|
 |
|
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. |
|
 |
|
SECTION 1
Thomas W. Cross
SECTION 2
Amos Cross
Section 3
Edward Cross
SECTION 4
John Cross
SECTION 5
Joseph Cross
SECTION 6
Samuel Cross
|
|
 |
Amos Cross
Pictures Courtesy of Steven M. Cross
Marvin Lett, Fern Johnson-Cross and
Marguerite (Berry) Jackson
|
 |
|
The Amos Cross Family
Front: Mary
(Mumford) & Amos Cross
Back: Evelyn, Clifford,
Roscoe, Anna, Arthur
& Homer Cross
|
|
 |
|
Arthur & Homer Cross |
|
 |
|
Arthur & Homer Cross |
|
 |
|
Another Cross Gathering at the home of
Art Cross
With a good picture viewer
you can read the
calendar on the wall
"1942"
Picture Courtesy of Steve Cross |
|
 |
|
Front L-R: Roosevelt Lewis,
Walter Holmes
Mary Cross
Evelyn Cross, Amos Cross
Esther Cross, Back: L-R:
Robert Cross
Evelyn Cross-Barnett, Clifford Cross
Roscoe Cross, (?) Jones, Anna
Cross-Early
Fern Cross
Arthur Cross, Homer Cross |
|
 |
The "Big" horse on
the right side belonged
to Amos Cross
Named "Grover" was a:
Predominant Stud"
People came from all
over to have
their horses bred with
him.
Picture Courtesy of Steve Cross |
|
 |
|
This photo was taken August 1951
Jerome (child) 3 years old, Standing
in front of
his father Homer W. Cross Jr. 28 years
Center is Amos Cross 87 years old, and
Homer W. Cross Sr. 56 years old.
Taken outside Wheatland Church of Christ
Picture Courtesy of Steve Cross |
|
 |
Rosa (Norman) Cross
Homer Cross Sr.'s first wife
Homer Jr., James, Eugene Cross
Rosa passed away
November 12, 1934,
three months after the last child
Robert was born.
|
|
 |
|
Sigsbee Cross’ Gathering
Standing back row: Anna (Cross)
Jones,
Kenneth Jones, Early Jones,
Art Cross, Fern Cross,
Lois Cross, James Cross
Gaylord Cross,
Roscoe Cross, Eugene Cross,
Baby Mumford, Ester Mumford,
Wayne Mumford, Homer
Cross, Sr.
Seated: Homer W
Cross Jr. Michael Cross
Inez Cross, Bertha Johnson,
Mary Cross, Amos
Cross, Mary Warick,
Ida Mae Cross,
Ester Cross, Ruth Bennett
Floor: Charles (Art)
Cross, Steven Cross
Sally Bueford,
James (Chug) Cross, Jr., Jerome Cross
Carolyn Bennett
Picture: Courtesy of Steve
Cross |
|
 |
|
Homer Cross |
|
 |
 |
|
Homer Cross, Sr. |
Homer Cross, Sr. |
|
 |
|
Rosa
Norman-Cross |
|
 |
|
Rosa
Norman-Cross |
History Courtesy of Steven M. Cross
Homer W. Cross, Sr. was born on January 28, 1896, in Remus, Michigan, and was the first child of Amos and Mary (Mumford)
Cross. He graduated from Remus High School in 1913. He attended Ferris
Institute and graduated from Grand Rapids School of the Bible. After he
was ordained in 1947, he spent 15 years as a pastor in Decatur, Michigan.
Reverend Cross was treasurer for 12 years for the
Chain Lake District Association, a Baptist Church Organization and served
as state vice president for the Baraca Pilathea Bible Church and was also
a teacher of the Philathea’s of Messiah Baptist Church in Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
Reverend Cross spent 30 years in Grand Rapids as a
carrier for the U.S. Post Office before he retired in 1963. He was a
member of the Retired Mail Carriers Organization. He was a veteran of World War I, a member of Crispus
Attacus Post 59, American Legion, NAACP, Grand Rapids Urban League and was
treasurer of the X.Y.Z. Center.
He
married Rose (Norman) Cross 1934 and their children were Homer W Cross,
Jr., James W Cross, Eugene M. Cross, Robert M. Cross. Reverend Cross died
June 15, 1976.
|
 |
|
Fern (Johnson) &
Arthur Cross |
|
 |
|
Arthur Cross Retires 11/01/61
Carried the Mail
for 43 years 6 months.
|
|
 |
|
Fern (Johnson) Cross
|
Arthur Cross
became very prominent in the Remus Community. He was
born November 1, 1898, and grew up on the farm. He received his
earliest education in the school established by his grandfather known as
the Cross School. He obtained his Christian training at the
Wheatland Church of Christ. This early training influenced his
entire life.
Arthur
graduated from Remus High School in 1915 through Grade 10 and completed
the final two years at the Big Rapids High School in 1917. He
pitched baseball for the Remus Giants and Mecosta Tiger Teams beginning in
the early 1920's. One commentator stated that his pitching talents
were of major league caliber and that Arthur was 30 years ahead of his
time. He also formed the first basketball team in Remus.
Arthur
became a rural mail carrier, delivering mail out of Remus from 1918 until
his retirement on October 31, 1961. He married Fern Johnson on
December 3, 1932 in Mecosta, Michigan. He was ordained June 3, 1939,
on a Saturday. The next day he preached two funerals. He
preached at the Wheatland Church of Christ for 38 continuous years and by
1973 had baptized 179 people and preached more than 2500 sermons and had
performed more than 100 marriages. Arthur passed away on April 27,
1977, at the age of 78.
Back to Top
|
|
 |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
 |
|
