MICHIPPE-L Archives

From: "Michelle M. Haas" <>
Subject: Obtaining Chippewa Co. Vital Stats
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 21:07:34 -0600

Greetings from rainy Texas -

One branch of my family tree seems to extend into Sault Ste. Marie and I thought it best to check with you all before I dive right in.

My g-g-grandparents, Walter R. WILKINS and Minnie (Hurley) WILKINS had their last child, also called Walter R. Wilkins, in Sault Ste. Marie on April 8 or 9, 1905. Walter Sr. was of Massachusetts birth and Minnie was either born in Canada or Ireland. They moved around quite a bit through Canada having children, then ended up in Chippewa Co. to have their last. My grandfather tells me that Minnie died & Walter Sr. remarried. By the time of the 1910 census, all of the children were in an orphanage in Massachusetts & Walter Sr. had blazed off to Panama to work on the canal. (He brought back a Panamanian wife 1/2 his age).

I suspect that Minnie may have died in childbirth in Sault Ste. Marie but she could have died any time between April 1905 and May 1910. I would like advice about obtaining birth and death records in Michigan.

I suspect that Walter Wilkins Jr.'s birth certificate may contain some interesting information about Minnie's origins. The State website indicates that birth certificates are restricted to the individual of record or one certified to handle their affairs. Walter Jr. died in Massachusetts in 1982. I have a certified copy of his death certificate. Do you think the Chippewa Co. Clerk will release his birth certificate to me if I supply a copy of the death cert.?

I would obviously like to have Minnie Hurley Wilkins's death certificate, as well. Does anyone know if the Clerk's office has an index or what range they might be able to search for the event?

Thank you all in advance for your assistance. As I said, Michigan is new territory for me!

Best Regards,
-Michelle Haas
Rockport TX

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• Obtaining Chippewa Co. Vital Stats by "Michelle M. Haas" <>