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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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70th Old Settlers Reunion
August 21, 2004
School Section Lake - Mecosta, MI
Pictures: Barbara Nelson &
Phyllis Sherrill
Link: 73rd
Reunion
Link: 72nd Reunion
Link: 71st
Reunion
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Oldest Descendants - Front: Alta
Mathews
& Fern
Cross,
both 92 years
young were crowned Queens
for the Day
Back: Victor Lett
(87) - King for the Day
and Caroline Cook (84) |
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Philip & Charlotte Sherrill, Phyllis Sherrill holding
Philip Christopher Lett
Sherrill
(Youngest Baby Present)
Marvin Lett, & Sandy Lett |
Old
Settlers' Reunion Discussion Group 
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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