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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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Bracy
Pictures Courtesy of Judy
Jackson-Caldwell
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Front: James, Edward, John, Sarah
(Sadie)
James (Jim) Bannister
Back: Gertrude with son, Esta, John,
Jenny, Faye |
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George and John Bracy
Sons of William Bracy, Sr. The family
came from Canada to Mecosta in 1881.
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George and John Bracy |
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Gertrude (Bracy) Lett |
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Gertrude (Bracy) Lett |
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Faye Lett - Grandson of John Bracy
Son of Gertrude & William Donovan Lett |
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Charlie Pointer, Jr. & John Bracy |
William Henry
Bracy, Uncle Ed's Grandfather, was an escaped slave who initially made it to
Canada. In Canada, it is alleged he changed his name to avoid being
returned to slavery. His father was of Scott-Irish descent. It
is also alleged that his mistress followed him, and they were married.
He was married twice. His second marriage five children were born:
Maria, Mary, John Thomas Oliver, George, and another child died in infancy.
The boys were raised by their sisters after their mother died, and William
left Canada for the United States. William worked as a cook in several
different cities and eventually returned to Canada when John Oliver Thomas,
and George were 10 and 12 years old. He then moved to Grand Rapids
with the two boys and worked in lumber camps. After the death of his
second wife, he married Ida Woods. They had three girls, Annie, Maude
and Lottis (Ida). They all died at a young age.
William moved to
Big Rapids and opened a restaurant in 1871. He later moved to Boyne
City and opened an restaurant. He also owned a city block on Lake
Street. John Alexander married Effie Green. She had two children
from a previous marriage, Veda and Foy.
(SEE HARVEY GREEN)
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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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