Ionia County Genealogical Society

http://ionia.migenweb.net/ICGS/icgshome.htm

http://www.ioniahistory.org/

Montcalm County Area Historical and Genealogical Societies

http://www.migenweb.org/montcalm/help/societies.htm

Lansing History blog -

http://lansinghistory.blogspot.com/

Historical Society of Greater Lansing on Facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/137660544586/

African-American DNA project-

http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2011/09/23andme-african-american-genetic-research.html

There are 3 FORHAN burials at Resurrection Cemetery St Joseph Berrien Co. one a Elizabeth H FORHAN Mar 21, 1886 died Oct 6, 1968

Also Jeremiah Forhan 1859-1893

and Elizabeth 1860-1929

the spelling was FORHAN. Elizabeth FORHAN died Sept 20, 1929 father James BURKE, moter Johanna HOURSHAN both born Ireland.

Elizabeth FORHAN ss# 374-34-1886

its Debby with a Y please

Cathy,

Some of the state censuses are stored at the state archives.  If you go to their website and look under their circulars, they have one for state censuses and this shows which ones they have.

I see a James Aikman in 1920 census MI, Otsego Co Vanderbilt Twp:

James 46, Augusta 46, Vena 21, Fern 18, Merritte 13, Margaret 9, Eldon 7 is this your James? If yes, he was born NY

1900 NY Rensselar Co., Troy: Jas Aikman June 1873 MI (father & mother MI0, Augusta Dec 1872 NY, Viola July 1898 NY

but

1930 MI Genesee Co., Flint: James M 54 MI/Scot/Scot, Augusta J 53, Merrett 23, Edon 17

James--see http://www.mare.org/Search/RelBroc.html , scroll down to the section labeled Confidential Intermediary Program.  It tells how a child of a deceased adoptee may obtain records.  It looks like your questioner would need to know the court where the adoption was finalized.

Is anyone else researching in St. Joseph Co.?  My INGRAHAM and PASHBY families lived there, (in Flowerfield and Constantine) from abt. 1840-1890.

I've been looking for a site to look up children's names who went to various MI Indian schools. Any help would be appreciated.

Mary the following may be of interest:

http://www.absolutemichigan.com/dig/michigan/mt-pleasants-unpleasan...

http://www.archives.gov/great-lakes/finding-aids/mt-pleasant-studen...

http://www.archives.gov/great-lakes/finding-aids/mt-pleasant-indian...

From the Michigan Genealogical Council
Subject: MGC - Hearing on Social Security's Death Records: House Committee on Ways & Means

Good morning,
The following announcement pertains to HR 3475, Keeping IDs Safe Act of 2011 http://tinyurl.com/6uwu4aw  (If enacted, this bill would effectively end public access to the death file)

The document below is from the Committee on Ways and Means website
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=2....
Written comment is welcome from interested groups such as genealogical societies and individuals.  If you or your society plan to submit written comment, please read and follow the guidelines below.

Thank you,
Tom Koselka, Public Records Access
Michigan Genealogical Council
http://mimgc.org

Chairman Johnson Announces a Hearing on Social Security's Death Records
Thursday, February 02, 2012
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security announced today that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the accuracy and uses of the Social Security Administration's Death Master File.  The hearing will take place on Thursday, February 2, 2012 in B-318 Rayburn House Office Building, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral testimony at this hearing will be from invited witnesses only.  However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Subcommittee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

BACKGROUND
The Social Security Administration (SSA) collects death information to administer its programs.  Approximately 2.5 million death reports are received each year from relatives, friends, funeral homes, financial institutions, postal authorities, States and Federal agencies.  Verified death information is then used to stop benefits to those who have died and provide benefits to surviving spouses and children. 

A 1980 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) court-mandated settlement required the SSA to make publicly available the surname, Social Security Number (SSN) and date of death of deceased SSN holders.  As a result, the SSA created the Death Master File (DMF), a file of all deaths reported to the SSA since 1936 from sources other than States.  The public file includes 84 million records and approximately 1.5 million records are added each year.  At subscriber request, the file also includes date of birth and first and middle name for each SSN holder, in addition to the information required under the settlement. 

