FAMOUS AND NEARLY FAMOUS RELATIVES
Compiled by Glenn Gohr
Here is a listing of some prominent relatives of mine. Most are what some people call shirt-tail relatives, but I still claim them. Wouldn’t you?? In a few cases the exact blood link is unknown (although DNA seems to support a kinship), so it seems likely that I have a connection. First I will list a few of my relatives who are famous. Then, in a second grouping, I will list some “relatives” who are people with the same last name as my relatives or else the kinship is unknown. The second grouping might be called “wannabe” relatives.
FIRST LADY OF TENNESSEE BETTY JANE LITTLEFIELD BLANTON (1930-2007). She was the wife of Leonard RAY Blanton, former governor of the state of Tennessee. Betty Jane Littlefield was the daughter of Henry Earl Littlefield, and granddaughter of James Luther Littlefield. James Luther Littlefield is a brother of my great-great-grandmother, Sarah Agatha (Littlefield) Harris. So we are fairly close kin through marriage. For the connection to Betty Jane Littlefield Blanton, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Littlefield family, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
TENNESSEE GOVERNOR RAY BLANTON (1930-1996). Leonard RAY Blanton, former governor of the state of Tennessee, was married to Betty Jane Littlefield, daughter of Henry Earl Littlefield, and granddaughter of James Luther Littlefield. James Luther Littlefield is a brother of my great-great-grandmother, Sarah Agatha (Littlefield) Harris. So we are fairly close kin through marriage. For the connection to Leonard Ray Blanton, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Littlefield family, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
SINGER TONY BOROWIAK (1972- ). All-4-One is a California-based contemporary Rhythm and Blues vocal quartet comprised of Tony Borowiak, Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, and Alfred Nevarez. The group’s 1994 debut album “So Much in Love” sailed into the Top Ten thanks to the enormous hit single “I Swear,” which stayed at number one for 11 weeks. This was a very popular song during weddings for a few years. The song “My Brother's Keeper” followed in 1998, and a year later the group returned with “On and On.” The group has received grammys and other prestigious awards. Along the way, the band has performed around the world, from Europe, Asia and across North America including collaborations with legends the likes of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, David Foster, Diane Warren, Nile Rodgers, and Tom Scott; with appearances on Oprah and Rick Dees; and shared the stage with Whitney and Boys To Men, not to mention so many others. Tony, who handles many of the high falsetto parts, and began by singing in a church choir, also sang with a barber shop quartet for awhile. Tony Borowiak’s grandmother is Pearl (Wegner) Borowiak, and his great-grandfather was Frank Wegner of Armstrong and Estherville, Iowa. Frank Wegner was a first cousin of my grandfather, Emil Gohr. For the connection to Tony Borowiak, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Wegner family, see my WEGNER/WEGENER GENEALOGY Page.
FORMER SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BILL BRADLEY (1943- ). William Warren “Bill” Bradley was a U.S. Senator from New Jersey and a presidential candidate in 2000. He was also an American hall of fame basketball player and a Rhodes scholar. He is related to me through his mother’s family back to Mary (Harris) Ligon, daughter of Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown. For the connection to William Warren “Bill” Bradley, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
FIRST LADY OF THE U.S. BARBARA (PIERCE) BUSH (1925- ). Barbara (Pierce) Bush is descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through her mother. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to Barbara Pierce Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on former First Lady Barbara (Pierce) Bush and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA COLUMBA GARNICA GALLO BUSH (1953- ). She served as the First Lady of Florida from 1999-2007 as the wife of Governor John Ellis “Jeb” Bush. He is descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through his mother, Barbara Pierce Bush. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to Columba Garnica Gallo Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Governor Jeb Bush and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH (1924- ). George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, married Barbara (Pierce) Bush who is descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through her mother. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to President George H. W. Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on former First Lady Barbara (Pierce) Bush, and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE WALKER BUSH (1946- ). George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, is descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through his mother, Barbara (Pierce) Bush. He also hails from the great state of Texas where he was governor and where I lived half of my life. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to President George W. Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on President George W. Bush and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
FLORIDA GOVERNOR JOHN ELLIS “JEB” BUSH (1953- ). John Ellis “Jeb” Bush served as Governor of Florida from 1999-2007. He was the son of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. He is descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through his mother, Barbara (Pierce) Bush. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Governor Jeb Bush and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
FIRST LADY OF THE U. S. LAURA LANE WELCH BUSH (1946- ). She is the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, who descended from the Henry Ballinger family of New Jersey through his mother, Barbara (Pierce) Bush. They also hail from the great state of Texas where he was governor and where I lived half of my life. I am also descended from Henry Ballinger/Ballenger of Burlington County, New Jersey through my connection to the Sartain and Bond families. For the connection to Laura Lane Welch Bush, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on President George W. Bush and the Ballinger/Ballenger family, see my BALLINGER/BALLENGER GENEALOGY Page.
