Clarence Van Ostran is linked to my family tree through his father, Charles Van Ostran. Charles married Mary Ellen "Mollie" Corcoran, who is cousin to me and was part of the third generation of Corcorans who came from Ireland and settled in Woodhull Township, Michigan.
The marriage record of Charles and Mary can be found on the FamilySearch site at this link: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCNC-MMZ. The record indicates Charles was born in Rochester, NY around 1866 to Isaac Van Ostran and Mary Smith. The 1900 census shows Charles and Mary living in Bath Township, Michigan, along with the widowed father Isaac.
Charles and Mary had at least three children. Bernice, born in 1898, married a Frenchman, Paul DeTray. Another daughter, Mary Lilah, died at only two years of age. Clarence was born in 1896, but sort of disappears from records. I see him living with the family as a young boy in the 1900 census, but I've never found any other record that I've been able to tie to him. It's a mystery to me whether he ever married and where he eventually lived.
For this reason, I probably can't help much with linking either Charles or Clarence to your family. However, be aware that another Van Ostran family lived in the Williamston area. They too came from the New York area and may well have been related to Charles, although I haven't established a link.
Israel Van Ostran lived in Williamston in 1870 and eventually had two sons named Bert and Charles. He was married to Francis Griffin in 1870 (the mother of Bert and Charles), while his wife is listed as Alzina in 1880 You can find them in the 1880 census here: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWS8-K2G
Records show Bert married Josephine Colby in 1896: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCXF-S8Y
Charles appears to have married Almira Babcock in 1894: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQ3Q-33F
If you are visiting a Williamston Cemetery, perhaps it's this family that is most directly related to yours
In any case, best of luck on your visit. Hope this proves to be helpful. Certainly, let me know if there are other questions with which I can help.
Bob Schneider, Laingsburg, Michigan
