Hello,
You didn't mention whether you already had the 1870 and 1880 census information for Victor PERRAULT in Michigan.
I'm taking a quick look, starting with the PERREAULT spelling, and I find 2 teens with the name in Lanse, Michigan. They are the step-children of the husband/father, but I can't read his last name. Looks like it starts with Gon ....
PERREAULT, JOHN (1880 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , BARAGA, LANSE
Age: 17, Race: WHITE, Born: MI
Series: T9 Roll: 570 Page: 615
With that spelling, there are 2 men in St. Paul, Minnesota
PERREAULT, GASPARD (1880 U.S. Census)
MINNESOTA , RAMSEY, ST PAUL
Age: 26, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: T9 Roll: 630 Page: 80
In 1870 there is this man with wife and children:
PERREAULT, GEORGE (1870 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , WAYNE, 9-WD DETROIT
Age: 30, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: M593 Roll: 715 Page: 347
In 1870, this is probably your Victor. He has a wife, Ellinor, and a baby daughter, Annie. It says the baby was born in Illinois:
PERRAULT, VICTOR (1870 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , LEELANAU, CENTERVILLE TWP
Age: 27, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: M593 Roll: 684 Page: 298
They are living near many families from Canada, most are farmers. .. And, there are other couples with this spelling in Michigan in 1870, including this older couple. The 7 people seem to have settled in the same 2 towns.
PERRAULT, WILLIAM (1870 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , CHIPPEWA, SUGAR ISLAND TWP
Age: 78, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: M593 Roll: 669 Page: 352
In 1880, Victor and Ellen are in the same town, this time with 5 children, including an infant. The other 4 children were born in MI, so the couple must have first stopped in Illinois and then moved to Michigan.
PERRAULT, VICTOR (1880 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , LEELANAU, CENTERVILLE
Age: 37, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: T9 Roll: 589 Page: 458
In 1880, there were 228 people with the PERRAULT spelling in the USA.
In 1900, the couple is still there, but this time with 2 teen-age daughters born in 1880's. The couple had been married for 33 yrs. and had had 12 children but only 6 live. And, they have a married daughter living with them and a married son living beside them. It looks like Ellen had moved to US a few yrs. before Victor did. And, Victor was naturalized. Is it possible they married in Illinois in ~1867 ??
PERRAULT, VICTOR (1900 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , LEELANAU, CENTERVILLE TWP
Age: 57, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA
Series: T623 Roll: 724 Page: 115
In 1880 there were ~115 households in the US with the PERAULT spelling, including a widow with 3 young children:
PERAULT, JOSEPHINE (1880 U.S. Census)
MICHIGAN , WAYNE, DETROIT
Age: 39, Race: WHITE, Born: MI
Series: T9 Roll: 613 Page: 206
Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA)
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(on Lists and Boards for 10 yrs.; now an Admin for 9 Lists and 3 Boards)