the old settlers: a nation within mecosta isabella ... · mcbride for square dancing at jim and ada...
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The Old Settlers: A Nation Within Mecosta Isabella & Montcalm Counties Including the
(Central Michigan Area)
Published by: OSRW http://www.oldsettlersreunion.com
Revised/ Updated Edition
ISBN 978-1-62620-134-7
DISCLAIMER: Portions of this book were reproduced with the consent of
The Old Settlers: A Nation Within Itself editors. The previous publisher of the aforementioned book no longer exists.
Copyright. 2014. All rights reserved.
A Non-profit Organization #788994
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The Original Old Settlers Square Dance started in 1920 at Edith Greenway-Sutherland’s home. According to Lillian Mumford, her father Andrew Flowers called a lot of the dances, and her uncle Ivan (Buck) Flowers played the violin. Callers had to have a strong loud voice to be heard over the crowd. They would put all the Whites on one end of the hall, and the Coloreds on the other end of the hall. One night in Mecosta, Andrew was calling and decided he would bring everyone together so he called, “Promenade the length of the Hall.” By the time they promenaded the length of the hall, everyone was together. According to Gertrude, she and her sister Audra Guy would a ride with Oscar and Velma Tate-Norman or with their brother Otis Guy to the free show in Remus on Saturday nights. After the show, they would catch a ride to McBride for Square Dancing at Jim and Ada Jane Nelson’s home. People sometimes walked from miles taking their children to Ede’s dances. Ray Pointer called at the dances. Ivan (Buck) Flowers, Nile Perry and Andy Flowers played at the dances. Lester Green would sometimes accompany on the piano and Art Cross played the saxophone. Art ended the dances by playing “Good Night Ladies.” Paula Norman-Harris took the clue and recruited Jay & Caroline Cook, Basil & Lillian Mumford, Hess & Maxine Hargo, LaMonie Smith, and herself. They made plans for the “Old Folks Party” including those who were 40 years and older.
The Gang (Carol Norman & Wesley Smith)
According to Carol Norman, this was the 2nd generation’s Square Dance. Aunt Paula also recruited Clifford & Lorraine Norman, and Leo & Alta Matthews to help plan the “Old Folks Party.” Carol remembers Aunt Paula inviting the younger adults, the (3rd generation) to the Square Dance, but there were stipulations. Aunt Paula said that if we came and “showed out” we were not welcome the next year. According to Diana Green, Wesley Smith didn’t want the Square Dance called the “Old Folks Party” anymore because we are not old folks, so in 2004 the 3rd generation started calling the Square Dance “The Party” given by “Wesley Smith and The Gang.”
Old Settlers Annual Square Dance
Janice (Cook) & Tyrone Fleming, Carol Norman Wesley Smith (Background)
Marvin Lett, Ada Lett-Todd, Sharon Lett-Rucker
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Table of Contents Page Page
Introduction 6 Thomas Harris, Sr. 79
Dedication 8 Absalom Johnson 87
Preface 9 Sabroth Johnson 91
Anderson 11 Charles let 94
James Bannister 13 Eli Lett 95
Isaac Berry 14 Gabriel Lett 95
Bracy 19 John Lett 96
Branson 21 Samuel let 99
Abner Byrd 22 Elijah Lett 101
Caliman 23 Othias Lett 101
Carrouthers 25 George male/Mayle 103
Isaac Cook 27 John Manning 104
Thomas W. Cross 31 Richard Moore 105
John Cummings/Cummins 44 Aaron Morgan 106
Flowers 54 Reverend Mortimer 107
Green 56 Joseph Mumford 111
Gross 59 Jeremiah Myers 107
James Guy (Isabella County) 61 John Nelson 113
James Guy (Mecosta County) 66 Grandison Norman 117
Thomas Guy 69 Grandison Norman, Jr. 117
John Harper 73 Marquis Norman 117
John Harding 78 Michael Norman 120
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Page Page
Eliza Norman 122 George Washington 168
Joseph Dow Norman 123 William Weaver 169
Marcus Norman 128 Isaac Williams 171
Daniel Pointer 129 Church of Christ 172
Thomas Pointer 129 Twins/Triplets 177
Charles Pointer 130 Old Settlers Reunion 178
James Porter 133 Honors 184
James Powell 136 Monuments/Markers 185
Stephen Reed 136 Sports 189
James Reed 137 Schools 193
Charles Rice 138 Military 197
William Ricks, Sr. 141 Firsts 211
Madison Robinson 142 Cemeteries 217
James Sawyer 142 Vaudeville 218
Robert Scott 145 Detroit/Windsor Tunnel 219
William Scott 147 Lumber Camps 220
Joseph Seaton 149 US Attorney 221
John Segee 150 Olympics/Friendship Club 222
Simon sleet 151 Benjamin Banneker 223
Thomas Squires 154 Quilting 224
John Tate 156 Recognition 225
Merze Tate 159 References 226
Stephen Todd 161
Table of Contents
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INTRODUCTION The Old Settlers of Isabella, Mecosta, and
Montcalm Counties in Michigan started appearing
in Payne’s Crossing, Ohio, on the border of Perry
and Hocking Counties in the 1830s. Most early resi-
dents were freed or runaway slaves from the South,
especially Virginia. Payne’s Crossing was a small
hamlet, consisting of several farmsteads. Many of
the African-American residents established success-
ful lives, accumulating sizable amounts of personal
wealth. Several residents served in the United States
Colored Troops during the American Civil War. By
the 20th century, no remnants of Payne’s Crossing
survived except for the community cemetery. Some
Old Settlers who were residents of Payne’s Crossing
were drawn to the central part of Michigan because
of land grants during this time.
