Doraville Whitney was the first Black settler in Isabella County in 1860.  The first documentation of an African-American settler in Mecosta County Michigan was James Guy.  His deed was signed by Abraham Lincoln.  He  obtained 160 acres in Wheatland Township on May 30, 1861. Lloyd & Margaret Guy were the first Black settlers in Montcalm County in 1861. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed each settler 160 acres in Michigan.  By 1873 African-Americans owned 1,392 acres in the three counties of Isabella, Mecosta and Montcalm.  In the 1860's most of the land in Remus was owned by the Old Settlers. 

Pictures Courtesy of:

Tina Allen

Connye Moore-Richardson

 

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)

THE  SNEAK PREVIEW OF BANNEKER MEMORIAL PROTOTYPE, Sept 27,2007

 

Benjamin Banneker was African American mathematician and amateur astronomer, calculated ephemeredes for almanacs for the years 1792 through 1797 that were widely distributed.

 

Benjamin Banneker Memorial

 

The Lett family is descended from the marriage of Samuel Delaney-Lett, who married Jemima Banneker. Jemima was born free in the 1730’s. Her grandmother was the Englishwoman Molly Walsh who had come to America as an indentured servant. Upon working off her indebtedness, she bought a farm and slaves. She freed one of the slaves “Banna Ka” of Senegal and married him. Their daughter Mary married a freed slave Robert who took the Bannaker surname (taken from the name Baana Ka) rather than to use the surname of his former master.  Robert and Mary were the parents of Jemima and Benjamin Banneker.

 

Bannaker Memorial

 

Tina Allen was commissioned to

sculpt Benjamin Banneker

 

Tina Allen

 

Tina Allen with Banneker

 

 

 

Peggy Seats, Founder/CEO

Washington Interdependence Council

Administrators of the Banneker Memorial

202.387.3380 phone

202.387.6976 fax

Tina Allen- the sculptor of the Banneker

26 " bronze model for the 20 to 25 foot casting.

Allen Studios
8840 Gaviota Ave.
North Hills, CA 91343
www.tinaallen.com Please check out the website(818) 920-5108 studio

 

 

Please contact Marvin Lett for questions about the "Letter from Home" and "Transitions."  Please send any newsworthy item to Marvin at:  mlett@chartermi.net

 

Contact Webmaster:  Marsha (Todd) Stewart

 

 

 

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Benjamin Banneker

 

There are "Old Settlers" who came from Canada via "The Underground Railroad."  It was the most dramatic nonviolent protest against slavery in the United States that began in the Colonial Era and reached its peak between 1830 and 1865. An estimated 30,000 to 100,000 slaves used the "railroad" to get to Canada; many others escaped to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.
 

 

 

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   Revised: 10/02/07