Death Records Now

Do you have any other information aside from that death index listing above? County/City of birth? Names of any siblings?
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From my own Wisconsin research, I’ve found that listed birth dates of the 19th century aren’t always accurate. Many of them were filed years after the event (My G-G-G-Grandfather filed birth certificates for his 10 children all on the same date, after most of the children had left home). Sometimes years are inaccurate, and it might be the year before or after the year stated.
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I’ve tried searching the WI History society vital records:
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/vitalrecords/index.asp
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Also, Ancestry.com has free access to their 1880 Census Index:
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/usfedcen/default.aspx
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Unfortunately, nothing conclusive comes up. We haven’t hit a dead end yet though…that just means that we need more information.
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If you haven’t already, you should get the death certificate and obituary of Nicholas from California. The Death certificate may be more specific about his birth place and name of his wife. The obituary may list names of his siblings as well.
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I did find a Nicholas that was born in Ohio in 1868, who was living in Wisconsin in 1880. Keep in mind that death certificates are not always accurate either. If Nicholas’ children knew he grew up in Wisconsin, they may have assumed he was born there when they gave the information.
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My suggestion is to find more information from California right now.
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From http://vitals.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ca/death/search.cgi
We can also see that there were a few women named Hoffman that died in the Los Angeles area that were born between 1860-1880. If you can’t find an obit for Nicholas, you may be able to find one for his wife that mentions him, and possibly more family information.
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(Los Angeles is notoriously difficult for finding obituaries, simply because there are so many cities and suburbs with their own papers. Check the death certificate first for his residence before looking for the obit.) http://www.lapl.org/resources/guides/obituaries.html
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With just a little more information, you should be able to find what you’re looking for in Wisconsin.
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Good Luck!
References :

1910 Census
Name: Nicolas Hoffman
Age in 1910: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relation to Head-of-house: Head
Father’s Birth Place: Germany
Mother’s Birth Place: Wisconsin
Spouse’s name: Emma E

Name: Christina Hoffman
Home in 1930: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
View Map
Age: 38
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892
Relation to Head-of-house: Wife
Spouse’s name: Nicholas
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents’ birthplace: View Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Nicholas Hoffman 40
Christina Hoffman 38
Leola Hoffman 14
Loraine Hoffman 13
Kenneth Hoffman 11
Robert Hoffman 9
Nicholas Hoffman 8
Margaret Knott 7

Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 475; Page: 27B; Enumeration District: 1385; Image: 207.0.

Home in 1910: Milwaukee Ward 22, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Nicolas Hoffman 29
Emma E Hoffman 24

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Milwaukee Ward 22, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1728; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 253; Image: 747.

Thre are hundreds of Nocholas Hoffmans and this may not be the ones.
References :

I have found this on the Familysearch site..Be sure to click on
Household if you visit this site:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race
Anna HOFFMANN Self W Female W

Age Birthplace Occupation Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace
54 LUX Keeping House LUX LUX

Nicholas HOFFMANN Son S Male W 10
Birthplace Occupation Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace
WI At Home LUX LUX

Source Information:
Census Place Fredonia, Ozaukee, Wisconsin
Family History Library Film 1255441
NA Film Number T9-1441
Page Number 370B
References :
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=/eng/search/ancestorsearchresults.asp

WI OZAUKEE FREDONIA 1880 CENSUS
Anna Hoffmann 54 born Luxemburg, parents born Lux.
Nicholas Hoffmann 10 born Wis. parents born Lux.
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Nicholas Hoffman m. Anna Tackes in Luxembourg. Came to America around 1855-1860, settling in Fredonia, WI. Their Daughter Margaret or Margaretha b. 10/28/1853 Luxembourg, d. 8/5/1937, Fredonia WI. m. Abt 1868, Fredonia, WI, Nicholas Thill b. 12/24/1842 Luxembourg, d. 4/28/1921, Fredonia , WI. had the children: Peter Thill m. Appalonia, Susan, Catherine m. Mike Grolinger, John m. Catharine Smith, Anna m. John Krell, Mathias m. Theresa Krell, Nicholas m. Elizabeth Goschey, Mary m. John P. "Jemp" Goschey, Henry m. Magdolen Mayer, Joseph m. Mary Marie Dimmer.

They are mostly buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Holy Cross, Ozaukee Cty., WI. If you have any information please contact me!!! http://www.geocities.com/ttg13
http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?nicholas::hoffman::1319.html
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SD KINGSBURY OLDHAM 1910 Census
HOFFMAN NICHOLAS 41 M W WI married 19 years, parents born Germany
Nellie 42 Iowa, 7 children, 5 living, parents born Ireland
John E. 13 SD
Raymond F. 8 SD.
Elsie V. 6
Angeline B. 6 SD.
Mary A. 5 mos. SD
Mary Moriarity mother-in-law 88 Ireland, wd. 6 children, 4 living
John 40 bro-in-law wd. Iowa
Mary niece 9 SD
Annie A. niece 7 SD
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WI OZAUKEE FREDONIA 1910 Census
Mary Goschey 64 Germany widow, 12 children, farmer
Mike 30 Wisconsin
Lizzie 26 Wisconsin
John 22
John P. 20
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WI OZAUKEE FREDONIA TWP 1900 CENSUS
Peter Goschy 56 born March 1844 Germany, married 34 years, immigrated 1844, in US 56 years pa. farmer, parents born Germany.
Mary 54, born Nov. 1845 Germany, married 34 years, 14 chilren, 12 living, immigrated 1860, in US. 40 years, parents born Germany.
Michael 21, born April 1879 Wisconsin
Lizzie 16, born Aug. 1883 Wis.
John 12, born Oct. 1887 Wis.
John P. 10, born Jan. 1890 Wis.
References :
http://www.2manitowoc.com/marHi.html
Census records

I see that Angela was born in Michigan, according to her death record. Have you looked at the records in http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#r=0;p=allCollections ? There are Michigan records there that might help you. As Katie mentioned, it will help if you know any of Angela’s siblings names.
References :