Strang, Elizabeth

STRANG, TILLMAN, DENIO, MCNUTT

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2019 at 13:20:50

Biography ~ Elizabeth "Betsey" (McNutt) Strang
August 17, 1820 ~ September 22, 1897

Elizabeth "Betsey" McNutt Strang, the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Tillman) McNutt, was born on August 17, 1820 in Preble County, Ohio. As an adult, Betsey joined the Strangite Mormon religion and moved to Beaver Island, Michigan, where she became the 3rd plural wife of the charismatic leader of the group, James Jesse Strang.

After James' assassination [July 9, 1856, Spring Prairie, Wisconsin] by two exiled members of the group, Betsey and her family became quasi nomads moving to places such as St. Joseph's Island, Algoma, Canada, Preble County, Ohio, and Jackson County, Wisconsin, before moving to Lamoni, Iowa.

As one of five plural wives of James Jesse Strang, she held a place of importance within the Strangite Mormon group on both Beaver Island, Michigan, and in Jackson County, Wisconsin.

Betsey died on September 21, 1897 at Lamoni, Iowa, and was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery. She was survived by two daughters, Evangeline Strang Denio (1853-1915) and Abigail Utopa Strang McNutt (1857-1921), and one son, Gabriel Strang. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Jesse Strang, and one son, David James Strang, who died less than 10 days after his birth.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2016