, included a Strangite Collection.  One item was a letter from Clement Strang of Benzonia, Michigan, to Stanley Johnson of Onaway, Michigan, dated September 2, 1938.  A topic of the letter was the behavior of Thomas Bedford, including his part in the assassination of Clement's father, James Jesse Strang (1813-1856).

Clement Strang was born on 20 December 1854.  He moved to Jackson County, Michigan.  In 1858 he was in Eaton County, Michigan, and lived with his mother's brother, Albert Field.  His Uncle Albert's wife, Jane Miller, was Thomas Bedford's sister-in-law.

[Source]

In a September 18, 1938, letter Clement Strang posed the following question to Stanley Johnson, now an elder:

"What is your reaction to my story about Tom Bedford?  Do you agree with Apostle Hickey that I and my brother Charley should have killed him as soon as we were old enough to hunt him...up and do the job?"

An earlier (similar) post and another one here.

Alvord Letter Regarding Mr. Hickey

Muscatah, Kansas
August 11, 1891

Brother Joseph,

In your late letters to me you state Mr. Hickey is not trustworthy as a teacher of the Law. Will you point out in what respect you know him not to be trustworthy. Please give me and my wife the things you know. If he is an imposter tell us the particulars.

When I was in western Kansas he came out (and) got us to sell our farm and move to Independence, Mo., and we came here and settled. He has not baptized me but baptized my wife. Please give us the facts as you know them.

Respectfully,

D. B. Alvord

Please reply by letter or Herald.


From the Strangite Collection at the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (as was this and this).

A Post At The Archives of Michigan

The Archives of Michigan posted an article by Christiane Evaskis entitled "The Kingdom of St. James," on 4 Aug 2009, about the life and times of James J. Strang, featuring his time at Beaver Island, Michigan.

Here are three related articles recently posted to my blog, Detour Through History:

Excerpts From The Strangite Collection
Elvira E. Field Strang
Family Relationship of James J. Strang's Assassin

We plucked the same historical figure from the 1800's to blog about at approximately the same time! Wow. I feel even more connected to the SeekingMichigan.org site.

The Family Relationship of James J. Strang's Assassin, Thomas Bedford

James Strang, who once vied with Brigham Young for the leadership of the Latter Day Saints, formed his own group, the Strangites. Jesse James (later known as James Jesse) Strang's (brief) autobiography in the Michigan Pioneer & Historical Collections can be found here (which also includes a biography).

Apparently, a rift between Thomas Bedford and James Strang originated in a dispute over bloomers. Strang, as "King" of Beaver Island, proclaimed that his female "subjects" were mandated to wear bloomers and could no longer wear dresses. A power struggle ensued; Mrs. Bedford was one who rebelled against this edict and Thomas Bedford backed his wife. Thomas Bedford, who became more outspoken, was severely whipped for his transgressions. The dispute was not going to end peacefully; Thomas Bedford and Alexander Wentworth shot the "King," James J. Strang in June of 1856; Strang was taken to Wisconsin where he died on July 9, 1856.

From the Clarke Library's Strangite Collection:

Clement Strang to Stanley Johnson (Onaway, Michigan) 2 September 1938 Re: Life and Behavior of Thomas Bedford - His part in assasination

(After the assassination of his father, James J. Strang, Clement) lived with mother's brother Albert Field. Uncle Albert's wife, Jane Miller, was a daughter (sic?) of Harrison Miller and a sister of Thomas Bedford's wife, Ruth Ann Miller.

What were the family dynamics, already unusual considering the polygamous marriage of James J. Strang and Elvira Field, when Elvira moved in with her brother and sister-in-law? Elvira's sister-in-law, Jane (Miller) Field, was the sister-in-law of Thomas Bedford, who murdered Elvira's husband, James J. Strang.

Note: The assassins were never brought to trial.

Ruth Ann (Miller) Bedford was living next door to Harrison Miller in the 1880 Census:

1880 MI Manitou, Chandler
Harrison MILLER Self M W 42 NY Cooper NY CT
Bridget MILLER Wife M W 37 IRE Keeping House IRE IRE
George H. MILLER Son S W 20 MI Sailor NY IRE
Elizabeth MILLER Dau S W 16 MI Housekeeper NY IRE
Ruth MILLER Dau S W 10 MI Attending School NY IRE
William H. MILLER Son S W 8 MI Attending School NY IRE
Julia MILLER Dau S W 6 MI Attending School NY IRE
Mary J. MILLER Dau S W 2 MI NY IRE
Next Door:
Ruth A. BEDFORD Self W W 45 NY Keeping House NY CT
Edwin E. BEDFORD Son S W 26 MI Cooper NY ENG

Ruth (Miller) Bedford died in 26 Nov 1911 in Charlevoix County, Michigan.