ACTRESS DARLA CASH (1956- ). She is an actress and costume designer living in San Diego, California. She appeared in films The Origin of Man in 2000 and Richard III in 2002 and has other film and drama credits. She is married to actor/producer D. W. Jacobs. She is one of my many Harris cousins. For the connection to Darla Cash, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN HENRY CLAY (1777-1852). Henry Clay, who served as a congressman of the United States and Speaker of the House, is descended from the same Harris family that I descend from in Hanover Co., Virginia. Henry Clay was a leading American statesman and orator who served in both the House of Representatives and Senate. He was the founder and leader of the Whig Party and a leading advocate of programs for modernizing the economy (such as canals, railroads and banks). Although his multiple attempts at the presidency failed, he to a large extent defined the issues of the Second Party System. He was known as the Great Compromiser because of his success in brokering compromises on the slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850. In 1957 a Senate committee chaired by John F. Kennedy, named Clay as one of the five greatest Senators in American history. For the connection to Henry Clay, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Congressman Henry Clay and the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN JAMES BROWN CLAY (1817-1864). James Brown Clay (son of the famous Henry Clay), who served as a congressman of the United States as a representative from the State of Kentucky. He is descended from the same Harris family that I descend from in Hanover Co., Virginia. For the connection to James Brown Clay, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Congressman James Brown Clay and the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE (1872-1933). 30th U.S. President Coolidge and 13th U.S. President Millard Fillmore are both descended from the Littlefield family of Maine. This has been mentioned in the Littlefield Family Newsletter produced by Charles Littlefield Seaman. Also on the Littlefield and the Littlefield-Roots e-mail lists, as well as being documented in Burke's Presidential Families of the United States, 2nd ed. and Ancestors of American Presidents, compiled by Gary Boyd Roberts. I am descended from William Littlefield of Maryland, who is the progenitor of the southern branch of Littlefields. DNA testing seems to prove out that the Edmund and William line are from the same family back in England, but the exact connection is unknown at this time. For the connection to Calvin Coolidge, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Calvin Coolidge and the Littlefield family, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
U.S. PRESIDENT MILLARD FILLMORE (1800-1874). 13th U.S. President Fillmore and 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge are both descended from the Littlefield family of Maine. This has been mentioned in the Littlefield Family Newsletter produced by Charles Littlefield Seaman. Also on the Littlefield and the Littlefield-Roots e-mail lists, as well as being documented in Burke's Presidential Families of the United States, 2nd ed. and Ancestors of American Presidents, compiled by Gary Boyd Roberts. I am descended from William Littlefield of Maryland, who is the progenitor of the southern branch of Littlefields. DNA testing seems to prove out that the Edmund and William line are from the same family back in England, but the exact connection is unknown at this time. For the connection to Calvin Coolidge, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Millard Fillmore and the Littlefield family, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT CATHERINE (LITTLEFIELD) GREENE (1755-1814). Catherine “Caty” (Littlefield) Greene, who was married to Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, is from the Edmund Littlefield of Maine line, and I descend from the William Littlefield of Maryland line. DNA testing seems to prove out that the Edmund and William line are from the same family back in England, but the exact connection is unknown at this time. Catherine is a notable woman who is a Revolutionary War patriot and is listed in “Who’s Who of American Women.” For the connection to Catherine Littlefield Greene, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Catherine Littlefield and General Nathanael Greene, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE (1742-1786). My connection to General Greene is through his wife, Catherine “Caty” Littlefield. She is from the Edmund Littlefield of Maine line, and I descend from the William Littlefield of Maryland line. DNA testing may prove out that the Edmund and William line are from the same family back in England, but the exact connection is unknown at this time. Any connection with General Greene would be through marriage and not bloodline. Also of interest is that I live in Greene County, Missouri, which is named after him. A few years ago, the local society of the Children of the American Revolution donated a copy of this same portrait to hang in the rotunda of the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield, Missouri, where I live. For the connection to Nathanael Greene, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Nathanael Greene, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
ACTOR COLIN HANKS (1977- ). He was born Colin Lewes Dillingham in Sacramento, California, the eldest son of Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his first wife, the late producer and actress Samantha Lewes (née Susan Jane Dillingham), who died of bone cancer on March 13, 2002. Like his famous father, he is also an actor. He has starred in Roswell. King Kong, and other productions. For the connection to Colin Hanks, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with actor Colin Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
Also see my DODSON GENEALOGY Page.
