Home Old Settler Family Pages UncategorisedMadison Robinson

Madison Robinson

Picture Courtesy of Marguerite Berry-Jackson

Scan0004SarahauntyRobinson

Mrs. Madison Pointer-Robinson ("Aunty" Robinson Sarah)

Sarah Pointer-Robinson taught school at an old log schoolhouse in Little River. The family lived in Little River when Berry's came in 1877.

Madison and Sarah Robinson were among the early families settling in the Mecosta Area. To this union, five children were born: Julius, Aquilla, Marinda, Sarah, and Clark. Julius married Mary Pointer. Julius and Mary had no children of their own but raised several foster children including Elsie Adams and Josephine Lett. After Mary died, Julius married Christina Steele, daughter of Alex and Manelia Steele. To this union one child was born--Emma. Emma had one daughter whose name was Margaret Ann. Margaret Ann married John Wilson. She later married Gaylord Dow. Margaret and Gaylord have two children.

Christie, as she was called, had one sister, Lydia, and a brother who dies in infancy. No information is available for Aquilla or Clark. Marinda married Thomas Johnson.

Sarah was known for her teaching ability, especially the younger ones. She was also a beautiful organist. Sarah married John Bracy. (SEE JOHN BRACY)

OSRW - 501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization

Old Settlers

The "Old Settler" families arrived in Michigan from different places. They came from Canada through "The Underground Railroad," and from Payne's Crossing in Ohio as "free" people. The draw was to homestead land made available through the Homestead Act of 1862 which allotted homesteaders 160 acres. The Underground Railroad was the most dramatic nonviolent protest against slavery in the United States beginning in the Colonial Era and reaching its peak between 1830 and 1865. An estimated 30,000 to 100,000 slaves used the "railroad" to get to Canada and eventually came back to the states and Mexico. A large settlement stayed in Ontario, Canada.

Doraville Whitney was the first Black settler to Isabella County in 1860, and 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 1860. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed each settler up to 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.

$10 + $3 (Shipping/Handling)

More Information at: http://www.osrw.org

Old Settler Dedication

Instead of disappearing into the dust that swallowed many other Black rural areas, the old settlers of Mecosta, Isabella, and Montcalm Counties prevailed. They came there in 1860 and they're still here. Some have moved to the larger cities of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, and Detroit. There is compiled data and drawn maps of Black households in nine townships in Mecosta and Isabella Counties. In 1870, the nine-township area had 41 Black households; 86 in 1975, and 106 in 1994. The website was created to remember our ancestors who were the trailblazers making us who we are. We have become enriched, enabled, and elevated because of the ample regard and gratitude for the work of our ancestors. This site is dedicated to the Old Settlers.