The original Harpers were among the first
settlers of Payne’s Crossing in Ohio. The people who
lived in the settlement worked in many professions
as well as coal miners and farmers. Most had a very
light skin tone and may have been children of plan-
tation owners. They also appear to have been rela-
tively wealthy - an unusual situation for Blacks of
that time. Payne’s Crossing served as a major
“station” between the 1820’s and 1870’s on the Un-
derground Railroad. John Harper is the son of Wil-
liam D. and Jane Harper of Belmont, Ohio. He had
three sisters, Francis (Harper) Grey, Elizabeth Har-
per and Rebecca (Harper) Betts and three brothers,
William T., Alexander L., and Joseph G. Harper.
Many Old Settler families with the surname
Harper, Pointer, Norman, Cross, Harding, Morgan,
Gross, Flowers, and Lett ended up in Payne’s Settle-
ment of Ohio starting in the 1830’s. Documentation
shows that most of the people who settled there
came from Virginia. Payne’s Crossing was a stop on
the Underground Railroad. Thomas Cross’ father
took him to Hocking County, Ohio, so that he could
obtain his freedom. Payne’s Crossing Cemetery has
markers for Civil War Veterans of the U.S. Colored
Troops. Old Settler surnames appeared in the 1840,
1850, and 1860 Census Records of Payne Crossing
before the families left for Michigan in cover wagons
drawn by oxen.
The first African American settler in Isabella
County was Doraville Whitney who came in the fall
of 1860. The Whitney family married into the Nor-
man family. Violet Norman married George Whit-
ney. Violet was the daughter of Joseph H. Norman
and Minnie Thompson, daughter of George and
Mary Harding. The first African American settlers
in Montcalm County were Lloyd and Margaret Guy
who bought 120 acres of land in Bushnell Township
on June 6, 1861. The initial Old Settlers in the three
county areas were Grandison Norman, James Guy,
Daniel and Thomas Pointer, Thomas Cross, James
and Abraham Gross, Aaron Morgan, John Cum-
mins/ings, John Harper, and Lloyd Ellsworth Guy.
This book is about the original settlers, and their
journey to Michigan, and what happened once they
settled in Isabella, Mecosta, and Montcalm Coun-
ties.
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CONTINUED….. The Old Settlers: Journey to Michigan
(Volume I), outlines James Guy as one of the first
settlers to Mecosta County in 1861. The Old Settler
communities have the first integrated schools in the
State of Michigan. The Oberlin School was located
in Isabella County, Rolland Township and opened
in 1867. The Little River School in Mecosta County
opened in 1880.
The Old Settler families have ties to Thomas
Jefferson, the third president of the United States
and Sally Hemings through the Lett, Guy, and Tate
families. A large number of these families migrated
to Michigan from the Lett Settlement in Musk-
ingum County, Ohio.
Warren Harding, 29th President of the Unit-
ed States, is a direct descendant through the Nor-
man and Nelson families. The Hardings were ances-
tors of Ada Jane Harding, Mayles, Nelson and Mary
Harding, mother of Emma Todd, Lucinda Todd and
Mary Lett-Harper, also the Charles and Myrtle
Kettora Lett Families. Richard Harding was the
first generation of Hardings who came to America
and settled in Braintree, Massachusetts. In 1623,
Richard’s daughter married a descendent of Francis
Cook, who came to America on the Mayflower.
