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/JGB.2ACI/271.271.1 Message Board Post: I hope this turns out to be a match. I have not been able to find anything prior to the 1870 census in MI. I wrote to the Michigan Vital Stats and they had nothing on the birth of Louis and Matilda's son Joseph (I had hoped it would contain info on the birthplace of Louis). Would appreciate any information you might have. This would be a big breakthrough for me. Thanks so much.