Reyst LJ

Reyst and Smouter family historian. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA, I am a direct descendent of Dutch immigrants to the United States in the 1890s. Both of my father's parents were Dutch, my grandfather born in the Netherlands and my grandmother in Michigan, shortly after her family immigrated here. My initial research into my family tree indicates that all those with the surname of Reyst who have roots in Michigan are from the same family tree dating back to my 2x great-grandparents. I hope through writing this blog to continue researching the ties of the Dutch community that settled in Detroit from the period 1865 to 1925 and particularly the influence of their church, the Dutch Reformed Church (known here in USA as the Reformed Church of America).