You'll be amazed at what stories you hear and what documents people have hidden away for safekeeping. Ask for copies of these papers and pictures and return the originals. They will provide clues and interest to your story. In this step, you might also find out about a cousin who has already done a lot of this research. Be VERY, VERY sensitive about the information you reveal.
People like to keep their personal information private.
Doing so will only cause problems. This is why I don't show dates of people born less than 100 years ago or married less than 75 years ago. With your family group sheets in hand, it's time to verify what you've got and find new leads. This is where the detective work comes in. It's time consuming and involves some expense, but, to me, it's worth every penny.