Michigan Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

For more information on census records, see Michigan Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration, were kept in Michigan beginning in 1867. They provide full dates and places. They are indexed, and can be searched by parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. - Births - Marriages - Deaths
 * 1867-1902: at FamilySearch
 * 1867-1911: Michigan Births and Christenings Index at Ancestry ($)
 * 1867-1917: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1817-1850: Michigan Compiled Marriages at Ancestry ($)
 * 1820-1937: at FamilySearch
 * 1820-1940: at FamilySearch
 * 1851-1875: Michigan Compiled Marriages for Select Counties at Ancestry ($)
 * 1865-1931: at FamilySearch
 * 1867-1952: Michigan Marriage Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1868-1925: at FamilySearch
 * 1870-1887: Michigan marriage records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1867-1897: at FamilySearch
 * 1867-1952: Michigan Death Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1867-1995: Michigan Deaths and Burials Index at Ancestry ($)
 * 1897-1929: Michigan Death Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1897-1952: Michigan Death Certificates at Michiganology
 * 1921-1952: at FamilySearch

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Michigan, see How to Find Michigan Birth Records, How to Find Michigan Marriage Records, and How to Find Michigan Death Records.

Step 3:'''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1867. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers.

Obituaries
 * 1820-2006: at FamilySearch
 * 1980-2014: at FamilySearch
 * Michigan Obituaries at ObituariesHelp.org

Cemetery Records - For more information, see Michigan Obituaries and Michigan Cemeteries.
 * 1799-1999: at FamilySearch;
 * 1800-2010: Indiana and Michigan, Michiana Genealogical Cemetery Index at Ancestry ($)
 * at FamilySearch
 * at FamilySearch

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Michigan, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Michigan, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Michigan Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Michigan Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Michigan Online Genealogy Records