Strang had already settled in his mind to locate at Cheboygan, Mich.,
having looked over the location. Mackinac Island being just near enough
for him to get their supplies. At that time Mackinac Island was the
largest fish market in northern Michigan, furnishing supplies to the
whole north shore and fishermen among the great number of islands, its
several stores furnishing everything necessary to the people around and
being in close touch with the outside world, having a postoffice and
mails coming there from Detroit.
But when Strang saw Beaver Island, its beautiful harbor, fine timber and
natural beauty of scenery, the thought came to him like an inspiration,
and he said, "This is where I will come to build up my kingdom." And
when he saw all the improvements being done he had no doubt but he could
soon have all the people about the shore as his followers. But there was
much to hinder before he could persuade many of his followers to come
and locate on a lonely island, as it seemed to them, in the middle of
Lake Michigan. Also Strang's wife was not a believer in the Mormon
doctrine, having no faith in the revelations he claimed to have: but
Strang had a great command of language and possessed a strong will
power. He at last persuaded a few of his followers to come with him to
Beaver Island, where they landed from a steamer in the early part of
June, 1848, two years after he had first seen the island. About
twenty-five people came with him, and before navigation closed over a
hundred more had landed, most of them being all unprepared for a long,
cold winter on an island where the snows were extremely deep in winter.