This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/IGB.2ACI/168.1 Message Board Post: Dear Karin, Have you tried looking for his family on the 1850 and 1860 censuses? Following is the website for the Library of Michigan's online index and census images for the 1870 census. http://envoy.libofmich.lib.mi.us/1870_census/ Birth and death records were not required by the state until 1867 and there does not seem to be universal compliance. Marriage records should be available at the county level prior to 1867. Do you have his death record? HIs parents' names should be on there if the informant knew the names.