In the latest batch, I found a portrait of a man.
And I was thrilled to see an identification on the back.
So a man named Jacobus Zuidweg was living in Grand Rapids on or around 7 January 1901! And he was a cousin of Grandpa’s father, Adrian Zuidweg, Sr. Woohoo!
This made me go to my family tree on Ancestry and see who he would be related to. The only sibling of Adrian Sr’s father, Johannes Zuidweg, to immigrate to the United States was the youngest, Willem.
Then what did I see? I had connected with a man some time back who was related, but his family had changed their surname to Southway. Yes, that is what Zuidweg means in Dutch! And the ancestor that we had connected on was JAMES WILLIAM SOUTHWAY, born 16 August 1880 in Goes, Zeeland, Netherlands. He passed away on 12 December 1922 in Detroit.
Funniest thing: my connection had used this exact portrait for James’ “headshot” on Ancestry. I wonder if he knows his name? Going to message on Ancestry!
It looks like Jacobus/James had a brother named Adriaan/Adrian who did keep the surname Zuidweg. He passed away in 1949 in Kent County, Michigan.
I am guessing that James moved from Grand Rapids to Detroit some time between 1901 (when he was 21) and 1914 (when he was 34) because he married and had children in Detroit, plus as I mentioned above, he passed away in that city. James is my first cousin, 3x removed.
The Family Kalamazoo 
How exciting, especially when you can connect with distant cousins! I ended up with all the family pictures on Mom’s side (I’m the oldest daughter of the oldest daughter of the oldest daughter . . . of the oldest daughter), and felt guilty at having all the treasures. I started cousin Facebook pages and have shared them there, along with any stories I knew. No more guilt!
That’s a great idea! I keep hoping more family members will start to read my blog, but only really my mother and uncle have shown any interest in it. And I did start one cousin Facebook group, but it’s pretty inactive. You are lucky!
Your title says it all! Photographs are the most fun.
Especially when you know who it is haha!
Did you add cousin, or someone in between? Also, good to have the old-fashioned Z interpreted.
I’m probably just tired, but I’m not sure what you’re asking. Yes, the old-fashioned handwriting can be difficult!
Must have me tired. I meant good that a second style of handwriting was used for the brighter ink, as I may have read the old Z for T. Then I was asking if the newer script was yours, such that the “cousin” note, was also yours.
Ahhh. No both are old 😀.
Don’t you just love a surprise like this?? Eureka!
Love the Hoffer Award Finalist medallion – poet on the rise…good for you!!
Eureka is right! Oh, thank you! So funny you’re just seeing that now!
I really do a happy dance when I have an old photograph that is labeled.
It IS rare! All those blank backs of photos drive me nuts.
How wonderful that it was labeled not only with the name of the person, but also the date and place! I wish I could say I did that with all the photos I’ve taken over the years.
Me too! It made things so easy!
Nice! I’m sure that made your day!
Yes, you are right!
Excellent find
Such a good one!
The perfect picture find with all the information to move forward…clap hands 🙂
I am clapping, too, Sharon! hahaha
Isn’t it wonderful when a new find helps you solve an old puzzle.
Yes, I just love it! And when I started this blog in 2012, I had no idea how many new “finds” there would turn out to be!
I agree – Happiness is a labelled photo. I sometimes worry about all the digital photos that we take today. I seldom even attempt to label them, and wonder if they will have any meaning to anyone in the future.
I know! I agree. The only way to really save them with names is to put them in folders because often you can’t even rename them without making a new “copy.” So annoying and time-consuming.
Labeled photographs? Now what fun would that be? (Insert eye roll.) I have a houseful. Yes, someday our children with have a cloudful of unlabeled photos. Thank you for following my blog!
I think digital photos has definitely made things worse for the future!