A word about obtaining any vital record ..... It is always easier to attempt to obtain a record from the county in which the event occurred. Begin your search at the local level and work toward the regional level. You will find that the officers at the county level are much easier to work with than those at the higher levels. And, you will often times find that records are less expensive to obtain. Remember to ask the court officer if a record is available as a "record copy" or a "genealogical copy". These copies, when available, are much less expensive than "certified copies".

Vital records are the single most important group of records for any genealogists. Unfortunately, our country and state methods of recording births has been sketchy at best until this century. One must at times, use other records in determining a date of birth. Bible records, marriage records, death records, obituaries, census records and tombstone inscriptions may all be used to assist you in determining an individual’s date of birth.

In determining the accuracy of any vital record, you must keep in mind that any record has room for inaccuracies. You can assume that most information on a birth record is correct as it is completed at the time of birth by either one of the parents or the attending physician/midwife. The name of the biological father may be intentionally falsified. In the case of adoption, a re-issued birth certificate lists the adoptive parents as though they were the biological parents.

1.) Ionia County Vital Records can be obtained by contacting the Ionia County Clerk.

Birth Records are available from 1867 ( there are some scattered records from 1835 to 1867) Birth records are indexed. The earliest records are hand written and as usual, can be very difficult to read. Ionia County birth records that are 110 years old and older are available to the public now. On July 2, 1997, Public Act # 54 was signed into law by Governor John Engler. Thus, records from the county’s beginnings in 1867 through today’s date, 1888 should be available to the public. Although, the law also states that records or record indexes that are held in the same book (or liber) as those records that are not open are not freely searchable. The county clerk will assist you in obtaining those records that are open to the public.

2.) The State Archives of Michigan also holds copies of Ionia County birth records.

RG# 79-51 Index Type For the dates 1874-1891

3.) The Michigan Department of Public Health also holds Ionia County birth records.

The Department of Public Health is required by Act 368 of 1978, to collect the statutory fee before a search may be made for any record. Checks and money orders are to be made payable to the STATE OF MICHIGAN.

Minimum fee for one certified copy is $13.00. Additional copes of the same record are $4.00 each. Additional years searched over 3 years are an additional $4.00 for each year searched over the 3 year search limit. FEES PAID TO SEARCH THE FILES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE, When a record is not found, the applicant will receive notification that the record requested is not on file in the office.

In 1867 (PA 194) the Michigan legislature passed a law requiring a state-wide system for the important information relating to births and other vital data. This law required the township supervisors to collect facts pertaining to all births that occurred in their jurisdiction, noting date, name of individual, gender, race, place of birth, and the names, birthplaces, occupations and residences of the parents. In 1925 the authority for maintaining these statistics was transferred from the Secretary of State to the Department of Public Health, where control remains today. In 1978, by authority of PA 368, the legislature restricted access to all birth registers and indexes. Consequently none of the birth records listed can be examined by researchers. Birth records for Ionia County are indexed at this site for the years 1874-1891. Birth certificates must be obtained from the Michigan Department of Public Health.

4.) The following microfilms of Ionia County births can be found at the Library of Michigan

Portland Township, Michigan birth records, 1910-1919. Genealogical Society, 1983. Film F 574 P67 P6 1983

Record of birth, county of Ionia, township of Ronald, 1906-1918. Genealogical Society, 1983. Film F 574.S844 R3 1983, No.5 on Reel

5.) The Family History Centers in Lansing, Michigan and in Grand Rapids, Michigan hold the following microfilm on Ionia County births.

Birth Records 1867 - 1909 (Microfilm)

Birth Index 1867 - 1974 (Microfilm)

If you are having problems determining your ancestor’s date of death, don’t forget to check family bibles, newspaper obituaries, funeral homes and the death records of nearby counties. A death record, when located, is a very valuable piece of information for a genealogist. Many times, in addition to the individual’s date of death, you might find: his or her date of birth, age at the time of death, place of birth, occupation, cause of death, parent’s names, and place of burial. Don’t overlook the information about who provided the information for the death certificate. Often times this is a relative.

