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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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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
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Samuel Cross
Pictures Courtesy of Samuel Cross
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Toni & Samuel Cross |
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Samuel Cross |
Samuel Cross was born October 17,
1885, in Remus, Michigan and married Safroria (Toni) Scott-Sleet, on
September 21, 1922. Their children are Stanley R., Beatrice Mae, and
stepsons Thomas and
Herbert Sleet. Herbert married Rose Mae Norman-Crawford-Harris, and
they had Helen whose children are Carl and Christina Peterson.
Thomas Sleet was the father of Lester and Shernita Sleet. Toni died August 1955, and Samuel died April 1956. They are buried
in Wheatland Cemetery. Stanley R. Cross married Geraldine (Rice) Maki on November 8, 1960 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. They have one
adopted son, Raymond Charles Cross. Beatrice Mae was born May 1,
1927, in Weidman, Michigan and married Thomas Brown on February 10, 1970,
in Cincinnati, Ohio. They did not have any children.
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Sam
Cross
Father
to Stanley Cross |
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Stanley Cross - (1928) |
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Beatrice Mae - Daughter
Toni & Samuel Cross |
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Herbert Sleet |
Herbert Sleet |
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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