John Cross

	John Cross

Home 74th Reunion History Old Settlers Memoirs Old Settler Families Gladys Guy-Harper Historical Schools Wheatland Church Historical Events Gift Shop Military Norman-Cummings Births Letter From Home Benjamin Banneker Beyond The Gate Minority Scholarships Cemeteries Transitions The Way We Are The Old Settlers: Vol. 1 The Old Settlers: Vol. 2 Old Settler Sayers Negro Folktales Guess Who? Links Todd Ghost Stories

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.

SECTION 1

Thomas W. Cross

SECTION 2

Amos Cross

Section 3

Edward Cross

SECTION 4

John Cross

SECTION 5
Joseph Cross

SECTION 6
Samuel Cross

John Cross

Pictures Courtesy of Marguerite

Berry-Jackson

Theodosia (Guy) &

Husband John Cross

Theodosia (Guy) & Husband John Cross

Beautiful Home on the hill off M-66 & 11 Mile Rd.

Adjacent from the Wheatland Church of Christ

Ira Myers, Bernice Mumford

Alta (Mumford) Mathews

Stella "Dottie" (Mumford) Brown

& Basil Mumford

John William Cross was the first son and second child of Thomas W. and Catherine (Harper) Cross. He was born April 26, 1856, in Athens County, Ohio. He came to Michigan at a early age. He was a very prosperous farmer. On April 29, 1883, he married Theodosia Guy, the Daughter of William and Elizabeth (Segee) Guy (SEE JOHN SEGEE FAMILY). Theodosia worked by John's side for 55 years of marriage. John Cross died Apr 30, 1938. Theodosia died on March 10, 1957, in Blanchard, Michigan. John and Theodosia are buried in the Wheatland Cemetery. They had one child. The child died shortly after birth. They later adopted a son, Howard Myers (SEE MYERS FAMILY).


	John Cross

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.