The SSA makes the DMF, often referred to as the Public DMF, available to the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) of the Department of Commerce through a contractual agreement.  There is a broad commercial interest in the DMF to prevent fraud, waste, abuse and identity theft.  NTIS sells the DMF to private and public sector customers, including government agencies, financial institutions, investigative entities, credit reporting organizations, medical researchers, genealogical researchers and other industries.  Workers' compensation, pension, annuity, unemployment and other benefit plans use the DMF to detect improper payments sent to those who are deceased. 

In 1983, Congress amended the Social Security Act (P.L. 98-21) to require the SSA to enter into contractual agreements to obtain death records from States, established the conditions under which the SSA may provide State information to other Federal and State agencies and exempted death reports the SSA receives from the States from disclosure under FOIA. 

States play a key role in the death reporting process.  The SSA is working with States who are building a streamlined death registration process known as Electronic Death Registration (EDR). 

Certain death records that appeared to be coming from non-State independent sources but were in fact State EDR data were for years included in the DMF.  Following a recent review of the EDR, the SSA determined that as of November 1, 2011, all death records received through the EDR will be removed from the DMF. It is expected that as the use of the EDR expands through the States, the mandated FOIA settlement will apply to less death information and the number of records that may be entered on the DMF will be further reduced.   

As many news reports have accounted, incorrect death reports have created severe personal and financial hardship for those who are erroneously listed as deceased, including the termination of benefits and the public disclosure of information that the SSA normally keeps confidential.  According to the SSA, each year approximately 14,000 individuals are incorrectly listed as deceased on the DMF.  Those affected have experienced termination of benefits, rejected credit, declined mortgages and other devastating consequences while their personal and private information is publicly exposed. 

Further, the DMF reportedly has become a source for thieves to capitalize on the identities of children and others who have died.  Criminals appear to be exploiting the easy access to death information to submit fraudulent tax returns that include the decedent's SSN.  Parents of the deceased child do not know their child's identity has been stolen until the IRS rejects their legitimately filed return and the theft has been exposed.  In fact, "The National Taxpayer Advocate's 2011 Annual Report to Congress," released on December 31, 2011, included a section entitled "The Federal Government Facilitates Tax-Related Identity Theft by Publicly Releasing Significant Personal Information of Deceased Individuals."

In announcing the hearing, Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) stated, "Since 1980, Social Security has been required to publicly make available Americans' personal information through the so-called Death Master File.  Nearly anyone can get this information, including identity thieves. Identity theft affects swindled businesses, American taxpayers and grieving families.  Also any one of us could find ourselves on that list by mistake - a mistake which could cause severe financial hardship.  Americans deserve better so I introduced H.R. 3475, the 'Keeping IDs Safe Act of 2011,' a bill that would stop Social Security from making this information public."

FOCUS OF THE HEARING
The hearing will focus on the history, accuracy, use and impacts of the Death Master File along with options for change.   

DETAILS FOR SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS:
Please Note: Any person(s) and/or organization(s) wishing to submit for the hearing record must follow the appropriate link on the hearing page of the Committee website and complete the informational forms. From the Committee homepage, http://waysandmeans.house.gov, select "Hearings."  Select the hearing for which you would like to submit, and click on the link entitled, "Click here to provide a submission for the record."  Once you have followed the online instructions, submit all requested information. ATTACH your submission as a Word or WordPerfect document, in compliance with the formatting requirements listed below, by the close of business on Tuesday, February 16, 2012.  Finally, please note that due to the change in House mail policy, the U.S. Capitol Police will refuse sealed-package deliveries to all House Office Buildings. For questions, or if you encounter technical problems, please call (202) 225-1721 or (202) 225-3625.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:
The Committee relies on electronic submissions for printing the official hearing record.  As always, submissions will be included in the record according to the discretion of the Committee.  The Committee will not alter the content of your submission, but we reserve the right to format it according to our guidelines.  Any submission provided to the Committee by a witness, any supplementary materials submitted for the printed record, and any written comments in response to a request for written comments must conform to the guidelines listed below.  Any submission or supplementary item not in compliance with these guidelines will not be printed, but will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

1.     All submissions and supplementary materials must be provided in Word or WordPerfect format and MUST NOT exceed a total of 10 pages, including attachments. Witnesses and submitters are advised that the Committee relies on electronic submissions for printing the official hearing record.