In determining the accuracy of any vital record, you must keep in mind that any record has room for inaccuracies. In a death certificate, the items relating to the death are usually accurate as they are filled out at the time of death. The other items such as date of birth, parents names and birthplaces may only be a guess by the person providing the information for the certificate. If the information is provided by a child, most of the information will be accurate. But, if the information is filled out by a grandchild, or distant relative, or even a physician, the information is even less likely to be accurate.

Ionia County Death Records can be obtained by contacting the Ionia County Clerk.

Death Records are available from 1867 ( there are some scattered records from 1835 to 1867) The death records are indexed. The earliest records are hand written and as usual, can be very difficult to read.

The State Archives of Michigan also hold copies of Ionia County death records.

The following information is available from the State Archives:

Death index 1885-1925 - Record Group 79-51

The Michigan Department of Public Health also holds Ionia County death records.

The Department of Public Health is required by Act 368 of 1978, to collect the statutory fee before a search may be made for any record. Checks and money orders are to be made payable to the STATE OF MICHIGAN.

Minimum fee for one certified copy is $13.00. Additional copes of the same record are $4.00 each. Additional years searched over 3 years are an additional $4.00 for each year searched over the 3 year search limit. FEES PAID TO SEARCH THE FILES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE, When a record is not found, the applicant will receive notification that the record requested is not on file in the office.

The Act of 1897 (PA 194) required township supervisors to collect date on the deaths occurring within their jurisdiction. The statue mandated that the name of the deceased, date and place of death, gender, race, marital status, age, nativity, cause of death, plus names and occupations of parents be submitted to the county clerks who then forwarded the information to the Secretary of State. In 1925, (PA 343) these duties were transferred to the Department of Public Health.

The Family History Centers in Lansing, Michigan and in Grand Rapids, Michigan hold the following microfilm on Ionia County deaths.

Death Records 1867 - 1906 (Microfilm)

Death Index 1867 - 1974

The Library of Michigan in Lansing, Michigan hold the following films.

Broken ties, the scrapbooks of Bessie Townsend : obituaries of central Michigan pioneers. McDowell Publications, 1981. F 574 P43 B76 1981

James W. Burns funeral ledger, 1909-1933: Hubbardston, Michigan. Burns Funeral Home (Carson City, Mich.), 19--. F 574 .H82 B87 1900z

James W. Burns funeral memorandum, 1934-1946, Hubbardston, Michigan. Burns Funeral Home (Carson City, Mich.), 19--. F 574 .H82 B872 1900z

Register of deaths, township of Ronald, county of Ionia. Genealogical Society, 1983. Film F 574.S844 R3 1983, No.6 on Reel

Transcript of certificates of death, County of Ionia, township of Lyons. Genealogical Society, 1983. Film F 574.S844 R3 1983, No.2 on Reel

Transcript of certificates of death, County of Ionia, township of Portland. Genealogical Society, 1983. Film F 574.S844 R3 1983, No.7 on Reel

Marriage records contain a variety of genealogical information. And, each of the marriage document formats, marriage registers, marriage returns and marriage certificates contain different amounts of information. Marriage documents may contain some or all of the following; the name of the groom, the name of the bride; the ages of both parties; the residences of both parties, names of witnesses (often times relatives); name of the performing official ( this might be a clue to the parties religion); and the place the marriage took place. It is sometimes helpful to remember that earlier marriages usually took place in the home town of the bride.

The earliest marriage record in the Ionia County Clerk’s office is dated 6 Oct 1837. The Ionia County Clerk holds a marriage register with scattered marriages from 1837 until 1867 when they switched from marriage registers completed by the Justice of the Peace to individual marriage returns. The office used these individual marriage returns, until switching to the current method of a one page combined marriage license and marriage certificate. I was unable to determine the date at which the combined license and certificate was instituted. Consents for the marriage of minors are held at the county probate officer.