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) known as
the first “African-American Man of Science,” (co-
surveyor for the design and planning in the late
1890’s of the District of Columbia) has ties through
the Lett and Guy Families. The 1860 Michigan Fed-
eral Census in Sodus Township, Berrien County,
lists the Othias B. Lett family who were his direct
descendants. Their children’s names were: Rebec-
ca, Jonathan, Esther, Harriet, Alben, Sophia, Em-
ma, and Salina. 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 De-
cember 20, 1833, in Muskingum County, Ohio.
Through Elizabeth Lett-Stevens, the Letts are de-
scendants of Banneker.
Settlers began to flock into the county, and
the land eagerly sought and settled. This brought in
many permanent settlers, and they spread through
the south and west part of the county. On January
10, 1860, the Board of Supervisors being in session
and notice having been given in due form, a resolu-
tion was passed detaching from the Township of Is-
abella and attaching to the Township of Coe, Town-
ship 13, range 4, 5 and 6 west, thus giving to Coe the
four south townships of the county.
In this township there were 60 Colored peo-
ple among the settlers in 1876. They were industri-
ous and honest and were all good citizens. The first
grave dug on Section 6, near the center contains the
remains of Amon A. Norman, who died of insanity
at the age of 20. Amon was the first son of Gran-
dison, Jr. who married Susan Cook the son of
Mayles Nelson and Mary Harding, mother of Emma
Todd, Lucinda Todd and Mary Lett-Harper, also
the Charles and Myrtle Kettora Lett families. Rich-
ard Harding was the first generation of Hardings
who came to America. He settled in Braintree, Mas-
sachusetts. In 1623 Richard’s daughter married a
descendent of Francis Cook, who came to America
on the Mayflower.
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DEDICATION
Life is but a Stopping Place A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay... Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker, For some the journey's slow.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
MARVIN R. LETT
(1935—2012)
Marvin is remembered for his historical knowledge, relentless work with the Old Settlers and unyielding dedication. He will be sorely missed!
In Addition:
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The Oldest Descendants Attending the Reunion - 1953 (All are over 80 years old)
George Norman, Ben Berry, Mary (Myers-Cross) Harris, Hazel (Lett) Guy, Myrtle (Lett-Cross) Tate, Mary (Mumford) Cross, Amos Cross
Ida (Lett) Porter, John Caliman, William Norman, Becky (Squires) Tate 90 Years Old - Al Caliman, John Norman
A lot has happened since the publication of the 1988 edition of The Old Settlers: A Nation Within Itself. Some families were overlooked, and as with any good publication, proofread-ing discovered a few errors in the original edition. This print edition of 2014 may still have errors, but the effort is being made to improve the objective overall. The one great thing about today’s publishing is the ability to keep making improvement with every edi-tion. The Old Settlers of this Central Michigan area: indeed a labor of love. Much expense, time, effort and leg work has gone into gathering, compiling and writing the information needed to make this dream a reality. Every person living, at one time or another, won-ders about what happened in their past, thus we present this special record to make…...A DREAM COME TRUE.
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Jacob Alexander & Marion Anderson
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Emily Anderson—Daughter of John & Elizabeth (Table) Anderson
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JAMES BANNISTER
Florence is the daughter of Gabriel
Green. Gabriel came to Michigan when he was a
small child from Ohio. He was raised by Daniel
Pointer. Gabriel married Anna Cook on Sep-
tember 20, 1874, in Wheatland Township. Ga-
briel was 25 years old and Anna was 15. Both
were born in Ohio. Joseph Cummings and Aa-
ron Morgan witnessed the marriage. The Justice
of the Peace was Peter B. Gingrich who officiat-
ed the ceremony.
Gabriel and Anna Cook Green had eight
children: Elmer, Clyde, William, Cal, Effie, Ma-
bel, Florence and Margaret. Anna died when
Florence was very small. Florence (Flossie)
Green was born in Millbrook on May 30,
1893. Florence Green married Jim Bannister in
1910, in Boyne City, MI.
Florence Green-Bannister
James Bannister was born April 15,
1888. His family migrated to Michigan from
Canada. His mother was May Ann Perry Ban-
nister. Jim's parents died when Jim was a small
child. A relative, John Bracy raised him. James
had a sister (name unknown) and two broth-
ers: Walter and Albert.
James and Flossie Bannister moved back
to the Barryton area in 1910 and later to Remus,
MI. In 1928 they moved to Lansing and in later
years to Flint until their death. Both are buried
in Wheatland Cemetery. Jim and Flossie Ban-
nister had four children: Vera, Lyle, Helen and
Howard. (SEE GREEN)
Front: James, Edward, John, Sarah (Sadie) Bracy James (Jim) Bannister
Back: Gertrude with son, Esta, Jenny, John & Faye Bracy
http://www.oldsettlersreunion.com/bracy.htm