Marquis Norman

	Norman

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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.

SECTION 1

Grandison Norman

SECTION 2

George E. Norman

SECTION 3

Norman Family Pictures

SECTION 4

Marquis Norman

SECTION 5

George Lindley Norman

SECTION 6

George L. Norman Family

Marquis Norman

Pictures Courtesy of Dorothy Harris-Allen

Steven M. Cross and Ken Todd

Gayle Houghton, and Rachael Moore

Joanna Cummins-Norman

Daughter of John Cummins and

Susan Lett-Cummins

and wife of Marquis Norman and is the

Mother of Joseph H. (Red Head), Chancy, Daniel,

Kate (Nina), Frankie, John, Belle, Charles,

Elmer and Sumore

Joseph Henry Norman, (Joe Red Head Norman)

Minnie Thompson Norman

Back: Children

Joseph (Red Head) Norman,

Marion Whitney (in arms) George and Minnie Whitney

Cal Whitney

Rosa Norman-Cross

Goldie Norman & Violet (Norman) Whitney

Don Norman, Violet (Norman) Whitney &

Robert (Bob) Norman

Ina and Robert Norman

Una and Ancel Norman

Marquis married JoAnne Cummings. Their children were: Joseph H., Chaney, Daniel, Robert, Kate (Nina), Frankie, John, Belle, Charles, Elmer and Sumore. They settled in Millbrook. Marquis was killed in a lumber accident. Joseph H. married Minnie Thompson, daughter of George and Mary (Harding) Thompson. Their children were: Goldie, Clinton, Violet, Masie, Robert, Mattie, Ancel, Obid and Donald.


	Norman

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.