Michael Stevens

	Michael Stevens

Home 74th Reunion History Old Settlers Memoirs Old Settler Families Gladys Guy-Harper Historical Schools Wheatland Church Historical Events Gift Shop Military Norman-Cummings Births Letter From Home Benjamin Banneker Beyond The Gate Minority Scholarships Cemeteries Transitions The Way We Are The Old Settlers: Vol. 1 The Old Settlers: Vol. 2 Old Settler Sayers Negro Folktales Guess Who? Links Todd Ghost Stories

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.

Michael Stevens

Pictures Courtesy of Robert Hill Williams

History compiled by Chuck Weiker

Pictures Courtesy of Robert Hill Williams

Edward & Florence Harper-Stevens Family

(L-R) Floyd, Ma. Florence, Mable, Beatrice "Bea,"

Pa. Edward, Orvie, and Basil with dog

(Circa 1911-1912)

Edward Stevens

Florence Harper

Daughter of Susan Cummins &

Alexander Harper

Wife of Edward Stevens

Seated: Floyd Stevens with

Unknown Friend

Photo taken in Marquette, Michigan

Son of Florence Harper-Stevens

Florence Harper

Daughter of Alexander &

Susan Cummins-Harper

Wife of Edward Stevens

Mable Stevens-Wells

Beatrice "Bea" (Stevens) Santos

Sisters (L - R): Mable Stevens-Wells

Beatrice Stevens-Santos

Michael Stephenson, a son of Joseph Stephenson, who was of English descent, was born circa 1786 in Maryland. Elizabeth Betsey Lett, a daughter of Aquilla Lett, Sr. and Christina Cobbler-Lett, was born in 1789 in Frederick County, Maryland. They were married on November 14, 1805 in Fredrick County, Virginia, by James Walls or Withers. The Stephenson name was shortened to Stephens when the family migrated to Ohio in 1813 with the Lett, Caliman and Guy families. The spelling became Stevens. Michael and Elizabeth Lett-Stevens had 12 known children, 6 sons and 6 daughters; 11 of whom have been identified by name: Abraham, Isaac, Mary, Fredrick, Sophia, Susanna, Nancy, Joseph, Elizabeth, Michael and Aquilla Stevens.

Mary Stevens (Circa 1810 in Fredrick County, Virginia) married George Norman (Circa 1810 in Washington County, Ohio) who was the son of Grandison Norman, Sr. and Ann Combs-Norman on May 21, 1833 in Muskingum County, Ohio. They were parents of 9 known children: Grandison, Michael, George, William, Horace, Eliza J., Elizabeth A., Joseph and Marquis Norman. (SEE NORMAN).

Sophia Stevens was born (1815 in Berrien County, Michigan) and married Othias B. Lett (1810 - 1876). Othias was the son of Samuel and Jemima Banneker-Lett and was born on December 20, 1833, in Muskingum County, Ohio. Through Elizabeth Lett-Stevens, the Letts are descendants of Benjamin Banneker, the noted African-American astronomer, mathematician and almanac writer. Elizabeth Lett-Stevens' father, Aquilla Lett, Sr. was the oldest child of Samuel and Jemina Banneker-Lett.

John and Frances' children were, Etta, Leona and Elva Segee and one step-child George Tate. The Segee family lived on State Road (as it was called then) in Rolland Township. They were neighbors of the William Ellsworth Guy family (John's sister Elizabeth Segee). John Segee died in 1905. Frances died in 1915. Both are buried in Pine River Cemetery, Blanchard, Isabella County, Michigan.


	Michael Stevens

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.