Some cool posts about family connections to the good the bad and the ugly of history here, but this really stands out IMHO. Amazing how a simple seamstress (no disrespect intended) was linked to both the darkest and (one of) the brightest moments of 20th century history. Great little piece of personal history.
Does this count? my first cousin was a Marine aviator in WWII, flew Dauntless dive bombers, F6F Hellcats and F4U Corsairs in combat all over the South Pacific. Stayed in the reserves after the War, recalled for Korea, flew in combat there, then transferred to Pensacola where he checked out two famous Marine aviators in jets: Jerry Coleman and Ted Williams. As for me, my date at my fraternity's fall house party weekend way back when was a stunning girl named Tina Myers. You know her as Tina Louise. I know I can't be my own ancestor but can we count that as interesting?
Both great-grandfathers fought for the South as cavalry officers, survived the war, and came home to father 10 kids or so each.
Oh also forgot, the original Angle to come over set up the 4th synagogue in the U.S. in Va. A lot of my relatives fought and are in the Jewish Confederate cemetery down in Va
Rabbi Zacharya Yosef Rosenfeld | kevarim.com When he died in 1915.. At least forty thousand mourners jammed those synagogues to pay their last respects. About thirty-five thousand people lined the streets, and some fifteen thousand thronged into the cemetery, creating logistical complications in the burial service itself. Catholic priests and Protestant ministers stood reverently there among those who attended, as also did St. Louis Mayor Henry Kiel. It was one of the largest crowds of mourners ever seen in St. Louis. Merchants of all faiths even closed their stores during the funeral as a sign of respect. It was indeed a fitting tribute to “the most pious Jew in St. Louis.”
Founded the town of Lockford CA. The Mayor of Neilsville Wisconsin. One of the first Whites in the Dakotas.
One of my great grandfathers is Devil Anse Hatfield, the guy that Kevin Costner played on the show. One of my great uncles is also world famous boxer, Tommy Loughran