ACTOR JIM HANKS (1961- ). Jim Hanks is an American voice-over artist and character actor. He is the brother of actor Tom Hanks, and often substitutes for Tom in the role of Woody in various Toy Story video games and spin offs. He also was his brother Tom's running double in Forrest Gump (1994). For the connection to Jim Hanks, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with actor Jim Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
Also see my DODSON GENEALOGY Page.
ACTOR TOM HANKS (1956- ). According to a Genealogy.com web site, Tom Hanks, well-known actor and Academy Award winner, is a third cousin four times removed to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Tom was born July 9, 1956 at Contra Costa County, California (his home town is Concord, California), and decided to pursue acting after reading and watching a performance of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh. Today he is a well-known actor, director, writer, as well as producer. He is just bursting with talent. Tom Hanks traces back 8 generations to John Hanks, a brother of Luke Hanks, Sr. Luke, Sr. was the father of Moses Hanks (my ancestor) and of Joseph and Abraham Hanks (both of whom are reported by different researchers to be President Lincoln’s Hanks ancestors.)—either way there is a kinship. Tom Hanks is also kin to me through the Dodson family. Included in the above thumbnails is a photo of Tom Hanks with a beard (taken from the movie, “Cast Away.” With the beard, perhaps you can better see his resemblance to President Lincoln. Tom Hanks is noted for his performance in such films as “Forrest Gump,” “Big,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Cast Away,” the voice of Woody in “Toy Story,” “The Da Vinci Code,” etc. For the connection to Tom Hanks, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with actor Tom Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
Also see my DODSON GENEALOGY Page.
ACTOR D. W. JACOBS (19??- ). He is a director, writer, actor, teacher and producer. He co-founded San Diego Repertory Theatre in 1976 and served as Artistic Director for twenty years. He resigned in 1997 to focus on independent creative projects. He is married to one of my Harris cousins, Darla Cash. For the connection to D. W. Jacobs, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
ACTRESS SAMANTHA LEWES (1952-2002). Born Susan Jane Dillingham in Hayward, California, she adopted the stage name of Samantha Lewes. She was married to Actor Tom Hanks and was the mother of Actor Colin Lewes Hanks. She died of bone cancer on March 13, 2002. She appeared in several film, stage and television productions. For the connection to Tom Hanks, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with actor Tom Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
Also see my DODSON GENEALOGY Page.
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865). There are various theories/conclusions regarding our 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln’s ancestry. It is known that his mother was Nancy (Hanks) Lincoln. The lineage set forth by Adin Baber and others says that President Lincoln was the grandson of Abraham Hanks of Virginia, who was a brother of my Moses Hanks. President Lincoln now has no living descendants, and he had no siblings who left any offspring, so I am about as closely related to President Lincoln as anyone, although some say he is the grandson of Joseph Hanks (another brother of Moses and Abraham Hanks). Either way, there is a close blood connection with Nancy Hanks and President Lincoln. For the connection to Abraham Lincoln, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with President Lincoln, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
FIRST LADY OF THE U.S. MARY TODD LINCOLN (1818-1882). Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of President Abraham Lincoln and the mother of Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln. She was First Lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865. For the connection to Abraham Lincoln, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with President Lincoln, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
SECRETARY OF WAR ROBERT TODD LINCOLN (1843-1926). He was the son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd. He was U.S. Secretary of War under Presidents Garfield and Arthur. He was later appointed minister to Great Britain by President Benjamin Harrison. For the connection to Robert Todd Lincoln, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with Robert Todd Lincoln, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON LITTLEFIELD (1842-1920). One of the key people in Texas history is George Washington Littlefield. He served as a major in Terry’s Texas Rangers for the Confederate Army during the Civil War and became a wealthy cattleman, banker, and benefactor and member of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas. Littlefield also gave more than any other single individual to the University of Texas at Austin during its first fifty years and before oil money significantly increased personal wealth. Littlefield in 1914 established the Littlefield Fund for Southern History to collect archival material on the history of Texas, and during the remaining six years of his life he gave well over $100,000 to the fund. In 1918 he gave $225,000 to the university to purchase the John Henry Wrenn Library. Other benefactions included the Littlefield Fountain, Alice P. Littlefield Dormitory for freshman women, and his home. Littlefield, Texas is also named after him. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery at Austin, Texas. He is a great-grandson of one of my ancestors, Revolutionary Soldier William Littlefield II. For the connection to George Washington Littlefield, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with George Washington Littlefield, see my see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
DEPARTMENT STORE FOUNDER ROWLAND HUSSEY MACY (1822-1877). Born to a Quaker family on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, he became a well-known American businessman who founded the department store chain, R. H. Macy and Company. Of interest is that at the age of fifteen, he worked on the whaling ship, the Emily Morgan, and had a red star tattooed on his hand that later became part of the store's logo. Also of interest is that His character is portrayed in the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street by Harry Antrim. R. H. Macy is kin to me through the SWAIN family and is related through the MACY, GARDNER, and COFFIN families that all intermarried multiple times on Nantucket Island. For the connection to Rowland Hussey Macy, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Macy Family, see my MACY GENEALOGY Page.