2.     Copies of whole documents submitted as exhibit material will not be accepted for printing. Instead, exhibit material should be referenced and quoted or paraphrased.  All exhibit material not meeting these specifications will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

3.     All submissions must include a list of all clients, persons and/or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.  A supplemental sheet must accompany each submission listing the name, company, address, telephone, and fax numbers of each witness.

The Committee seeks to make its facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.  If you are in need of special accommodations, please call 202-225-1721 or 202-226-3411 TTD/TTY in advance of the event (four business days notice is requested).  Questions with regard to special accommodation needs in general (including availability of Committee materials in alternative formats) may be directed to the Committee as noted above.

Note: All Committee advisories and news releases are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.waysandmeans.house.gov/

@Jim, regarding the DMF

     It seems to me that there are at least 3 issues that Congress needs to consider here:  identity theft and security, reliability of the data, and the costs of running what seems to be duplicative files, namely the DMF and the EDR.  I have no suggestions as to how to stop theft but feel there must be some way short of removing the information from the public.  It seems like overkill to punish legitimate users when the problems, real as they are, concern only a few rotten apple users.  Also, a file that is not available to legitimate public users is not necessarily protected from hackers.  Think of the number of internal credit files that are breached each year, even though they are supposedly "secure."  Therefore, I'm not sure a hearing that isolates the DMF from the bigger discussion of government internet security is particularly germane.  (But, then I'm not running for office and need a photo op.)

     As for the reliability of the data, the 14,000 incorrect reports of death each year:  it seems like this could be taken care of by only accepting information directly from the states, which apparently is already being done via the EDR.  The states would have to provide the data in a timely manner of course, which may another issue.  Perhaps the solution to both reliability and costs would be to eliminate the DMFand maintain only the EDR.  I would then encourage Congress to consider the EDR as public record, as death records have been historically deemed because of their many valid uses by legitimate organizations (not to mention genealogists).

Ann Arbor fans:

http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/restored-film-shows-rare-co...

From Mary Beth Powers:
"The Michilimackinac Historical Society  is sponsoring a project through their new St. Ignace Heritage Center. So far we have been donated the equipment to scan, print and archive photos, documents, etc., and to record and digital oral histories and that work is in beginning stages. I am proposing that we form a working committee to collect our rich area history archived and published for future generations. I have spoken with several individuals who are eager to help with the project, and it looks to me like there are many more who share this interest.  It would be great to have help and a community project, then we can have a "show and tell" in the Heritage Center room at Fort de Buade during St. Ignace Heritage Week in August."

Besides, the Heritage Week, the Derusha family will be having a family reunion and at the end of the week there will be a PowWow  Other families from the Mackinac area are encouraged to have family reunions. This is scheduled for Aug. 19-26. Will post more info as I get it. Jim.

Hi everyone, I am researching the Coleman Family from Charlevoix Michigan, have been unable to get information. My gr grandmother is Blanche Coleman she married Gerald Featherly, they had 5 children, Blanche died in 1926 during childbirth, I know her father is Franklin Coleman and her mother is Jenny Graham. They were both from Canada, Frank's father is John Coleman from Cananda I believe, and his mother is Isabella Turner not sure if she is from Canada or Ireland...I have been researching this part of my family for sometime, can't seem to get past this point.

Nancy--If you go to familysearch.com, and search for Franklin Coleman, with spouse Jennie Graham, you can find a a transcription of Franklin and Jennie's Canadian marriage record and also several marriage records for their children.  Frank's and Jennie's/Jane's marriage info is:

1852 census Ontario York Co., York 39d 40a (79)John Coleman 35 born Eng, Isabella 33 Eng, John 12, Thomas 10, Robert 9, Wm 7, Margaret 4 (all children born Eng)

Thank you so much for this information Debby and Catherine, I have been searching forever finding this family.

Just thought I would let anyone know who may be interested, over the past 10 years I had been researching and writing a book on my family. The book is called “The Lasley Family of Old Mackinac : 1775 - 2011” and is now available at www.lasleybook.com

I am interested in speaking to Historical and Genealogical groups about collaboration.  Currently working as the administrator on the Michigan Genealogy Community on Facebook.

