Richard Carrothers

	Carrothers

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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.

Richard Carrothers

Picture Courtesy of Marguerite

Berry-Jackson

John Berry, Sr., Melinda (Minnie) Berry-Carrothers holding Norman D., Jr. (Nubbs) & Norman Douglas Carrothers

Ely, MI Shingle Mill 1905

Richard Carrothers was born in Virginia. He married Frances Spear, also of Virginia. They moved to Drake County, OH, where they raised their family of two. James Richard was born June 10, 1843 and died July 5, 1928. Dates of their son Daniel are unknown.

James Richard Carrothers married Harriett Perdue and to this union six children were born: Edward December 26, 1870 in Eau Claire; Norman Wallace born June 21, 1874 in Pipestone, MI; Oscar born May 8, 1877 in Covert, MI; Minnie born May 17 1880 in Covert; Alfred born August 4, 1883 in Covert and Effie Jane, born July 18, 1891 in Mecosta, MI. Harried died in Mecosta, MI.

James Richard Carrothers met his second wife when visiting at the William Berry home. Her name was Annie Anderson-Madison. She had three children: Joseph, Vivian and Rowena. They moved to Coloma after their marriage. James Richard Carrothers died in 1928 and Annie Anderson-Carrothers died in 1930.

No information is available for Edward Carrothers.

Norman Wallace Carrothers, second son of James Richard Carrothers and Harriet Perdue-Carrothers married Ida Morgan, daughter of Aaron and Johanna Lett-Morgan. to this union two children were born: Mabel (1896-1918) and James Aaron, (1900-1983). Ida died of typhoid fever and the children were raised by the Morgan family in Mecosta.

Norman then married Malinda Dianne Berry, daughter of Isaac and Lucy Millard-Berry. to this union three children were born: Norman Douglas, August 1, 1904 in Ely, MI; Mildred July 25, 1906 and Muriel, January 16, 1908. Malinda also died. After Malinda's death, he married Cebe Mason-Wright. He later married Mary Helen Dickerson and a Winifred. No last name is known. No children were born to these marriages. Norman Wallace Carrothers, Sr. died April 2, 1942.


	Carrothers

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.