Also see the Gardner Family, see my GARDNER GENEALOGY Page.
Also see the Gardner Family, see my COFFIN GENEALOGY Page.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR GENERAL JOHN NEVILLE (1731-1803). He served closely with General George Washington, General Nathanael Greene, and other well-known personages during the Revolutionary War. He also was the commander of Fort Pitt during the main part of the war. He married Winifred Oldham. General John Neville is a brother of my Mary (Neville) Dodson, so he is a great-uncle way, way back. Both are children of Joseph Neville, Sr., who was a trustee for the town of Moorefield, Virginia, during the Revolutionary period, and so he also is a patriot of the American Revolution. For the connection to John Neville, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on General John Neville, see my NEVILLE/NEAVILLE GENEALOGY Page.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR GENERAL PRESLEY NEVILLE (1755-1818). He served closely with General George Washington, General Nathanael Greene, and other well-known personages during the Revolutionary War. He was the son of General John Neville listed above, so he is my first cousin way, way back. Presley became a close friend of Lafayette and went to France to visit him. Presley was also taken prisoner at one point during the Revolutionary War. He married the daughter of General Daniel Morgan of the Revolutionary War. For the connection to Presley Neville, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Neville family, see my NEVILLE/NEAVILLE GENEALOGY Page.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA (1961- ). He was born to a white American mother and a black Kenyan father. He grew up in Hawaii and in Jakarta, Indonesia. He served as a senator in Illinois and then U.S. Senator from Illinois before running for presidential office in the 2008 election. Through his mother’s family he is distantly related to the Harrises through Elizabeth Harris of New Kent Co., Virginia, who married John Hudson. For the connection to Barack Hussein Obama, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
FIRST LADY ELECT MICHELLE LAVAUGHN (ROBINSON) OBAMA (1964- ). She is a graduate of Princeton and has a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard. She is the wife of president-elect Barack Obama. Through his mother’s family he is distantly related to the Harrises through Elizabeth Harris of New Kent Co., Virginia, who married John Hudson. For the connection to Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
PRESLEY NEVILLE O’BANNON, 1st Lt. USMC (1776-1850). Named after his cousin above, Presley Neville O’Bannon was one of the first Marines in the U.S. military just after the Revolutionary War period. He was one of the men who helped to free the shores of Tripoli and was one of the persons memorialized in the Marine’s Hymn, “From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli ...” because he was the first the first to plant the American flag on foreign soil. After resigning from the Marine Corps on March 6, 1807, he went to Kentucky and served in the State Legislature. He died on September 12, 1850 at the age of 74. A monument over his grave in his honor is found at Frankfort, Kentucky. For the connection to Presley Neville O’Bannon, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Neville family, see my NEVILLE/NEAVILLE GENEALOGY Page.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BILL RICHARDSON (1947-). William Blaine “Bill” Richardson served as U.S. representative and governor of New Mexico and was a presidential candidate in 2008. He is descended from a Mary/Mercy Littlefield who married Joseph Fogg of Kittery and Berwick, Maine. I am descended from William Littlefield of Maryland, who is the progenitor of the southern branch of Littlefields. DNA testing seems to prove out that the Edmund (Maine branch) and William line are from the same family back in England, but the exact connection is unknown at this time. For the connection to Bill Richardson, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Bill Richardson and the Littlefield family, see my LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY Page.
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER JEFF SHAW (1966- ). Jeffery Lee Shaw was a major league pitcher, mostly for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. He also played for the Montreal Expos. Jeff Shaw was born on July 7, 1966 and is from Washington C.H., Ohio, and is the great-grandson of Frank and Lucy (Wegner) Shaw. Lucy was a first cousin to my grandfather, Emil Gohr on the Wegner side of the family. That would make Jeff and me 3rd cousins, once removed. Oh well, I still consider us to be relatives. For the connection to Jeff Shaw, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Wegner family and Jeff Shaw, see my WEGNER/WEGENER GENEALOGY Page.
