James Powell

	James Powell

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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.

James Powell

Pictures Courtesy of

Lillian Mumford and Terri Lynn Cassidy

James Powell's Father

Louisa Powell

Mother of

Andrew Flowers

Albert Powell,

Pauline Powell-Simpson

& Orville D. Powell

John Sherman & Nellie Powell

The James Powell Family came from the Fenwick area. It is recorded in the Montcalm County Records of 1880 that James Powell married Miranda. The known children of this family are: Pharaoh, Alfred, Grant, Sarah, Sherman, Mary, Adam, Louisa, Rosetta--(nicknamed Lade married a Van Camp), Lottie, Bub and Jack.

Louisa married Andrew T. Flowers II. (SEE FLOWERS). Lade married Jerry Van Camp. They lived in the Boyne City. Their children were: Jay, Frank, Monroe, Toots, Sylvia, Emma and Clara. Tuberculosis took several in this family. Andrew and Louisa's first home was about 3.5 miles south of Remus, and 1/4 mile east. Later moved about 3.5 miles north of Remus. (This property was later owned by their grandson, Andrew Forest.) They had 12 children.

There is no known information available for Lottie, Bub and Jack.


	James Powell

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.