I need some help finding Birth and Death certificates.

fordphan

My relative was Resean D. Litel, DOB 1857, DOD March 29, 1873. He is interred at Crown Hill, Indianapolis. I have pictures of him alive and deceased. He is buried in the Litel family plot. He is the reason the plot was purchased. He was buried from his home by Flanner & Buchanan, mortuary. I have tried everything I know of to find these records. Thanks in advance for any help offered.

[name removed]

ShelleWells

@fordphan

Mod note: Your post was edited to remove a name that is not part of your username. Please see the Community Code of Conduct. 

FayeLynnStallings

The reason that you cannot find birth or death certificates is because they did not exist in most areas of the United States at the time of this individual's birth and death. Vital records did not become a requirement until the early 1900's. You can occasionally find birth or death registers pre-1900. I would recommend that you review the Research Wiki for the area that you are researching to learn about what types of records might exist to help you in your ancestor research.

ShelleWells

@fordphan have you tried looking at the FamilySearch Wiki for Indiana? This will help you determine when vital records became available and suggest other research sources.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Indiana,_United_States_Genealogy

Happy Hunting!

Nyx773

To expand upon what was already stated . . .

@fordphan The best you can probably hope for would be records from a place of worship and newspaper articles/obituaries.

fordphan

The funeral home that did the service does not have a record. The funeral was held at Resean's residence—the cemetery where he is buried only has records of who purchased the plot, and who is buried there.