• Woodstock's most trusted news source since '87
  • Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Trust the Torch!

Subscribe
Main Menu

The King of Confidence’: 19th century idealist, con man subject of next Creative Living program

Text to friend
James Strang was “a very complicated human being,” author Miles Harvey said. “He was a complete opportunist but partly an idealist.”

A polygamist, a thief, and a cheat, James Strang proclaimed himself divine king of earth, heaven, and the 78-square-mile Beaver Island, Mich., before he was assassinated in 1856. “The most […]

Subscribe or Login to continue reading this quality article by The Woodstock Independent

Start a free trial, then pay only $6 per month after

Free Trial
Login
Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
All Posts
Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
All Posts

Share

Keep Exploring

For Pete’s sake … a tribute

Peter Anderson would admonish me for writing about him instead of focusing this column on the start of the 2025 –’26 school year. But I will accept Pe…
August 13, 2025

New Metra warming shelter expected in 2026

By Larry Loughlarry@thewoodstockindepenDEnt.com Woodstock’s train station should get its long-awaited warming shelter for Metra riders next year. And …
August 13, 2025

Trust the Torch!

Information

Submissions

Community

Contact

Subscriber Access

Login

Need an account? 

What can we help you find?

Search

Popular Topics