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Question of the day

Posted in:

* Who is your most famous ancestor?

* Bonus Question: Do you also have any famous or influential Illinois political types in your family tree?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:18 am

Comments

  1. My dad did some research and discovered that we are direct descendents of an Irishman widely credited with having invented the pot still, the source of whiskey, and all of the blessings and curses that come from it.

    Q: Why did God invent whiskey?
    A: To keep the Irish from ruling the world.

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:25 am

  2. Maternal: Thomas Jefferson is a “great x ?” uncle.

    Paternal: Johnny Cash is a “shirttail cousin.”

    Illinois: My father, the Obamalac owner. lol

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:25 am

  3. Peter Styvesant, who bought Long Island for a bunch of beads, is in my lineage. no famous Illinois political types, though. I stay on the sidelines of politics, like to be an observer, but figure that good deal Styvesant got for Long Island may still be in the gene pool, so I stay clear of deal making! :)

    Comment by susie Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:27 am

  4. John Morton, Delegate from Pennsylvania, who cast the deciding vote for independence in the Constitutional Congress. And then became the first Declaration of Independence signer to die.

    Comment by Concerned Observer Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:28 am

  5. William Brewster (13 greats grandfather)
    Casimir Pulaski

    Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:30 am

  6. Third cousin is the painter Thomas Hart Benton. His uncle was one of the first two U.S. senators from Missouri.

    Comment by Interested Observer Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:30 am

  7. My uncle was an All American at ND, played for the Chicago Bears and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

    Comment by Hair today, gone.... Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:33 am

  8. WWI / WWII German Admiral Karl Dönitz.

    Comment by Dan S, a Voter, Taxpayer and Cubs Fan Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:37 am

  9. Cousin on my mom’s side is astronaut Scott Altman. Will soon be going on another mission to space station.

    Comment by Downstater Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:43 am

  10. Some of my ancestors came to America from England in the 1600s. Many traveled West as time went on and were among the early pioneers in St. Clair Co….they were here before Illinois was a state. They came from Pennsylvania and some had fought in the U.S. Revolution. Some of those folks made the trek down the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800s and returned safely to Illinois. One did go on to serve in the Iowa State Legislature in the early 1900s.

    Comment by Deep South Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:43 am

  11. Gen. Geroge B. McClellan
    Noah Webster

    My wife is a descendent of Elisha Gray–the true inventor of the telephone.

    Comment by Fan of the Game Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:45 am

  12. My fraternal grandmother was the grand niece of Robert E. Lee and my maternal grandmother was the granddaughter of Francis Springer who was Lincoln’s preacher. Both documented by family tree’s researched by my father.

    Comment by Spiney Norman Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:49 am

  13. Take your pick

    Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:50 am

  14. I had an uncle who was really into genealogy, he claimed that John Wilkes Booth was in the old family tree!

    Comment by Dirtybird Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:55 am

  15. Paternal: Rep. Thomas Bolger, McHenry (D)
    He is my Great Grandfather that served 16 years in the GA and was minority leader.

    Maternal: Ray Grierson, Danville, IL
    Played fullback on the 1947 Rosebowl team for Univerity of Illinois.

    Comment by Rep. Ed Sullivan Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:57 am

  16. Sorry Ray Grierson was my grandfather

    Comment by Rep. Ed Sullivan Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:58 am

  17. My Cousin was Gov of Maryland. (No, not Agnew)

    Comment by Euripedis Pantsoff Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:06 am

  18. Far back in my family I am told that I am related to Queen Isabella of Spain who commissioned Columbus to the new world.

    Comment by Speaking at Will Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:08 am

  19. No one I can think of on my mom’s side, but my paternal grandmother was the U.S. Executive Director of Mensa, and was distantly related to Henry Kissinger (as a Democratic family we’re pretty embarrassed).

