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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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William Ricks, Sr.
Pictures Courtesy of Dorothy (Ricks-Lett) Todd &
Judith deJohnette-Franks
History: Deonna Todd-Green
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William I. Ricks, Jr.
(February 19, 1884 - June
26,1968) |
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Martha Calwell-Ricks |
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Ester Ricks |
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Burt (1887 - 1967)
& Ethel Simmons-Ricks
Mother and Father of
Dorothy Ricks-Lett Todd |
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Ester Ricks &
Husband |
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Harold Lett
Son of Cora Lett-Ricks & Grandson
of Gabriel & Mary
Ann Lett |
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Mary Elizabeth Scipio
(1869 - 1956) |
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Eunice McGee |
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Dorothy (Ricks-Lett) Todd
(6-23-18) |
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First Woman (?) -
Right: Elsie Sanders |
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Judy Ann, Marian
Sanders-Ricks with baby
Brenda Haywood
Crystal Ann Haywood, Laura Marie Haywood
Picture taken in front of Gerald Ricks
House in Belding, MI |
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Bertha Lett-Reed, Marjorie Capitola Lett-Ricks
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Gordy Burns, Phillip Burns, Gerald
William Ricks, Jr. (Diaper)
Gearld William Ricks (with cigarette)
Laura Marie Haywood (little girl
standing)
Crystal Ann Haywood (being held in man's
arm)
Rollie Burns,
Phillip Nathaniel Sanders (boy), Marian
Sanders (woman)
Judith Ann Sanders (girl)
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Gerald, Beverly,
Judy Ricks |
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Gerald Ricks |
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Gerald W. & Alex
Ricks |
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Gerald William
Ricks
Baby Picture found in family Bible |
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Gerald Ricks |
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Gerald W, Gerald,
Jr., Judy
Crystal Ricks |
According to 1870 census records of
Marshall Township, Calhoun County, Michigan, William Ricks, Sr. is listed:
age 28, male, race black, occupation works on farm. He is listed in
the household of a farmer named Freeman Hatelkoss. William Ricks is also
listed in the 1894 Vetrans' Census, in Fairplains Township, Montcalm
County, Michigan as William Ricks, male, race black, born in North
Carolina.
William Ricks, Jr. married Martha Jane Calwell. Martha had three children
before she and William were married. Their names were Christina
Rebecca Ann (Feb. 18, 1868), Mary Elizabeth
(Nov. 21, 1869), and Angerline Rodellar (Oct. 4, 1871). Together William and Martha had
three children. Their names were John, Vonnie, and Alonzo.
Dorothy's father Bert (shown above) worked in a lumber camp across the
Straights and then worked in Flint after he moved to Sheridan, MI to take
care of his parents.
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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