Harris

 
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Thomas Harris
Walter Harris Family
Harris Family Pictures
Ace Red Cloud

 

The first documentation of an African-American settler in Mecosta County Michigan was James Guy, who  obtained 160 acres in Wheatland Township on May 30, 1861.  By 1873 African-Americans owned 1,392 acres. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed each settler 160 acres in Rolland Township.  Most of the land where Remus sits in the 1860's was owned by the Old Settlers.


SECTION 1


 Thomas Harris, Sr. Family 

 

SECTION 2

 

Walter Harris Family

 

SECTION 3

 

Harris Family Pictures

 

SECTION 4

 

Ace Red Cloud

 

Thomas Harris, Sr.

Photographs Courtesy of Ken Todd

 

Walter & Jesse (Harper) Harris

 

According to the 1850 Census of  Hocking County, Ohio, Thomas Harris is listed:  Thomas Harris, age 32, race mulatto, occupation farme; Sarah Harris age 32, race mulatto. Their children and ages:  Rebecca 11, Edward 10, Thomas 8, Elmicy (Ellen) 7, Ezekiel 5, Lydia 4, and Amos 2.  Also listed was Charles Lett, age 20, occupation farm hand.  Thomas came to Michigan in 1869 and settled in Millbrook Township.  Thomas Harris, Sr. died October 1, 1907 in Fairplains Township, Montcalm County.  He lived with his daughter and son-in-law Abner and Lydia (Harris) Reed.

 

Sarah Johnson-Harris (Wife of William Harris)

William Harris was the son of Thomas, Jr. and Elizabeth Harper-Harris.

 

Rebecca married Granderson Norman.  (SEE GRANDERSON NORMAN FAMILY).  (SEE GEORGE AND MARY (STEPHENS) NORMAN).  There is no known information on Edward Harris.  Thomas, Jr. married Elizabeth Ann Harper.  Elmich (Ellen), the second daughter of Thomas and Sarah Harris, married Thomas Squires.  Lydia, the third daughter of Thomas and Sarah Harris, married Abner Reed.  Amos, the fourth son of Thomas and Sarah Harris lived with his parents until their death.  Before his death moved to South Dakota where he died.  He never married.

 

Harris

 

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.

 

 

www.oldsettlersreunion.com