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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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Founders of the Old Settlers Reunion
Emmett Porter
Leslie Guy
Arthur Cross
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Postcard
announcing the 1st Old Settlers' Reunion - August 17, 1935 |
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Post Card
announcing the 2nd Old Settlers Reunion - August 15, 1936 |
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Post Card
announcing the 3rd Old Settler's Reunion - August 21, 1937 |
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Post Card
announcing the 5th Annual Old Settlers' Reunion - August 12, 1939 |
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Picnic ( August
1956)
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Norman Descendants
- Picnic (August) 1968
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Harper, Guy, Tate Descendants
- Picnic
(August) 1968
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Descendants - Picnic
(August) 1968
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NOTE: The Pioneer Picnics started in the late
1800's and were forerunners to the current Old Settlers Reunions that
started in 1934.
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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