Samuel Cross

	Samuel Cross

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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

Thomas W. Cross

SECTION 2

Amos Cross

Section 3

Edward Cross

SECTION 4

John Cross

SECTION 5
Joseph Cross

SECTION 6
Samuel Cross

Samuel Cross

Pictures Courtesy of Samuel Cross

Toni & Samuel Cross

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.

Sam Cross

Father to Stanley Cross

Stanley Sleet - (1928)

Beatrice Mae - Daughter

Toni & Samuel Cross


Herbert Sleet	Herbert Sleet


	Samuel Cross

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.