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