This is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever read.

This is James Jesse Strange. In 1844 he was baptized into the Mormon Church by Joseph Smith himself.

Wikipedia Within a month, he was recognized as a Church elder and Smith sent him to Wisconsin to create a Mormon Settlement. He chose Voree, a town west of Burlington in southern Wisconsin.

Less than six months after Strang joined the church, Smith was assassinated and Strang was one of three people who wanted to claim leadership of the church.

Wikipedia Strang, being new to the religion, faced an uphill battle against others who were more well known.

Strang produced a letter that he said was from Smith himself, mailed a week before his death that named Strang his successor.

Wikipedia From there, he also claimed that Voree was the chosen Mormon settlement location and said an angel guided him to uncover three small gold plates that were etched in words that only Strang could read. Of course, that was pretty much exactly the story Smith had used in his explanation of the founding of Mormonism. Needless to say, Strang was not chosen as the next leader. Brigham Young was chosen as Smith’s successor and Strang decided to break off and form his own sect.

The Strangites still remain to this day as a sect of the Mormon Church. But non-Mormons moved into the area, so Strang moved his followers to Beaver Island, MI.

Wkipedia That story would be interesting enough, but there’s more. Strang took a secret second wife and disguised the relationship by introducing her as a man. It was so convincing that her family believed she was missing.

In 1850, he upped the ante even more by naming himself “King of the Kingdom of God on Earth.” He had a coronation in front of a few hundred followers.

He started to tithe to the fishermen and others who lived on the island. He then made polygamy mandatory and all of his male followers were required to have at least two wives. At this point, Strangites were the only folks on Beaver Island. President Millard Fillmore tried to bring the King in hand, charging him with all kinds of crimes. Strang defended himself and won against the federal government.

Wikipedia

Within a month, he was recognized as a Church elder and Smith sent him to Wisconsin to create a Mormon Settlement. He chose Voree, a town west of Burlington in southern Wisconsin.

Strang, being new to the religion, faced an uphill battle against others who were more well known.

From there, he also claimed that Voree was the chosen Mormon settlement location and said an angel guided him to uncover three small gold plates that were etched in words that only Strang could read. Of course, that was pretty much exactly the story Smith had used in his explanation of the founding of Mormonism. Needless to say, Strang was not chosen as the next leader. Brigham Young was chosen as Smith’s successor and Strang decided to break off and form his own sect.

Wkipedia

That story would be interesting enough, but there’s more. Strang took a secret second wife and disguised the relationship by introducing her as a man. It was so convincing that her family believed she was missing.

In 1850, he upped the ante even more by naming himself “King of the Kingdom of God on Earth.” He had a coronation in front of a few hundred followers.

Strang headed back to his settlement and things were quiet for a few years. In 1856, King Strang caught his business partner in bed with one of his wives, so he quickly had him publicly lashed 79 times. Members of their settlement who were already unhappy with other Strang mandates were easily rallied by the business partners, and the mob attacked Strang. He was shot three times and was clearly dying. He was put on a boat back to Voree and he died on July 8, 1856. He’s buried in Burlington Cemetery.

And that’s how a tiny Mormon settlement in south central Wisconsin was the home and final resting place of the only King to be crowned in America.

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