Thomas W

	Thomas W. 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

Thomas W. Cross

Pictures Courtesy of Judy Caldwell

Fern Johnson-Cross & Stanley Cross

Thomas W. Cross

Catherine Harper-Cross

Thomas Cross Family

Ida, Joe, Arilla and Lella Cross

Back: Sam Cross

Thomas W. Cross was born February 1, 1826, in Louden County, Virginia. His father--Mr. Lee (first name unknown), came to America from England and settled in Louden County, Virginia, where he became a plantation owner. His mother, Ms. Cross (first name unknown) was a slave on the Lee Plantation. In 1851 at the age of 25, Thomas moved to Hocking County, Ohio. It was said, that his father took him there to give him his freedom.

On October 7, 1852, Thomas was united in marriage to Catherine Harper. Catherine and Thomas had 12 children, eight born in Ohio and the youngest in Michigan. Their names were: Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Mary, Elsworth, Thomas, Edward, Catherine Jane, Amos, Ida, Priscilla and James W. On June 22, 1863, at the age of 37, Thomas enlisted into the Army, in Athens, Ohio. He spent three years with the Wagner Co. C5 Reg. United States Colored Infantry of the Civil War, serving with the Ambulance Detail in Virginia and the Carolina's. He, as a Negro, received one-half the pay rate of a White solider. Thomas was mustered out of the Army on September 20, 1865. He returned to Ohio.

Thomas bought a farm in 1869 two miles north of Remus, MI. Because it was inexpensive to buy land he was able to purchase 40 acres for the price of a horse. He owned a total of 160 acres. Their son Amos was born in 1870. Amos married Mary Mumford in 1893. To this union six children were born: Homer, Arthur, Anna, Roscoe, Evelyn and Clifford. They stayed on the family farm. Amos Cross died in 1957 at the age of 87 and Mary died in 1960 at the age of 84.


	Thomas W. 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.