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER TRAVIS SHAW (1990?- ). Travis Shaw of Washington C.H., Ohio, is the son of Professional Baseball Player Jeff Shaw. He is following in his father’s footsteps. He is playing baseball at Kent State University in Ohio. For the connection to Travis Shaw, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Wegner family and the Shaw family, see my WEGNER/WEGENER GENEALOGY Page.
REVEREND MARY (COFFIN) STARBUCK (1645-1717). "Reverend" Mary Coffin was born February 20, 1644/45 in Haverhill, Massachusetts just two years after her parents’ arrival from Devonshire, England. She moved to Nantucket Island with her father, Tristram Coffin, who led the colonization of the island in 1660-1661. In 1662 she married Nathaniel Starbuck, a prosperous farmer, local official, and partner with her father in purchasing the area from the Indians. Mary and her eldest son Nathaniel helped make Quakerism the leading religion on the island sometime after her own conversion from Puritanism by the Quakers of Providence, Rhode Island in 1701 at the age of 56. She was a minister, as were her children and grandchildren. For the connection to Mary Coffin Starbuck, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Coffiin connection see my COFFIN GENEALOGY Page and http://www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/coffin.html
SINGER B. W. “BUCKWHEAT” STEVENSON (1949-1988). “Buckwheat” Stevenson was a singer and composer from Austin, Texas, appearing on the R.C.A. label. One report said, “At 24, B. W. ("Buckwheat") Stevenson is the most commercially successful of the young Austin musicians. He writes a lot about women, with emotion as honest as Merle Haggard's but a bit more realistic.” He produced a Christian record album called "Lifeline" that includes his top ten hit, "Headed Home." Another one of his albums is called "Calabasas." He also appeared on Austin City Limits and American Bandstand. He is now deceased. A local pub in Dallas called Poor David's Pub has an annual B. W. Stevenson Memorial Singer/Songwriter Competition in his honor. He was the son of Marjorie (Foshee) Stevenson-Quiram and the stepson of Harold Quiram of the Texas branch of Quirams. For the connection to B. W. Stevenson, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the Quiram family, see my QUIRAM/KWIRAM/KWIRANT/KWIERANT GENEALOGY.
ACTRESS RITA WILSON (1956- ). Born Margarita Ibramihoff in Los Angeles, California, her family was of Bulgarian origin and adopted the name of a street in Southern California near where they lived. She is married to actor Tom Hanks. She once made a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch and has appeared in several films. She also was a producer for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. For the connection to Tom Hanks, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on the connection with actor Tom Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
Also see my DODSON GENEALOGY Page.
BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM JENKINS WORTH (1794-1849). He served with distinction in the United States Army. He served valiantly in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War under Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. He also served in the Second Seminole War in Florida. He was Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1820-1828. After the Mexican-American War, he was appointed as the Administrator of the Texas and New Mexico military districts. He died of cholera in San Antonio, Texas in 1849. The town of Fort Worth, Texas, is named after him. Lake Worth in downtown Fort Worth; a village called Worth, which is a suburb of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois; Worth County, Georgia; Worth County, Missouri; and the city of Lake Worth, Florida are all named for him as well.
Worth’s ancestors came from Edgartown, Massachusetts, and his great-great grandfather was William Worth (1642-1724) who married Sarah Macy, who is the immigrant ancestor of the Worths who settled at Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, which makes us distant cousins. For the connection to William Jenkins Worth, see Glenn’s Pedigree & Some Famous Relatives.
For more information on Brigadier General William Jenkins Worth, see my WORTH GENEALOGY Page.
NEARLY FAMOUS RELATIVES
In the next grouping I will list some “relatives” who are people with the same last name as my relatives or else the kinship is unknown (and probably non-existent). This second grouping might also be called “wannabe” relatives.
DANCER BOBBY BURGESS (1941- ). One famous person that was thought to be related to the Gohrs is BOBBY BURGESS, well-known Mouseketeer and later dancer of the Lawrence Welk Show. In 1971 he married Kristie Floren, daughter of MYRON FLOREN, the celebrated accordion player on the Welk Show. Bobby Burgess currently lives in the Los Angeles area and runs a dance studio with Elaine Balden, his former dance partner on the Welk Show. One cousin in Washington (Edna Gohr Lehman), reported that once she had received a Christmas card from Emma (Erdmann) Bartell of Bellingham, Washington, stating that Bobby Burgess was a relative. This cousin said that he had the ears of a Gohr. He does remind me a little bit of my Uncle Robert Gohr. But I did some thorough checking, and this just cannot be. Bobby Burgess was born Robert Wilkie Burgess on May 19, 1941 at Long Beach, California. His mother was a Wilkie. Emma Bartell was born in 1883. She only had one known son, Lauris Bartell, born in 1905. There is no room for a Wilkie or Burgess child or grandchild to become the parent of Bobby Burgess, so this story must be a myth, unless there is some kind of stepchild relationship, or some other way that he might fit in to the family.