    Comment by Ben S. Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:08 am

  20. Hair today, gotta be George Connor, the prototype of the middle linebacker.

    The folks back in Norway claim Erik the Red and Leif Erickson.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:11 am

  21. Rumor has it that I am somehow related to John Adams, but the history is a little fuzzy.

    Does it count that my Grandfather on my Dad’s side was a pilot for the US Government so early in avaition history that his Pilots License (2 of them) are hand signed by Orvile Wright(certifying him as a pilot)? That’s got to count for something.

    Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:15 am

  22. Father - George Sangmeister, fmr. Congressman, State Senator, Illinois House of Representatives, also Adali Stevenson’s running mate during ill fated 1986 Democratic primary.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:19 am

  23. I am descended from Alexander Hamilton on my paternal grandfather’s side of the family, and from Jefferson Davis on my paternal grandmother’s side. He is, perhaps, a bit more on the “infamous” side than “famous”, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

    Comment by GOP gal Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:21 am

  24. One of my dad’s brothers played violin in Al Capone’s private band.

    Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:22 am

  25. 1. Antoine-Augustin Parmentier
    2. No

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:22 am

  26. Wordslinger….you’re right!

    Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:22 am

  27. On my mother’s side, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, is a “great x” grandfather. If the South had won, I imagine I’d still be involved in politics — just on a much different level.

    Comment by unclesam Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:25 am

  28. Make that paternal. and my wife’s granmother lived across the street from George Harrison’s sister in Benton.

    Comment by Spiney Norman Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:27 am

  29. No idea on my side, but the spouse is related to Lucille Ball.

    Comment by Ken in Aurora Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:28 am

  30. Interesting bit of trivia I discovered last week wandering around Kentucky and Tennessee: Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln were born in Kentucky about 100 miles and eight months apart.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:35 am

  31. Family has done a TON of genealogical research over the years. Highlights:

    Multiple Mayflower folks.
    Direct descendants of Edward I (Longshanks) Plantagenet (the mean old king from Braveheart) — not sure if that makes him or William the Conqueror my “most famous.”
    Several Revolutionary war heroes from the NE area.

    As for Illinois politicking, the most I know of is a maternal grandfather who was a longtime leader in the IFT and a lobbyist from the late 50s to the early 90s… the stories he can tell about anyone in IL politics from those eras are pretty cool, even if he never tried to get himself elected.

    Comment by Chambananon Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:38 am

  32. Stan Musial is my grandmother’s cousin. This has never resulted in free tickets.

    Comment by Atticus Finch Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 11:43 am

  33. Rich, I’m not sure your father is the most famous “politically influential/famous” member of your Illinois family….

    I’m willing to bet it’s you.

    Comment by Chambananon Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:01 pm

  34. Chambananon, I’m not my own ancestor, so that rules me out.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:02 pm

  35. My father was a second or third cousin to Bill “Moose” Skowron. My mother’s side is filled with larger-than-life legendary Chicago greasers, Louisiana sharecroppers, and hard-ass Sicilians - but none of them would make the cut into Wikipedia. My mate, on the other hand, is the great-granddaughter of Chicago industrialist William H. Lewis and the granddaughter of the guy who produced those tabletop air hockey games - both on her father’s side. On her mother’s side she comes from a long line (at least several generations) of well-placed Anglican clergy.

    Comment by Ravenswood D. Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:06 pm

  36. Father Flanagan of “Boys Town” fame was a cousin of my dad’s. Let’s see how many of you have ancestors who were played by “Spencer Tracy”.

    Thppppppppppppppppppppt………….

    Also Marion Morrison(John Wayne) on my maternal side.

    The rest of my family was largely drunks and crooks……..including me.

    Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:30 pm

  37. Seems a lot of folks are claiming Jefferson Davis. He must have gotten around.

    My paternal grandmother is said to be a second or third cousin of Saint Gemma Galgani.