To the best of the clerk’s knowledge, no records have been lost or destroyed, although in earlier years (before 1867), not all records were received from the Justices to be recorded. Since the institution of the one page license/certificate, the form is prepared in triplicate. One copy stays in the County Clerk’s office, one copy goes to the marriage couple and one copy is sent to the State of Michigan offices. Recent records are not available for public "browsing" but are available if the researcher knows the names of the parties and the date of the marriage.

In determining the accuracy of any vital record, you must keep in mind that any record has room for inaccuracies. The names on a marriage document are usually correct as they were given by the individuals, themselves. The ages may not be correct, for obvious reasons! In the older records, where the returns were made by the justice of the peace or the minister, any of the information can be incorrect as these returns were often filed weeks or even months after the event.

Ionia County Vital Records can be obtained by contacting the Ionia County Clerk. Divorce and Civil Court records are available from 1890.

Wills and Probate records are an excellent and often overlooked source of genealogical information. Probate records are important because of the evidence that they provide about family relationships. A Probate record is initiated at the time of an individuals death. The court action is necessary to establish the legality of a will. Probate records will usually include a copy of any will written by the decedent. Originally the term "probate" referred to the court process that proved that a given will and testament was indeed the individuals "last" will and testament. The term "will" , in earlier years was used to mean the provision of dispersing real property, where as the term "testament" referred to the dispersal of personal property. The two terms are regularly used together in later years.

When a person dies "testate", the executor of the will presents the will to the court, the witnesses of the will are called to testify to their signatures and that the decedent or "testator" was of sound mind when the will was signed. This is called "proving a will". You will see reference in the probate courts to dates that a will was "Proved". You will also see indexes of "testators". These testators are the decedents.

When a person dies "intestate", an interested person, usually the surviving spouse or next of kin, petitions the court to settle the estate.

Here are some things to look for and some hints to remember when reviewing a probate file.

The Will - look for relationships - the names of children and spouse - you may even find the married names of daughters. You have found a real gold mine when the will reads something to the effect of "to my eldest daughter, Mary, wife of John Smith of this town".

Petition for probate or application for letters of administration - may give the decedents date and place of death, names and relationship of surviving spouse and children

Will contests and proofs of heirship - provides very valuable information as all interested parties must prove degree of relationship to the decedent.

Appointment of guardian - an "appointed" guardian is a clue that surviving children were under the age of 14. If a guardian is said to be "allowed" the surviving children may have been older than 14. The guardian may be the surviving spouse or a close relative. Many times a surviving male relation such as an uncle or older brother was appointed guardian of younger children, even if the spouse survived.

Assignment of dower - may be the only clue that you have to the surviving wife’s actual name. Other documents may list her as "my loving wife" or other non-specific descriptions. I actually have a copy of a will that lists a decedent’s wife as "my wife, whose name and address are unknown".

Decrees of distribution - lists the heirs by name and their degree of relationship

Wills and Probate records are available in the county of Ionia from 1890. They can be researched at the Ionia County Probate Office in Ionia. There is an available index of Ionia County testators. Probate files are typically very large and the office has just one microfilm reader. Copies can be made of these records at $1.00 per page.

The following information on Ionia County Wills and Probate records can be found at the State Archives of Michigan .

Estate case files, 1837-1869 (partially indexed) - Record Group 78-67

Probate Journals, 1837-1895 - Record Group 78-67

Petitions to probate deceased estates, 1858-1865 - Record Group 78-67

Orders of determining heirs, 1917-1954 - Record Group 78-67

Records of wills, 1866-1917, 1923-1969 - Record Group 78-67

Petitions for Assignment of dower and reports of commissioner in dowers, 1864-1906 - Record Group 78-67

Petitions for partitions and reports of commission in partition, 1867-1905 Record Group 78-67

Orders to sell real estate at public sale and orders confirming sale, 1858-1916 - Record Group 78-67

Licenses to sell real estate at private sale and orders confirming sale, 1896-1969 - Record Group 78-67

Abstracts of taxable inheritances, 1899-1966 - Record Group 78-67

Orders for disposition of widows pensions, 1887-1903, 1915-1925 Record Group 78-67

Orders for admission of dependent and neglected children to State Public School, 1885-1904 - Record Group 78-67