The forward to the original text does not say how the information was collected, although it seems to have been submitted by members of various families. Mr. Allen was born in England in 1844, and in 1858 settled in Oakland county, Michigan. His father passed away in 1878. Mr. Allen has served six years as school assessor and has held other local offices. There are about five thousand such entries included in the book, from which the vital statistics of about 40,000 people are abstracted.
Some entries are a page long and very involved.
Others are little more than an advertisement for a business. All researchers are cautioned to consult with primary documentation when confronted with conflicting information. Oakland County, Michigan Vital Records.