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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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John
Harper
Photographs Courtesy of Ken Todd
Robert Williams
Marguerite Berry-Jackson
Penny (Harper) Sheppherd
Charlene Belcher-Sleet & Helen Ransom
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Emma Morgan-Harper & David W. Harper
(David is the son of John Harper).
Garnet, Raymond &
Alta Marie Harper-Stevens
Emma is the daughter of
Johanna Lett-Morgan & Aaron Morgan. |
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John Harper |
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John and Mary Yeager-Harper |
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John & Mary (Yeager) Harper
Jesse
Standing Age 16 and Lena (Infant) |
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Jesse Harper |
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Mary
(Yeager) Harper & Jessie Harper |
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Jesse
Harper - Age 16 |
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Jesse
Harper & Best Friend
Grace
Sleet |
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Josephine Harper |
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David Wesley Harper |
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John G. Harper |
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Molly Norman-Lett-Harper |
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Jessie
Harper-Harris (?) Nettie Sleet-Harper |
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Edward & Florence Harper-Stevens Family
(L-R) Floyd, Ma. Florence, Mable,
Beatrice "Bea,"
Pa. Edward, Orvie, and Basil with dog
(Circa 1911-1912) |
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Edward
Stevens |
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Florence
Harper
Daughter of Susan Cummins &
Alexander Harper
Wife
of Edward Stevens |
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Seated: Floyd Stevens with
Unknown
Friend
Photo taken in Marquette, Michigan
Son of Florence Harper-Stevens |
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Florence
Harper
Daughter of
Alexander &
Susan Cummins-Harper
Wife
of Edward Stevens |
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Elizabeth Harper Harris
Daughter of John and Elizabeth McKee Harper &
wife of Thomas Harris, Jr. with sons William
and Cyrus
She also a sister to Catherine Harper-Cross
and Sevilla Harper-Norman-Warrick |
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Estel Harper (1893-1935) Son of
Alexander Harper & Lavina Moore |
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Susan Cummins-Harper with
daughter Florence Harper
Pictured may be Susan's father
John Cummins
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Walter & Jesse
(Harper) Harris |
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Lena (Harper) Newman
& Irvin, Jr. |
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Josie & Lena Harper |
Lena
Harper |
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John William Harper, Sr.
&
Irvin Newman, Jr. |
Lucille,
Wave, & Verta Harper
Daughters
of Estel Harper &
Gladys
(Guy) Harper |
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Josephine Harper |
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Mary (Yeager) Harper &
Baby (Possibility Johnny) |
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Alexander Harper, Jr. |
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Estel Harper |
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Mary Margaret
Belcher-Harper |
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John William
Harper, Jr. |
John Harper
is the son of William D. and Jane Harper of Belmont, Ohio. He had
three sisters, Francis (Harper) Grey, Elizabeth Harper and Rebecca
(Harper) Betts and three brothers, William T., Alexander L., and Joseph
G., John Harper and Elizabeth McKee were married December 23, 1830,
in Belmont, Ohio. To this union the following children are known:
Catherine B., Alexander, Elizabeth, John G. and Seville--All who came to
Michigan.
Catherine B.
Harper married Thomas W. Cross on October 11, 1862 in Belmont, Ohio (SEE
THOMAS CROSS FAMILY). Alexander Harper was born February
13, 1835. Alexander Harper married Susan Cummins (SEE
JOHN CUMMINS/CUMINGS) on January 6, 1855
in Perry County, Ohio. According to Mormon records, but the family
bible has January 11, 1855. She was the daughter of John (Joe)
Cummins and Susan Lett. According to his Bible, eleven children are
listed. Eight children were born in Ohio, and the last three in
Michigan. Ely Elzy B., (July 1854); Mary Jane (Mar 13, 1856); Mandy
Lane (Nov 20, 1856); Susan E. (Jun 15, 1860); Almetia Alice (Nov 26,
1861); John William (Feb 1864); Alexander, Jr. (Sep 2, 1867); and Florence
Adel (Aug 6, 1871).
Alexander,
Sr. came to Michigan in the mid 1860's. He along with John Lett are
witnesses on a land deed between Marquis D., and Joanna Norman of
Wheatland Township, Mecosta County County, and William Cummins of Eurchain
Township, Montcalm County. Forty acres were brought for $145.
Alexander
was instrumental in the building of the Wheatland Church of Christ.
He was ordained as the first deacon. He was also the first of the
Harper children to arrive in Michigan. Alexander owned the southeast
corner of M-20/M-66 in Remus consisting of 160 acres. He later sold
the west 80 acres to his brother-in-law Joseph and Esther Cummings.
He died at the age of 37. Susan Cummings died on June 24, 1903.
John William
married Mary Yeager, daughter of John Yeager of Germany and Becky Sourm of
Canada in 1884--pictured above. To this union eight children were
born: Those known are: Jessie Arnetta (1866); Rosa B. (1892);
Howard (1900); Lena (1902); John, Jr. and Josephine.
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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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