Caliman

 
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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. 

Moses & Benjamin Caliman Families

Pictures Courtesy of Peggy

Sawyer-Williams

Kelly Caliman-Stevens, Fern Johnson-Cross

& Peter Byrd

 

Moses Caliman, II

Picture Courtesy of Peter Byrd

 

Ann (sometimes called Anna) Caliman-Guy

(1813) Picture Courtesy of Peter Byrd

 

Henrietta Guy-Brown (born 1833 in Meigs County, OH)

James G. Brown born 1830 in Meigs County, OH

(Daughter of Amos & Ann Caliman-Guy)

The occasion - 50th wedding anniversary.

 

Electa Longdon Dingus, Florence Amelia

Brown, daughter of Henrietta Guy

(Amos C.  Ann Caliman's daughter) &

James G. Brown (son of Lydia Guy &

Charles Brown). 

 

Henrietta Guy-Brown when

she was in

her late 30's or early 40's.

 

According to Peter Byrd, Ann (sometimes called Anna) Caliman Guy.  She was the wife of Amos C. Guy.  Ann was born August 8, 1813 in Frederick, MD and was the daughter of Moses Caliman, Sr. and Henrietta Perrill.  Records show that her father was born in New Jersey in 1765 and her mother was born in Frederick, MD.

 

Ann was the mother with Amos, Henrietta Guy-Brown who married James Guy Brown, the son of Charles M. Brown and Lydia Guy.  Henrietta Guy-Brown and James G. Brown were first cousins.  His mother, Lydia, a sister of Amos C. Guy and daughter of James A. "Grandpa" Guy.

 

The Calimans lived in Meigs County but moved to Jefferson City, MO around 1878 with their children, Francis (b 1853), Cassius (b 1855), Florance Amelia (b 1857) (my great great grandmother), and Mary P. (b 1869).  James G. Brown's mother died and Charles M. Brown (b 1801 in Virginia) married Martha Barrett (born 1807 in Virginia).

 

Menzo Caliman

 

Left:  Moses Caliman (John's Father)

John & Grace Caliman Family

Clare, Veda, Esta, Menzo & Jay Caliman

 

Ola and Al Caliman

 

Grace and John Caliman

 

John & Grace Caliman

50th Wedding Anniversary

 

Clark Caliman

 

Front:  Faye, Veda, & Mr. Caliman

(Sitting) Merle Caliman,

Tom Guy (Sitting)

Marie Caliman, Lina Belle Guy (Sitting)

Jay & Menzo Caliman

Back:  John, Grace (Guy), &

(Holding) Esta Caliman

 

Al Caliman and Merle

 

Merle and Marie Caliman

 

 

 

The Caliman's, along with the Sawyer, Guy, Lett, Segee and Tate families started migrating to the Michigan area around 1863.  They were from Indiana and Southwestern Ohio, settling in Van Buren, Montcalm and Isabella Counties.  There are two different families of Calimans listed.  Here are some of their generations.

 

Benjamin Caliman was married to Elizabeth (Perrill).  They had nine children.  Their daughter Sara Jane (1833 - 1897) was born in Virginia and married Aquilla Lett April 4, 1856.  (SEE OTHIAS LETT). 

 

Moses Caliman married Amanda Lett.  They lived in Ohio and had two sons, John and Allan.  John Henry Webster Spring Caliman, the oldest son of Moses and Amanda Caliman, was born December 8, 1869 at Cumberland, Ohio.  He came to the mid-Michigan area where he met Grace Blanch Guy, daughter of Thomas and Lina Bell Guy.  John and Grace were married, January 6, 1902, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  Their children were Oscar Menzo, Jay D., Fay Dewit, Veda L., John H., Esta Mae, Clair Guy and Dale Wayne.

 

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Caliman

 

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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   Revised: 12/30/09