1850 - James Jesse Strang Crowned King On this date James Jesse Strang, leader of the estranged Mormon faction, the Strangites, was crowned king; the only man to achieve such a title in America. When founder Joseph Smith was assassinated, Strang forged a letter from Smith dictating he was to be the heir. The Mormon movement split into followers of Strang and followers of Brigham Young. As he gained more followers (but never nearly as many as Brigham Young), Strang became comparable to a Saint, and in 1850 was
crowned King James in a ceremony in which he wore a discarded red robe of a Shakespearean actor, and a metal crown studded with a cluster of stars as his followers sang him hosannas. Soon after his crowning, he announced that Mormonism embraced and supported polygamy. (Young's faction was known to have practiced polygamy, but had not at this time announced it publicly.) A number of followers lived in Walworth County, including Strang at a
home in Burlington. In 1856 Strang was himself assassinated, leaving five wives. Without Strang's leadership, his movement disintegrated. [Source:
Wisconsin Saints and Sinners, by Fred L. Holmes, p. 106-121]
1881 - Ice Cream Sundae Invented On this date druggist and soda fountain owner Ed Berners of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, was asked by a customer to top a dish of ice cream with chocolate sauce, an ingredient previously used only in ice cream sodas.
The new tasty treat became very popular, though it was only served on Sundays. According to H.L. Mencken, the sundae got its official name after a little girl demanded a dish of ice cream 'with that stuff on top' on a different day. Numerous other locations claim to have created the first ice cream sundae, and it is unclear which community deserves the title to having invented this great American treat.. [Source:
Two Rivers Historical Society]