Dear Mark,
You have tough research. Most of those old passenger lists don't ask or give much information.
Perhaps the local library or state archives in Michigan might have a biographifical book or short history of the town of Graafschap, Michigan which might include your ancestor and possibly a clue to where he came from.
Perhaps there might be a record from the church he might have belonged to in Michagan. If you know what religion he might have practised.
Perhaps the local Library of state archives in Michigan might have some old newspapers on film which might have an obituary for your ancestor mentioning place of origin. If you know where he is buried, possibly the marker or record of cemetery might say something if still existing.
I have noticed that the in small towns the local newspapers often write little notices about their residents. For example: Mr, "?" visited "?" on Sunday and various lil bits that might lead to clues on relatives thus possibly origin.
Another thing I have tried is EllisIsland.com looking for perhaps a record of an ancestor returning to the U.S. from a visit to Germany. A lot of the later records 1900 or so often give an address and/or name of person/relative/friend in Europe in addition to the home address in the U.S.
Though your ancestor is early, perhaps your ancestor stayed in touch with possible relations in Germany and his kids or grandkids may have later visited his hometown in Europe. Rotterdamn? maybe your ancestor is from the Netherlands. Maybe the Emsland in Germany.
Also might find persons on your ancestors arrival manifest who traveled later to visit Europe.
Maybe later residents of Graafschap, Michigan that might be recorded returning to the U.S. from a trip overseas that might indicate where they visited.
Perhaps might find later generations of immigrants to Graafschap that might also hold clues as often people immigrated in groups and the possibly exits that later generations of your ancestor did the same.
Also might try looking for info on other passengers of the ship your ancestor arrived on. Perhaps they were from the same town.
A way to look for people whose destination might be Graafschap, Michigan is to search for a common name like Schmidt or something and put in the destination as Michigan, also possibly the port of Rotterdamn and maybe something will come up that might give you a clue.
Barbie