Obsessed!!

So today, I sat down for a few minutes to try to find some more ancestors.  I ended up at my computer (and running back and forth to my laundry room) for almost the whole day!  Fortunately, I have posted the family tree in the laundry room so at least I got the laundry done!  I was able to easily track down some of the descendants of William, my grandfather's uncle.  There are several newspapers archived that have mentions of my Iowa ancestors.  William must have been a very prominent resident or not much was happening in Sioux County, Iowa in the 1930s because his 90th birthday party which I discussed in an earlier post made the papers!  In addition, I have come across at least three articles about his death at the age of 94.  And I don't mean obituaries - full, front page of the paper articles!  Along the way, I've found some more pictures.

Although it's hard to see here, it says Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hazlitt, born in Sioux County (him) and Netherlands (her) 1873.  Nellie Tuynman Hazlitt is one of William's daughters, and my grandfather's first cousins.  Below is their grave in Iowa.

This is young Hobart Hazlitt, born in Sioux County on Nov. 30, 1897.  Hobart was the oldest child of Alfred and Nellie (above).  He is one of five children.  Although Hobart is about 25 years older than my father, they were first cousins. 

Next is Cornelius Tuynman, one of my grandfather's first cousins, (William's oldest child), and his wife, Nellie / Neeltje.  I wonder if my grandfather knew he had cousins in the United States when he came here?  Grandad didn't arrive until 1914, and to my knowledge, never went to Iowa.  Perhaps if he'd joined his cousins instead of settling in Maryland, I would never have been born!  Below their picture is the Cornelius' grave.  He only lived to be 45.