    Comment by Masters Phil Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:42 pm

  38. Sacajawea of Lewis and Clark Fame was a maternal GreatX5 Grandmother.

    Comment by Kevin Highland Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:43 pm

  39. Henry Clay, the great Kentucky statesman, is my great X grandfather. No speaking ability filtered down to me. My wife is related, very indirectly , to Abraham Lincoln.

    Comment by ThatGuy Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 12:45 pm

  40. Irish Pirate–
    John Wayne is a 7th cousin on my dad’s side of the family! I am also related to both presidents Bush, Thomas Jefferson’s wife, and several other president’s wives.

    On my mother’s side, Wild Bill Hickock, author Laura Ingalls Wilder, and magnate J.P. Morgan (sorry not close enough to have inherited.)

    No one is famous for Illinois politics. However, in the 1920’s my grandfather John Million was active in Tazewell County Republican politics. He came home from a meeting in Pekin once and told my grandmother about this young man he met who wanted to get into politics. Name was Ev Dirksen, he said. “Don’t know if he will amount to anything.”

    Sadly, granddad died young in 1930 not knowing how far Ev would go.

    My grandmother loved to tell that story and chuckle about her husband’s lack of foresight.

    Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:03 pm

  41. My grand father is Peter Campanella who ran as a Democrate in Glenview and was trying to allow the state to tax churches. My father is also related to baseball great Roy Campanella.

    Comment by Mommy Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:11 pm

  42. My family is really into geneology and my cousin Bob just figured out a direct line from my family to A Lincoln. Also my grandfather was a chemist and inventor who holds the patent on lots of stuff you’ve heard of including DDT, rocket fuel, the kind of plastic grocery bags are made from, and hundreds more inventions. He earned $1 per patent.

    Comment by rayne of terror Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:13 pm

  43. Paternal: William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. But probably not George — my guitar work doesn’t bear any resemblance.

    Comment by ExPress Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:15 pm

  44. Rutherford B. Hayes is a cousin. I don’t think he was a very good president because he had to compromise to appease the south after the war between the states

    Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:21 pm

  45. One of my Scottish Kennedy ancestors was the guy breaking the ice for Washington when he was crossing the Delaware.

    My husband’s grandfather was starting quarterback for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, including the game when he gave the Gipper speech.

    Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:24 pm

  46. I’m G-Rod’s love child. Please send all future birthday/baptism gifts for his children directly to me until I get caught up with his daughters.

    Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:26 pm

  47. Jesse Jackson Jr: “My Father…he had me.”
    Diagnosis: ‘Ego Maniacus’

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:35 pm

  48. Dick Durbin is a distant cousin, and though we live in the same town, we’ve never met.

    Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:42 pm

  49. My family didn’t do the whole family history thing, and since neither Dad, Mom or any of he grandparents were famous, that’s about it.

    But if I have to claim someone, Britain’s second-highest scoring flying ace of WWI was almost certainly an insanely distant cousin, as we share a last name.

    Comment by Muskrat Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:44 pm

  50. Rayne: A. Lincoln has no surviving direct descendents, so either your cousin is mistaken, or he used the word incorrectly. A cousin/neice/nephew/in-law is not a direct relationship.

    Comment by What planet is he from again? Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:49 pm

  51. My grandparents were dirtfarmers from Ireland and eastern Europe so no Illinois politicians in the family tree.

    My great uncle took part in the Lispole Ambush in 1921 when his regiment in the IRA attacked the Black and Tans in MArch. He was wanted by the English government, escaped to Canada, crossed illegally into the US, and became a Chicago police officer. That’s the best I have.

    Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 1:57 pm

  52. Lefty Lefty:

    XXVI + VI = I

    Comment by Rep. Ed Sullivan Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:12 pm

  53. My paternal grandfather, a policeman in Gary, IN, was asked to be a security guard for Al Capone. He declined.

    Comment by Blog Addicted Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:28 pm

  54. My great, great uncle was Will Rogers. We all know what he thought of politicians, so none of us would have dared become one.

