Michigan Tidbits

Many of you have probably wondered where I get my infomation.  Most of it comes from "Michigan A History of the Great Lakes State" by Bruce A. Rubenstein.  It was one of my texts for a History class I had taken.  Todays tidbit will be about a little known subject that many are unaware of.  The King of the Beaver Islands.  The story starts with a man named James Strang during the years of 1847 through 1856.  James Strang was a Mormon who opposed Brigham Young's views on polygamy, so when Young and his followers decided to go to Salt Lake City, Utah, Strang and others that shared his belief of monogamy went to Rancine, Wisconsin.  Two years later Strang and his fellow Mormons came to the Beaver Islands where Strang proclaimed himself King an announcement that was unexceptable to Michiganians.  Strang's coming enabled Michigan to be the only state ever to have a king ruling over a protion of its territory after its admission to the Union. The relationship between Mormons and Gentiles were strained to say the least.  Strangs intentions were to gain complete econimical and political control of Mackinac and make Mormonism a political control in Michigan.  After futile attempts from Michiganians to dethrone Strang, he decided to use the law to his benefit.  Strang declared war on Michigan which gained him national recognition.  After being arrested and taken to Detroit to stand trial, Strang contended that he was being persecuted for religious beliefs and all charges were dropped.  As a reward for delivering the entire Mormon vote for the democratic party, the Beaver Islands were made a separate county from Mackinac.  Strang became the counties justice of the peace, county supervisor, chairman of the Board of Health and a member of legislature. Strang's followers weredisappointed when Strang started acting more like a Gentiles they disliked and disposed him from the church for drinking and taking up polygamy.  Therefore his fellow Mormons joined fores with the Gentile to overthrow King Strang.  When the warship Michigan arrived in the bay at Beaver Island, Strang even though he was aware of the plot to overthrow him he didn't believe it he thought that they were there to protect him since he was a member of the legislature.  He went to the dock to greet the warship and was shot in the back by his fellow Mormons. "After Strangs death his followers lost all sense of power and direction.  Soon a drunken mob of Gentiles went to Beaver Islands, looted homes and stores, raped women, seized land, livestock and farm equipment, burned the church and bibles and drove all 2,500 Mormons from the islands.Within two weeks of Strang,s death his people were scattered from Green Bay to Chicago and the kingdom was ended"(Rubenstein 95).  I hope you enjoyed this tidbit until next time.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

Many do not know how active Michigan was in the Underground Railroad.  Michigan was considered the Bastion of Free Men, and assisted escaped slaves to reach free soil.  Providing them with clothing, farm implements, and tools to start a new life as a free man.  Michigan was an intrical part of the underground railroad and had many stations that provided safety for runaway slaves to reach their destination.  Nonly was Michigan and anti slavery it also attracted many abolitionist.  It was a harsh place to be if you were a slave catcher. Michiganians dealt with them severly. Michigan formed its own organization called the "Stockholders" and actually posted adds in the local papers dipicting there movements, intentions and the arrival of escaped slaves.  In disreguard for federal law Michigan legislature passed a Personal Liverty Law requiring local prosecutors to defend escaped slaves and forbidding the use  of county jails to detain runaways.  Those Michiganian were a very crude bunch when they believed in something we can only trust that their strength will carry on.

Michigan Tidbits

Hello everyone,

Did you know there use to be a Satus Ladder established by General Motors?  Purchasers with less money bought Chevroletsl hen with more income they bought  Pontiac,Oldsmobile, and Buick. As their income increased they bought the top of the line car Cadillacs.  I wonder how a status ladder would have woked today with all the different types of cares in todays market? Would there be different ladders?  One for todays economy and one for green pleople? Just a little food for thought.

Did you know that Michigan actually had a King after they became a state?  If you want to know more please look at my next post.   Have a great day.  Until later.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

I often wondered how cities named their streets and about the original names of institutions.  For instance the city of Detroit, most of the streets are named after political figures in Michigan. Such as, Bagley, Pingree, Groesbeck, and Cass were all governors of Michigan.  Streets named Mack Avenue, Van Dyke, Couzens, Lodge and Jefferies freeways wre named after mayors of Detroit.  I still wonder if this was the norm for many cities.
That brings us to name's of institutions we are familiar with that had a entirely different name when they were first established.  As an example, lets look at Michigan colleges.  Here are some great examples of how their names have changed over the years.  I will give you their original name and how it is known today.  Michigan Agricultural College ( Michigan State University), The Michigan School of Mines ( Michigan Technology University), and General Institute of Flint (Kettering University).  Isn't it amazing how progress and the maturity of a state affects the name of institutions? Stay tuned for the next post. You will be surprised.
Until next time,
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

In my last post I talked about some interesting facts about Michigan.  This post will contain historic facts that many people are unaware of.  Did you know that Michigan was the birth place of the Republican Party or that Michigan advertised nationally and internationally for residents so that they would have enough residents to become a state?

In an oak grove in Jackson, Michigan on July 6, 1854 1,500 delegates a combination of Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats that were against slavery, assembled to discuss the repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and Fugitive Slave Law banded together creating the Republican Party.

In a six page pamphlet, State of Michigan - 1845 - To Emigrants which gave general information about the state, praised its resources, and included a map.  Over 5,000 brochures were printed and distributed to potential immigrants.  Germans were recruited for settlement because they were stauncly religious, family oriented, educated and industrious.  The Cornish were recruited for their mining abilities.  The Irish were hard workers and looking for a better life.  The Danes, Swedes, Finns, and Norwegians were recruited for their lumbering skills. This continued until 1890, when the American Protective Association of michigan was founded and supported restricted immigration laws.

I hope you enjoyed these Michigan tidbits.
Until my next post have a great day.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

Being a native Michigander, Michiganian, or Michiganite all of which are acceptable, I decided to dedicate this blog to postings about Michigan with facts that I thought would be interesting to anyone who may read this.  If you have something interesting to add or ask feel free to do so.
Did you know that Michigan has 36,000 miles of rivers and streams and 10,000 inland lakes?  There are 5 major rivers that wind though Michigan:  the Grand River, Kalamazoo River, St. Clair River, and the St. Marys River.  Also, 5 great lakes:  Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, and Lake St. Clair.  One might think with all this water Michigan would float away.  With the help of bordering states like Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin they make sure that she doesn't.  If she did Canada would catch her.  That's enough fun facts for now. Talk to you later with more interesting tidbits on Michigan.
Cinda