Rick Shaul would love to talk about Collaboration.  

Looking obituary or names of June Holcomb's parents. He died 7 May 1907, Iosco Twp., Livingston Co., MI.  born abt 1827 New York.  His death record June Halcomb doesn't have his parents names.  1st wife was Betsey Wing m. in New York state. 2nd wife Julia Smith-Deforest m. in Michigan.

I looked at Seeking MI Death records 1897 thru 1920 and no June Holcomb death in MI. Also Checked Just Holcomb, a death in 1907 Holcomb,  and Livingston County deaths Holcomb. Sorry

In Seeking MI Death records 1897 thru 1920, I found him as June HALCOMB, but no parents.

good for you! Odd name for a male

Holcomb I do see on 1900 census June (on index listed as Jesse) was 73 born NY father born CT, Mother born NY

I went to 1850 Lockport, Niagara Co and thought I might of had a man Charles Holcomb but there was no age. Charles might be a lead?

Any interest in a Genealogy Boot Camp in the Flint area?  

Looking for information on James Roach, b. 1809 in Ontario, Canada, d. 1858 Houghton Lake, Roscommon Co. Michigan. Married to Katherine (unknown) abt 1840. Children Helena b. abt. 1841, Ellen b. abt 1843, Thomas b. abt 1844, James b. abt. 1845, Mary b. abt. 1846, Patrick b. abt. 1847, Margaret b. abt 1850, Julia b. Sept. 1851 d. aft 1930, Roscommon Co., Michigan, Elijah abt 1854, Sarah b. abt. 1856 and John b. abt 1857.

thanks

@John Bhend--hello again, from a different site.

Possible online sources for marriages before civil registration that I know of are:

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/oldies.htm for Ontario

and http://www.michigan-genealogy.com/Roscommon-County-Marriage-Records... for Roscommon County.

There is also a series of books of early Ontario marriages by county that I have found useful, although using them requires checking the index of each book since there is no central index.  I found the books at both the public library in Mt. Clemens, MI and at the Library of Michigan in Lansing.  They may also be available at other libraries.  As far as I know, these books are not online anywhere.  To give you an idea of the extent, check out the Library of Michigan catalog entry for these books at http://35.8.7.98/search~S37?/aWalker+Dan/awalker+dan/1%2C7%2C33%2CB...

More info on Heritage Week in the Mackinac area-

For all of those wondering (& who need to plan ahead of time because of their employers), the Rendezvous at the Straits Pow Wow at Father Marquette Memorial Grounds St. Ignace, MI goes from Saturday August 25th through August 26th. The Rendezvous portion of the celebration starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and will be followed by the Grand Entry at 1:00pm. The Powwow will go to about 8:00 p.m. into the evening. Sunday's schedule is about the same and the event will start winding down around 5:00 p.m. Open to the public & admission is $3.00/adult, $2.00/elders & students, and children 12 & under/free.

(The Rendezvous is being sponsored by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the St. Ignace Chamber Of Commerce, and the Michilimackinac Historical Society. For more information contact Darryl Brown at (906)984-2083.)

Former Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society president Kris Rzepczynski, who works at the Library of Michigan has a blog site which may be of interest - http://genealogykris.com/

Family History Center seminar in May - http://lansingfhc.org/

If anyone is looking for Kalamazoo resources, I have started a blog to share the various sources I have found.  Bushwhacking Genealogy:  Kalamazoo and Beyond can be found at:  http://kalamazoogenealogy.blogspot.com

Genealogical Publishing Company recently published the laminated research aid: “Genealogy at a Glance: Michigan Genealogy Research,” by Carol McGinnis. Carol is also the author of the comprehensive book, MICHIGAN GENEALOGY, another of our publications. Also in the “Genealogy at a Glance series” are titles for France and French Canada. Below please find a link to the “Genealogy at a Glance” series.

http://www.genealogical.com/products/Genealogy%20at%20a%20Glance%20Michigan%20Genealogy%20Research/3524.html

Roscommon Countywide Marriage Records

http://www.michigan-genealogy.com/Roscommon-County-Marriage-Records.htm

Researching Michigan ancestors - http://www.barbsnow.net/Michigan.htm