COUNTRY SINGER JOHNNY CASH (1932-2003). Through my mother’s HARRIS side of the family, I have several examples of nearly famous cousins. First off, there is JOHNNY CASH! My mom has a first cousin named John Troy Cash, Sr. Then his son is John Troy Cash, Jr. who is better known to all of us in the family as “Johnny Cash.” I’ve always enjoyed song sung by Johnny Cash (the famous singer). It’s kind of fun to have a cousin by the same name.
ACTOR KEVIN COSTNER (1955- ). Kevin Costner, the movie star, descends from a Kastner/Costner line that settled in Pennsylvania. His full name is Kevin Michael Costner, b. Jan. 18, 1955 at Lynwood, Los Angeles Co., California. He is the son of Bill and Sharon Costner. He has 2 brothers and has 4 children. He is noted for his performance in the movie, “Dances With Wolves” as well as many other films. It would be interesting to find out someday that I could be related to him. Anyway, he is from similar German stock with the same last name. This is a famous person who is almost related. For more information on Kevin Costner, see my KASTNER/COSTNER GENEALOGY Page.
BOB EVANS RESTAURANT. Another case of a nearly famous relative (or possibly a case of mistaken identity) is my mom’s cousin by marriage, Robert Denton “Bob” Evans, Jr. and his son Robert Denton “Bobby” Evans III. Perhaps you have heard of a chain of restaurants called “Bob Evans.” I have seen them in various places in the Midwest, including a BOB EVANS RESTAURANT just up the street from my house. I assume the founder of this restaurant chain is named Bob Evans. He just isn’t the Bob Evans in my family.
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER GREG GOHR (1967- ). He played as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and the California Angels. Any kinship to Greg Gohr is unproven, although with the same last name, doesn’t it seem likely that we would be related? For more information on Greg Gohr, see my GOHR GENEALOGY Page.
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER GREG GOHR (1967- ). Here he is again. This time I am talking about one of my first cousins who is nearly famous. On my Gohr side of the family I have a first cousin who was born Gregory Lewis Gohr. If he used his real name, he would be GREG GOHR. Sorry, but my cousin chose to use his stepdad’s name, and now everyone knows him by his nickname as well. He is Greg Cermak, better known as Scooby Cermak.
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER MARLIES (OELSNER) GÖHR (1958- ). Marlies (Oelsner) Göhr, born March 21, 1958 in Gera, East Germany, is a well-known sprinter who won a gold medal in 1976 and won gold and silver medals in later years. Also, on July 1, 1977, she ran the European record for the 100 meter in 10.88 seconds. Then she beat her own record by running the 100 meter in just 10.81 seconds on June 8, 1983. She holds several world records. I do not know how we might be related, but since she is German and her married name is Göhr, I’d like to think we are related. For more information on the Gohr family, see my GOHR GENEALOGY Page.
BRAZILIAN RACECAR DRIVER SOELITO GOHR. Any kinship to Soelito Gohr is unproven, although because he has the same last name, it seems possible that we would be related. I know that a large number of German immigrants from Europe settled in Brazil (but I don’t know of any of my Gohr families specifically that did). Soelito Gohr has been one of the top ranking racecar drivers in Brazil. He competed in the National Championships Road Race at Valencia, Spain, in the summer of 2006. For more information on the Gohr family, see my GOHR GENEALOGY Page.
SENATOR THOMAS PRYOR GORE (1870-1949). Here are pictures of Blind Senator Gore of Oklahoma and two of his relatives, American author Gore Vidal and former Vice President Al Gore. Blind Senator Gore of Oklahoma is another famous person that was thought to be related to the Gohrs. His full name is Thomas Pryor Gore, and he was such an eloquent speaker that he was often called “The Blind Orator.” Gore was the first totally blind man to sit in the United States Senate. He was born December 10, 1870 in Old Choctaw County (now Webster County), Mississippi. His father, Thomas Madison Gore, who served as a soldier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, was a farmer and a lawyer. An accident at the age of eight resulted in the total loss of sight in one of Robert Gore's eyes and severe injury to the other eye, causing him to be totally blind at the age of eleven. He graduated from Normal School and went on to earn a law degree. He became an outstanding orator and was an active member of the Populist Party. He affiliated with the Democratic Party in 1899. In 1907, when the Oklahoma and Indian Territories joined to form the new State of Oklahoma, Gore assisted with the writing of the State Constitution and was elected one of its first Senators. This was the same period when my Gohr family was living in Oklahoma, so I’m sure there was much talk about Blind Senator Gore among the family. I remember that there is a Gore Boulevard in Lawton, Oklahoma, no doubt named after him. He died on March 16, 1949 and is buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Thomas Pryor Gore had two children: a daughter, Nina, the mother of the prominent American author, GORE VIDAL; and a son, Thomas Notley Gore. Thomas Pryor Gore is reported to be distantly related to Albert Gore, U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1952-1970) and to Albert Gore’s son, former VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.
