Hi- I'm not to certain what the heck I am doing or how I got here, but I am hoping to find help. I have reasearched my Hoyt family for 17 fruitless years. Benjamin Leonard Hoyt is my ancestor. He was born 1814, NY. He married Mary Davis in Mason Co., Ill. 1850. They were in Decatur Co., Ia. 1870 Census. She died 1879 in Mo. He is living with his 21 yr old son James and his 13 year old dt. Naomi Rebecca in Liberty Twp, Putnam co., Mo in the 1880 Fed Census. He died shortly thereafter, I believe. BLH served in the 27th Illinois Infantry, Co E in the Civil War. His record appears to have been lost and so I have very little to go on there. His name is on the roster and the 1880 census says he is "crippled, maimed or disabled". After studying the family for so long, I do suspect that he is somehow related to Alanson Hoyt that is also in Mason Co, Ill. 1850 census. They travel somewhat parallel paths, but I have never been able to prove any relationship. Can anyone help me? Mclaflin@plix.com THANK YOU!!!!