I found a number of Malinda Dance(s) & J. G. Vail(s) do you have any BMD dates, town, county, State etc ?

Is this your family, father's name Garretson Vail ? and Malinda Dance, death reg of one of there sons

"Louisiana, Deaths Index, 1850-1875, 1894-1956"
Name: J G Vail
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 15 Apr 1918
Event Place: Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Race (Original): White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1868
Father's Name: Garretson Vail
Mother's Name: Malinda Dance
Spouse's Name: Vail
Certificate Number: 4873
Page:
GS Film number: 2364548
Digital Folder Number: 004218218
Image Number: 01494

Jacob Garetson Vail
Memorial
Birth: 1827
Death: Oct. 9, 1884

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "long, faithful and gallant services". (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Burial:
Mount Muncie Cemetery
Lansing
Leavenworth County
Kansas, USA
Plot: Section 11, Row G, Grave 44 [unmarked]


photos; http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=VAI&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=18&GScntry=4&GSsr=81&GRid=8150846&

Ok I think this must be your J. G. Vail.

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name: Jacob Garetson Vail
Residence: Indiana
Enlistment Date: 8 May 1861
Rank at enlistment: Captain
State Served: Indiana
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Commissioned an officer in Company H, Indiana 17th Infantry Regiment on 13 Jun 1861.Mustered out on 01 Aug 1862.Commissioned an officer in Company H, Indiana 17th Infantry Regiment on 02 Aug 1862.Promoted to Full Lt Colonel on 13 Jun 1864.Promoted to Full Major on 01 Apr 1864.Promoted to Full Colonel on 06 Oct 1864.Promoted to Brevet Brig-General on 13 Mar 1865.Mustered out on 08 Aug 1865 at Macon, GA.
Death Date: 9 Oct 1884
Death Place: Leavenworth, Kansas
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of IndianaAdjutant General's Office General Order #133, August 22, 1865Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the RebellionBrevet Brigadier Generals in BluePhoto courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS




American Civil War General Officers
Name: Jacob Garetson Vail
State Served: Indiana
Highest Rank: Brigadier General
Birth Date: 1827
Death Date: 1884
Birth Place: Indiana
Army: Union
Promotions: Promoted to Full Captain (17th IN Infantry)
Promoted to Full Major
Promoted to Full Lt Colonel
Promoted to Full Colonel
Promoted to Brevet Brig-Gen

Ok found Melinda's dob and place.

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Jacob G. Vaille [Jacob G. Vail]
Age: 52
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1880: Ogallah, Trego, Kansas
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Melinda Vaille
Father's Birthplace: New Jersey
Mother's Birthplace: New Jersey
Occupation: Carriage Builder

Jacob G. Vaille 52
Melinda Vaille 43 b Indiana, both parents b Indiana
Hallie Vaille 15
Jacob G. Vaille 13
Flora Vaille 7

1860 United States Federal Census about J G Vail
Name: J G Vail
Age in 1860: 32
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1860: Princeton, Gibson, Indiana
Gender: Male

J G Vail 32
M D Vail 32 **
Wm M Vail 3
E E Vail 6/12
Mary Lone Vail 30

1870 United States Federal Census about Jacob G Vail
Name: Jacob G Vail
Age in 1870: 42
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1870: Patoka, Gibson, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Princeton

Jacob G Vail 42
Malinda Vail 33 ** these might be two people.
William M Vail 14
Edward E Vail 9
Nellis Vail 6
Jacob G V Vail 3

U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
Name: Jacob G Vail
State Filed: Kansas
Widow: Melinda D Vail ** see above M D Yail same person different dates of birth ??
Roll Number: T288_484

Was hoping this would confirm dob and give parents names

Leavenworth County, Kansas Deaths, 1891-191
Name: Malinda Vail
Cemetery: Mt. Muncie
Sex: F (Female)
Race: White
Death: 8 Feb 1911
Page #: 1585
Card: 7015-11

This might be Melinda with her parents in 1850

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Malinda Dance
Age: 15
Birth Year: abt 1835
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1850: Vincennes, Knox, Indiana
Gender: Female
Family Number: 1380

William Dance 39
Elizabeth Dance 30
Malinda Dance 15
John Dance 13
James Sherice 20
Geo Raker 18

The 1850 census I have seen. The actual document looks like it says they were from Iowa. but sometimes those things are hard to read.