According to a cousin in Washington, Edna Gohr Lehman, it is reported that this family changed the spelling of their name from Gohr to Gore. My Gohrs did live in Oklahoma for awhile in the early 1900s, but none of them stayed there. Once, while still a teenager--just in case there really was some kind of connection--I wrote a letter to then Senator Al Gore (who later became Vice President). He never answered my letter. I did some further checking to find that Al Gore’s family is English background, and they always spelled the name as Gore. There is no connection.
FAMOUS OUTLAW, O. C. “DEAF CHARLEY” HANKS (d. 1902). Anyone who has read very much about the Wild West will be familiar with the name of Camillo or O. C. "Deaf Charley" Hanks who grew up near Yorktown, Texas in the 1880s. He was a famous outlaw who rode with Harvey Logan "Kid Curry." There is a well-known fiddle and folk song called The Ballad of 'Deaf Charley' Hanks which tells about his activities and his untimely death of a gunshot wound in a run-in with police in San Antonio, Texas on April 15, 1902. Hanks is not that common of a name, so I feel he must be related, although I cannot follow his ancestry very far. For more information on the connection with outlaw “Deaf Charley” Hanks, see my HANKS/HANKE/HANKINS GENEALOGY Page.
GUNSLINGER JOHN WESLEY HARDIN (1853-1895). The Another example of a nearly famous cousin is my cousin JOHN WESLEY HARDIN of Texas. He is the grandson of cousins Bill and Jo Hardin of Texas and the great-great-grandson of my Aunt Lucy (Harris) Hardin. The real John Wesley Hardin was born May 26, 1853 in Bonham, Texas and died August 19, 1895. He was the son of a Methodist preacher and became a well-known outlaw in Texas. He claimed a number of lives before age 21 and then was wanted by the Texas Rangers when he killed the deputy sheriff of Brown County. The Rangers caught him in Pensacola, Florida in 1877, and he served 16 years of a 25-year jail term before being released under good behavior. He studied law while in prison and later went to prosecute a case in El Paso, but he was always rather hot-headed, and he outraged and threatened Constable John Sellman who put a gun to his head and killed him. John Wesley Hardin is buried in Concordia Cemetery at El Paso, Texas.
PRESIDENT WARREN G. HARDING (1865-1923). One of my double cousins who is nearly famous is WARREN G. HARDIN (1922-1980) of Poolville, Texas. He is the grandson of my Aunt Lucy (Harris) Hardin. He is also related to me through the SARTAIN family, since his mother is the daughter of my Uncle “Doc” Sartain. My cousin’s full name is Warren Gulma Hardin, and he must have been named for the 29th President of the United States, who was Warren Gamaliel HARDING (b. Nov. 2, 1865, d. Aug. 2, 1923), serving as president from 1921-1923. My cousin was born in the middle of Harding’s presidential term. Warren G. Harding was the sixth president to die in office. Because of several scandals, especially the Teapot Dome affair, involving others in his administration, after his death Harding gained a reputation as being one of America's least successful presidents. Others disagree with this assessment and call him one of the better presidents. President Harding and his wife were first buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio, but later they were both buried in the Harding Memorial (built in their honor a few years after their deaths) in Marion, Ohio.
ACTOR RICHARD HARRIS (1930-2002). The British actor, Richard Harris, was born Oct. 1, 1930 at Limerick, Ireland. He is remembered for his roles in: “This Sporting Life” as Frank Machin (1963), “Camelot” at King Arthur (1967), “A Man Called Horse” as John Morgan (1970), “Cromwell” as Oliver Cromwell (1970), “Gladiator” as Marcus Aurelius (2000), “Harry Potter” films as Albus Dumbledore (2001 and 2002), and other films and television programs. He was one of 8 children of a wealthy flour-miller and was brought up surrounded by servants and governesses. He passed away at age 72 with Hodgkin’s disease on Oct. 25, 2002 at London, England. Possibly through DNA a link could be made with his family, but at this time I do not know if we are related or not. I do have three distant cousins named Richard Harris, but of course there is no known relationship to the actor. For more information on the Harris family, see my HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page.
