James Porter

	Porter

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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.

James Porter

Pictures Courtesy of Karen (Johnson) Winston

Duane C. Johnson (Bebe) & Raymond Pointer, Marguerite Berry-Jackson, Kimberly Maki

Derelys Brown & Benita Porter

Floyd Emmett Porter

Ida Porter, Mavis & Georgette Porter

George Bacot (center),

Burrnell, Albert & Eleanor Clark, Emmett Porter

Mary Porter, Gladnel Williams

& Jessie Porter

Elmer Porter and Stanley Pointer

Boyhood Friends in Little River

Stanley Pointer oldest son of

Charles Pointer & Mary Kate Berry

Raymond Pointer second son

Elmer Ezra Porter

Oldest son of Ida & Emmett Porter

Ida Lett-Porter & Emma Lett

Ida (Lett) Porter (Sitting), Etta Porter

and Emmett Porter

Etta (Porter) Johnson

Ida (Lett) Porter

Floyd Emmett Porter &

Estella Robbins-Porter

Wedding Picture

Albert Jr. Clark

Burnell Clark

Estella Robbins-Porter (1907- 1995)

Luther & Estella Porter

Duane Johnson, Duane C. Johnson (Bebe)

Russell Johnson, Mary Hart Johnson,

Karen Johnson (1955)

Duane Johnson

(Son of Etta Porter Johnson)

circa 1954

This acrylic painting is based on a publicity photo.

During World War II, Duane traveled through Europe

while playing in the U.S. Army Jazz Band.

He played in an ensemble based in Gary, Indiana

throughout the 1950's and 1960's.

Ida Porter with daughters,

Jessie and Etta

Eleanor (Porter) Ampy

Elleanore Ampy

Mary Porter

Ida and daughter Dorothy Porter

James Porter and Emily Brazelton were united in marriage in Brownsville, Cass County, Michigan. Before moving to Mecosta County they lived in Brownsville that is now a ghost town. It was southeast of Cassopolis and Diamond Lake and southwest of Vandalia. James Porter came from Bourbon County, Kentucky and served in Michigan's 109th Colored Infantry during the Civil War. To this union were born two children: Emmett, Ezra, and Ida.

Emmett came to Mecosta County when he was about 15 years old to live with his mother in Big Rapids, Michigan. In January 1892, Emmett and Ida Ann Lett, daughter of Gabriel and Mary Ann Gross-Lett, were united in marriage. To this union 11 children were born: Mabel Jane (Nov. 3, 1892); Elmer Ezra (Jan. 1894); Jessie Ann (May 1896); Alfred died in infancy; Mary Ellen (Apr. 1899); Etta Mae (Feb. 5, 1900); Floyd Emmett (Mar 10, 1902); Charles Fredrick (Feb. 4, 1904; Dorothy Drucilla (Aug. 1906); Myrtle Fern (Oct. 26, 1908); and Perry M. (Nov. 8, 1912).

Mabel Jane Porter married John Henry Berry (SEE JOHN BERRY). Emmett died August 1939 and Ida Lett Porter died December 1957. They are buried in West Wheatland Cemetery.


	Porter

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.