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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. |
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Little River Letts
Pictures Courtesy
Marguerite Berry-Jackson
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Mary Ann
Gross-Lett
(Mrs. Gabriel Lett) |
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William, Charles,
Lillian, Walter, Emma Lett
Children of Gabriel &
Mary Ann Gross-Lett |
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Walter & Cora Lett |
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| Lillian & Cora
Lett-Ricks |
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Emma Lett & Ida (Lett) Porter |
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Geraldine & Helen Chambers
Mother Stella Lett-Chambers |
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Donald Lett Son of
Walter & Myrtle Byrd-Lett
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Harold Lett
Son of Cora Lett-Ricks & Grandson
of Gabriel & Mary
Ann Lett |
Gabriel and Mary Ann Gross-Lett came from
Champaign County, Goshen Township, Ohio on August 16, 1870. They
traveled by two white oxen pulling a covered wagon. They settled
in Mecosta County living in various places until buying a 40 acre farm
in Little River. Gabriel Lett, the son of Ephriam Lett and
Elizabeth Green-Lett was born in 1838 in Virginia. He was united
in marriage to Mary Ann Gross, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Gross
who was born in 1842. (SEE GROSS FAMILY)
To this union nine children were born. Before leaving Ohio four
children were born: Amanda, 1863, Mahalia J., 1865, Ida Ann,
1866, and Emily 1868. Five more children were born after coming
to Michigan; Cora, Charles, William and Lillian (twins) and
Walter 1883. Gabriel Lett had brothers and sisters who remained
in Ohio and Virginia. they were: Dan, Sarah, Amelia, Rosa
A., and Mahalia. A brother Sam came to Michigan.
Back to Top
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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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