Welcome!

If you are researching your family ancestry in Sanilac County, Michigan then you have come to the right place!

We are a volunteer organization dedicated to the genealogy of our ancestors who lived in Sanilac County. The county was officially organized January 1850, but people were living here when the area was part of St. Clair County. Many of our members are experienced genealogists and local historians and as such have access to local references books and genealogical records and are capable of assisting you with your research. While our services are free we do ask that in exchange for any help you receive you consider at least a one-year membership in our organization.

Mission

To collect, preserve and make accessible Sanilac County records of genealogical value.
To encourage and assist members in genealogical research, including traditional and genetic research.
To promote interest in family genealogy through public educational efforts.
To publish genealogical and historical information pertaining to Sanilac County.

Ready to get started? Click here and print Ancestral Chart and Family Group Sheets.

MEETINGS & EVENTS

Regular membership meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at times

and locations to be determined, although we typically meet 1pm - 3 pm.

All interested persons are welcome to attend our meetings and educational programs.

Please note we do not formally meet in December, January or February except to provide

genealogy workshops for the community.

Genealogy Workshop for Beginners

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 1-3 pm Aitken Memorial District Library, 111 N. Howard Ave., Croswell

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1-3 pm Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

This is a free workshop open to the community. Society members will show you how to conduct family research. Bring whatever family information you have to help us get you started. If you have some experience, but have encountered a brick wall in your genealogy, we can probably help you to break through it.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

25th Anniversary of our Society

Today we will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of our Society! Where did the time go? Charter members Pat Parr and Ella Klein will tell us the history of our Society and its accomplishments over the years.

Note: Nominations will be taken for President, Treasurer and Trustee #1.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

What's New at Omard Cemetery?

Robert Vinande of Brown City, cousin of our member Marvin Vinande, will
present his research on the Omard Cemetery in Flynn Township
and how he has made it available to the public by a QR code sign on the fence of the
cemetery. Don't worry if you don't know anything about QR codes; Robert Vinande will explain it all.

Note: Elections will be held for President, Treasurer and Trustee #1.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

Proving Your Ancestor's Civil War Service

Presenter: Nathan Marks, Editor of Minden City Herald

Nathan Marks has been researching his ancestors and their connections to the American Civil War.

He will be identifying various resources for proving service of ancestors, all from the comfort of

your home using the Internet.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

Visit to Sanilac County Courthouse

We will conduct a brief business meeting at the library and then proceed to the Sanilac County Courthouse

to learn first hand about the records available to genealogists, see where they are archived,

and learn the process to locate and photocopy property records.

Reminder: $20 annual dues are being collected now. Individual, couple or family membership

is all the same price. Membership year runs June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.

Mail your check today or bring your dues to the meeting. We hope you'll continue your membership and participate in our educational programs.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 @ 5pm

3043 Lakeshore Road, Lexington 48450

Annual Potluck Picnic on Lake Huron

Enjoy a potluck meal with your fellow society members on beautiful Lake Huron. We will also hold an auction

to benefit the society, so bring some genealogical books you'd like to donate, and a few dollars

to bid and try to add new books to your personal collection. More details will be emailed later.

*Note that the gathering time is 5 pm.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 @ 1pm

St. Clair County Library

210 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron 48060

Field Trip to Michigan Room at St. Clair County Library

Meet at 1 pm sharp in the basement of the St. Clair Library. If you need to use the elevator please speak

to a librarian at the front desk. Learn about this unique collection concerning area history, maps and families.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

Peter Robinson Settlements 1823 & 1825 - A British/Canadian Experiment

Presenter: Derek J. Blount, Professional Genealogist & VP Oakland County Genealogical Society

In 1823 & 1825 destitute Irish families were brought to Upper Canada as a government funded experiment. We will explore how the plan was developed and executed, its purpose as well as whether the plan was successful. Where to find passenger lists, follow-up documents, and other records pertaining to the plan and its execution will be discussed.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

Planning for 2024

We will conduct a planning meeting for the coming year. What programs would you like to see? What projects should we undertake? Where do we go from here?

Your feedback and ideas are welcomed!

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 @ 1pm

Sandusky District Library, 55 E. Sanilac Road, Sandusky

Our People were Farmers: Farming in MIchigan.

Zoom Meeting with Dan Fantore

This presentation will discuss sources for farming history, including deeds, plat maps, the agriculture schedule of the US Census, the 1938 WPA Rural Inventory, and Centennial Farm applications.

PROJECTS

Members of the Society continually work at locating and transcribing records of local genealogical interest. The Society also periodically conducts genealogy workshops open to the public and in other ways promotes interest in the study of family history. Here you will find recently completed works and potential future projects.