Albert Field died 13 April 1915 in Eaton County, Michigan.

Elvira E. Field Strang - A Strangite In Michigan

After the death of Latter Day Saints leader Joseph Smith, James Strang, Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young among others sought to succeed him. After Brigham Young became the leader, James Strang was excommunicated and became head of his own group, now known as the "Strangites."

Elvira E. Field was James J. Strang's second wife and his first polygamous wife. Since James Strang was still married when he began his relationship with Elvira, she (Elvira) traveled with James Strang as "Charles Douglas" his male secretary.

Elvira, who married John Baker in 1865 (Strang was murdered in 1856), eventually moved to Lake County, Michigan, and died on 13 June 1910, in Kent County, Michigan. John & Elvira Baker were living with John's son, Warren Baker, in Kent County when the 1910 census was taken. John Baker died 19 March 1911; the informant was Warren Baker.

In 1850 Elvira was living with her parents, Reuben & Eliza Field, and her brother Albert in (Michili)mackinac, Michigan.

In 1860, Elvira was enumerated with her brother's family:

1860 MI Eaton Co.
Field, Albert, 31, b. MA
", Mary J., 29, b. CT
", Edward H., 5, b. MI
", Isabel R., 3, b. MI
", Charlie, 1, b. MI
Field, Eliza, 61, b. MA
Strong (sic), Elvira E., 29, tailoress, b. OH
", Charlie J., 9, b. MI
", Eveline, 7, b. MI
", Clement J., 5, b. MI
", James J., 3, b. MI

Elvira & John Baker were found in the 1880 Census, Michigan, Lake County:

John BAKER M 61 NY Farmer
Elvira BAKER M 50 OH House Keeper
Emma C. BAKER S 12 MI At School
May A. BAKER S 5 MI At School
Lois NOBLES S 17 MI School Teacher

The Bakers can be found in the 1900 census here.

Excerpts From the Strangite Collection - Part One - Letters From Clement Strang

James Jesse Strang, a leading figure in the Church of Latter Day Saints, eventually led a splinter group, known as "Strangites." Not only did Mr. Strang become the group's religious leader, he envisioned himself as their king. Strang is often called the "King of Beaver Island."

In order to complete some reciprocal research, I perused the Strangite files housed at the Clarke Library***.

The Clarke Library at Central Michigan University is a repository for Strang items. Included in the Strangite Collection are letters from Clement Strang (b. Dec 1854), son of James J. & Elvira E. (Field) Strang, who married Nevada Sutherland on 21 Feb 1894 in Ingham County, Michigan. He (Clement Strang) may have also been married to Rosabelle N. Rider in 1881 in Cass County and married to Marietta Francis in 1890 in Eaton Co., Michigan.

From the Collection:

Strangite Collection at the Clarke Historical Library, Box 3 Items 6-12

"Old letters to Mr. Stanley Johnson 1936-1942 from Clement Strang." Beacon Hill Cottage - Benzonia, Michigan

Wrote to Joseph H. Hickey (three years old when Clement talked to L.D. (Lorenzo Dow Hickey*). Joseph's older two brothers and Clement's brother** were at that time serving out a stiff sentence for horse-stealing in the Ohio Penitentiary.

**Gabriel, son of James J. Strang & Betsey McNutt, robbed horses in southern MI and was sent to Ionia (he also stole horses in Ohio)

Other information in the file:

Clement Strang's brother Charley [adopted by David Grier - see bio here and gravestone here]

Moved to Jackson County, near Warren's Mills

In Brookfield Township, Eaton County, Michigan lived with mother's brother Albert Field

*From this post:

***My interest in the Jehiel Davis family began with Ann...whose first husband was Lorenzo Dow Hickey... . Lorenzo Dow Hickey (who was in Lapeer County in 1850 with his then wife, Ann (Davis) Hickey) was the ancestor of Judy in Arkansas, whose relative, Nancy Bridger, married my great-grandfather's brother, Isaac Garrett, in 1880 in Craighead Co., Arkansas.