Note: Obit states he was born 7 Feb 1888, not 31 Mar. I am requesting a copy of his birth record from the probate court.

Birth date question answered:
[Leanna's comment: I acquired the Birth Certificate while visiting Probate Court Office on May 24, 1994 and it says his birth date is March 31, 1888 and was recorded March 31, 1888. Since he was born in the 'hinterlands' of the county, I felt these couldn't be the same, especially since he always celebrated his birthday as Feb. 7. On June 1, 1994, I called the Probate Court Office and talked to Kathryn McBride, the Clerk who had helped me all that day and typed the Certificate. She double checked the information and said the Birth Record Book does indicate the March 31, 1888 birth date. It is the Date of Record that is wrong on the certificate; it should be May 22, 1888. She offered to do a new certificate for me but I declined. When I called I expected to have the Birth Date corrected, and for that I would have requested a new certificate. I wonder what his correct birth date is? I'll have to check the newspapers and see if there is any kind of birth announcement in the paper. For now I'm going to stick with the traditional date of Feb. 7. What's 6 weeks here or there?? ---  Oct. 2012: I've found that both the 1900 Census and his World War I Draft registration gives Feb. 1888 as the birth info. Draft specifically says Feb. 7th, 1888. So I'm still sticking with Feb. 7th.] -- From email on 15 October 2012482