I am looking for information on Valentine Fries, a shipbuilder in Milan. He lived there from about 1845 to 1900 when he died. According to his obituary and other information I have gathered, he was a wealthy and prominent citizen of Milan, but I cannot find any mention of him in the censuses nor other family members (surname Paul) who were alleged to have come to MIlan to work in his various enterprises. How could a man of his stature escape the census? Is there somewhere I can write to request the list of land transactions during the late 1800s to ascertain his whereabouts that way? Thank you. anna