HOLLY CHAPEL, AFRICAN

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Why and when my ancestor immigrated to Michigan and the

United States

My 3rd great Grandfather was from Pennsylvania. He was not a slave. He was a free born African American and was born in 1834.

HE MOVED FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO PAULDING, OHIO IN 1865.

In 1905 he moved to Coleman, MI to purchase 15 farms for other African Americans who lived in Paulding, Ohio. He went to buy the land with their money. They couldn’t because they looked black and he looked white.

IT IS SAD BUT HE DIED IN 1914. BEFORE HE DIED ONE OF HIS SONS AND ONE OF HIS NEPHEWS DONATED LAND FOR THE BUILDING OF A CHURCH. THE NAME OF THE CHURCH WAS HOLLY CHAPEL, AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

First AME church in the United States

Mother Bethel, AME, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER THEIR PASTOR REV. HOLLY WHO MOVED WITH THEM FROM PAULDING OHIO TO COLEMAN MI.

IN 1905 MY 3RD GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS BLESSED WITH A GRANDSON

IN 1948 THIS GRANDSON HAD A SON WHO I CALL PAPI BECAUSE HE’S MY GRANDPA

ME & PAPI