James Bannister

	Bannister

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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.

Florence (Green) Bannister

Florence is the daughter of Gabriel Green. Gabriel came to Michigan when he was a small child from Ohio. He was raised by Daniel Pointer. Gabriel married Anna Cook on September 20, 1874, in Wheatland township. Gabriel was 25 years old and Anna was 15. Both were born in Ohio. Joseph Cummings and Aaron Morgan witnessed the marriage. The Justice of the Peace was Peter B. Gingrich who officiated the ceremony.

Gabriel and Anna Cook Green had eight children: Elmer, Clyde, William, Cal, Effie, Mabel, Florence and Margaret. Anna died when Florence was very small. Florence (Flossie) Green was born in Millbrook on May 30, 1893. Florence Green married Jim Bannister in 1090, in Boyne City, MI.

James Bannister was born April 15, 1888. His family migrated to Michigan from Canada. His mother was May Ann Perry Bannister. Jim's parents died when Jim was a small child. A relative, John Bracy raised him. James had a sister (name unknown) and two brothers: Walter and Albert.

James and Flossie Bannister moved back to the Barryton area in 1910 and later to Remus. In 1928 they moved to Lansing and in later years to Flint until their death. Both are buried in Wheatland Cemetery. Jim and Flossie Bannister had four children: Vera, Lyle, Helen and Howard. (SEE BRACY)


	Bannister

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.