The one thing that can be used, if you know the parents, grandparents names and birthdates/county birthplaces, it is a good start to do a your own geneology research... on your own. Going backward and reading birth certificates at local courthouses, usually in the Registrar of Deeds office. Used to be public record and free, except for copies were 25 cents.... most should be online now.
Follow that up with the Census records online.