Pioneer Certificates

The Society is supportive of the Pioneer Certificate Program sponsored by the Michigan Genealogical Council. To learn more about this program please visit www.mimgc.org. Recipients will receive either the Pre-Statehood or the First Families certificate, depending upon the arrival date of their earliest Michigan ancestor. The personalized certificates and a pin bearing the emblem of the certificate will be presented and their ancestor's name added to a database of early Michigan pioneers.

Pre-Statehood

before Jan 26, 1837

First Families

Jan 26, 1837 to Dec 31, 1880

Any certificate awardee who can also show their ancestor lived in Sanilac County between Jan 1, 1850 and December 31, 1880 (such as census or vital record) is eligible for an additional certificate compliments the Sanilac County Genealogical Society. You need not be a member of the Society, but there is a $10 fee for non-members. Certificates are free to SCGS members. The Sanilac County Early Pioneers Certificate is an excellent way to recognize early residents of our county, link oneself to local history, and build family pride.

Colonie Saxonia in Delaware Township

We are proud to announce Utz Schmidt, a fellow member of the Sanilac County Genealogical Society, has published a major work Michigan's Thumb: A Paradise for Saxonia Settlers. It chronicles the recruitment, immigration and establishment of 100 German families from Saxony beginning in the 1850s up through the 1930s. His in-depth book took years to research and write. It is 360 pages with many photographs and maps. Both genealogists and historians will enjoy this book. Order your copy at https://www.lulu.com

Sanilac Country Rural Schools Project

A joint project of the Sanilac County Genealogical Society and Sanilac County Historical Society initiated in April, 2018 and completed May, 2019. The purpose was to rediscover our country schools which served our community for well over a century. Project workers documented the location of 200 former schoolhouses using plat maps, property deeds, personal recollections and historical works. They sought and obtained thousands of photographs of former schoolhouses, teachers and students, as well as school memorabilia such as report cards, school board meeting records, lists of students and teachers, personal memoirs, reunion notes, etc. The end product was added to the extensive digital collection held by the Sandusky District Library. Go to Sandusky District Library - Genealogy and click on History folder then scroll down to Sanilac Rural Schools. The project was co-chaired by Ella Klein and Richard Parr.

Sanilac County Land Patent Purchases 1833-1849

(including portions of Huron County)

This project involved transcribing a historic register once belonging to Hiram Bacon (1814-1869) who would become the first Deputy Clerk for the fully organized Sanilac County in 1850. Who initiated the register and for what purpose is a mystery. The record keeping began when the region was part of Desmond Township, St. Clair County and then became Lexington Township, St. Clair County. This work should be used in conjunction with records found at the fully searchable database of General Land Office Records. Register owner: Richard Parr. Tim Weeder transcribed the register and wrote the introductory section about the register, history of first surveys and surveyors, early boundary changes, Federal land patents and the Detroit Land Office. Project completed November, 2018. Go to Sandusky District Library - Genealogy and scroll down to Documents folder.

Index to Sanilac County Births, Marriages & Deaths 1849-1920

The Index of Birth Records 1867-1879 was compiled by extracting and proofreading courthouse records by the research team of Ella Klein, John Agar, Dorothy Kelly, Pat Parr, Sue Patullo and Jan Wallace. The Index of Marriage Records 1849-1920 was extracted and proofread by Ella Klein, Shirley Davies, Dorothy Kelly, Tom Maher, Pat Parr, Sue Patullo, Susan Potter, Jan Wallace and Jeanne Wilson. The Index of Marriage Records 1870-1885 was researched by Ella Klein. The Index of Death Records 1889-1898 were compiled by Ella Klein, Norma Barlow, Susan Clarkson, Dorothy Kelly and Tom Maher. Go to Sandusky District Library - Genealogy and scroll down to Documents folder.

1890 Reconstructed Federal Census for Sanilac County, Michigan

The 1890 Federal Census for Sanilac County, destroyed by fire in Washington D.C., has long frustrated researchers of family history. This project attempts to fill the gap between the 1880 and 1900 Federal Censuses. The reconstruction was done by members of the Sanilac County Genealogical Society. Sources: 1880 and 1900 Federal Census, newspaper items, vital records, personal information, plat book entries and local history accounts. The 1894 State of Michigan Census was also used for the alphabetically first ten townships, starting with Argyle and ending with Flynn. Unfortunately the other townships were not available. Go to Sandusky District Library - Genealogy and scroll down to Documents folder.

Welcome!

© 2022 by Sanilac County Genealogical Society.