    Comment by IlliniBon Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:36 pm

  55. Direct descendant of Revolutionary War martyr Jason Russell.

    Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:43 pm

  56. my maternal grandmother becamse a republican election judge immediately after women got the vote.

    my paternal grandmother made vodka in the bathtub. my paternal grandfather brought the alderman home with him to drink it (hinky dink kenna or bathhouse john, probably).

    Comment by been there Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:45 pm

  57. Adam…

    Comment by Frank Sobotka Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 2:56 pm

  58. ==He was wanted by the English government, escaped to Canada, crossed illegally into the US, and became a Chicago police officer.==

    I love the chronology there!

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 3:09 pm

  59. Rep. Sullivan:

    From New York and Chicago in Sydney and in Perth
    The Gaelic storm is growing it’s sweeping across the earth
    To serve the Queen or Kremlin in freedom we shall dwell
    And to try to step in England’s shoes we’ll see them all in hell

    Wordslinger:

    His brother moved to Australia before WWI and made it through Gallipoli but died in battle later in the war.

    Quite a family. And now they’re famous in CapFaxland.

    Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:04 pm

  60. On my maternal side: Shadrach Bond- 1st governor of Illinois. Also had an ancestor who was supposed to sign the declaration of independence but couldnt because he couldnt get across a flooded river.

    Comment by SIUE Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:18 pm

  61. My great great great grandfather was William H. Seward the Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln. Another ancestor was Jean Baptiste Ste. Marie one of the founders of Vincennes Indiana. On the other side my great grandfather was welterweight champion of England.

    Comment by Irish Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 4:48 pm

  62. Absolutely nobody…

    Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:09 pm

  63. My grandfather wrote for Perry Mason and created the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

    Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 5:32 pm

  64. Lefty Lefty,

    Actually the illegal crossing into the States from Canada was also used by my great grandfather (himself was also from Ireland). Must’ve been a common ploy at the time.

    My favorite ancestor is on my father’s side. It’s my tons of grand-father who was the first of the family to come over to the states in the 1600s. Seems the Bavarians were harassing the Jews at the time so he got a ride over with some Quakers who were either not anti-Semitic, or figured one Jew couldn’t do a whole lot of damage to Pennsylvania. He came over and the family has left branches in Penn, Ohio, Ind, IL and IA. Seems they stopped advancing west in IA, though. If I weren’t so used to the Chicago Met culture, I’d probably move to KS to advance our front!

    Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 6:05 pm

  65. My grandmother was a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra–rare for a woman in those days.

    Comment by Cinho Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 8:19 pm

  66. The only truly famous ancestor that I know of is Mitochondrial Eve.

    Comment by ahem Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 8:42 pm

  67. Boone Logan Square:

    Your grandfather’s Jack Arnold who also directed The Mouse That Roared?

    Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 8:58 pm

  68. 32nd Ward Roscoe Village:

    No, he wrote the story treatment (see URL) for Jack Arnold.

    Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Apr 9, 09 @ 10:12 pm

  69. Leroy Herrmann-pitcher ‘33 Cubs. Fifth in rotation so did not play in series as yanks swept in 4. Have a series program with his picture in it along with the Babe and Lou Gehrig (both teams).

    Comment by whitecollarjob/bluecollarmind Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 6:43 am

  70. I received an email from facebook on April 1st that said Barack Obama had confirmed that I was his fourth cousin once removed. I’m thinking they were being funny.

    Comment by Notsure Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 7:58 am

  71. Nobody famous, but a late great uncle was an advertising man who’s claim to fame was putting Jane Byrne into some Chevy commercials.

    Nobody in family in politics, except another late great uncle was some high ranking army / intelligence official in Vietnam era.

    Comment by carbon deforestation Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 8:13 am

  72. Both on my maternal side: a judge from the Salem Witch Trials (though I can’t remember his name), and President John Adams.

    Comment by texan in chicago Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 9:01 am

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