SIR HENRY NEVILLE [Alias SHAKESPEARE] (1562-1615). According to several news stories (including the Manchester Evening News and the BBC News) as well as a new book published in Great Britain, called The Truth Will Out: Unmasking the Real Shakespeare, by Brenda James and Professor William Rubinstein, Sir Henry Neville is the real mastermind behind Shakespeare's sonnets as well as his plays. William Shakespeare was only a front man to cover up for Sir Henry Neville's activities, which could have made him liable for treason (once he was imprisoned in the Tower of London). New documents known to have been written by Neville while in the Tower, contain detailed notes which later ended up in Henry VIII. Sir Henry Neville's nickname was Falstaff, and he was a descendant of the noted Plantagenet family, having close ties with the crown and was an Elizabethan diplomat as well as director of the London Virginia Company. Neville was the firstborn child of Sir Henry Neville (c.1525 d.1595) and Elizabeth Gresham and the great-great-grandson of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmoreland. Joan was daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Katherine Swynford. John of Gaunt was in turn a son of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault.
Actually, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a distant cousin of his, and they were contemporaries. More about Sir Henry Neville can be found in Royal Berkshire History Biography of Sir Henry Neville and the Dictionary of National Biography. Any connection of mine to Sir Henry Neville would be distant as my earliest known Neville ancestor is John Neville (ca. 1612-1664) who immigrated to Calvert County, Maryland. For more information on the Neville family, see my NEVILLE/NEAVILLE GENEALOGY Page.
ARCHIVAL CONSULTANT TRUDY HUSKAMP PETERSON. Born in Iowa, United States of America, Trudy Huskamp Peterson is an archival consultant. She spent twenty-four years with the U.S. National Archives, including more than two years as Acting Archivist of the United States. After retiring from the U.S. government, she was the founding Executive Director of the Open Society Archives in Budapest, Hungary, and then the director of Archives and Records Management for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She is a past president of the International Conference of the Round Table on Archives (1993-1995) and the Society of American Archivists (1990-1991) and has lectured on archives throughout the world. Because of my work in archives and belonging to the Society of American Archivists and similar organizations, this is really neat to be almost related to the former Acting Archivist of the Unites States. Through my WEGNER family I connect back to the same small town of Fenton, Iowa, where Trudy hails from. My great-grandmother Gohr had a sister who married Friedrich Voigt. Friedrich Voigt is closely related to Trudy’s Voigt and Boevers ancestors, which makes me related to her by marriage, but not by blood. Trudy’s mother is Ardis (Voigt) Huskamp. See my VOIGT/VOIGHT/VOGT GENEALOGY Page.
AMERICAN ACTOR CHRISTOPHER REEVE (AKA SUPERMAN) (1952-2004). The grandson of cousins Joe Cletus and Olive Harris, who recorded so much of my branch of the Harris family genealogy and history, is Christopher Reeves, son of Bill and Vonda (Harris) Reeves of Alabama. Notice there is an "s" on the end of his name. Of course this is not the same person, but it is kind of neat to be "nearly famous."
GERMAN COMPOSER JOHANN THEODORE ROEMHILDT/RÖMHILD (1684-1756). Born at Salzungen, near Eisenach, on 23 Sept. 1684, Roemhildt was a major composer of sacred music in the north German Baroque. He studied with Johann Jacob Bach in the neighboring town of Ruhla as early as 1694. He later studied at Leipzig, was a music director, Kantor, and organist of Merseburg Cathedral. He wrote more than 299 sacred cantatas and a St Matthew Passion. He died at Merseburg, on 26 Oct. 1756. My grandmother, Frieda Helma (Quiram) Gohr always said there was music in our family—she named off dozens of relatives who either sang or played a musical instrument. Her mother was Holda Augusta ROEMHILDT, and a cousin is Michael Roemhildt of Minnesota, holds a music degree. He also is a talented bassoonist and has taught in the music departments at Mankato State University and at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Also, a first cousin, Dr. Daniel Freeman, has studied some of the Baroque composers and is familiar with Johann Theodore Roemhildt. He is a doctor of musicology and taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for several years and the University of Illinois. He has completed several books on musical themes. He currently is a musicologist/music professor in the Theatre Arts and Dance department at The University of Minnesota. With all this music in the family, it makes me wonder if our Roemhildt might just be related to Johann Theodore Roemhildt, but it would be hard to trace our line back to the 1600s. For more information, see my ROEMHILDT/ROMHILD GENEALOGY Page.
ACTOR GAILARD SARTAIN (1946- ). Gailard Sartain is known for his hillbilly singing and acting. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Tulsa University with a BFA. He became a successful illustrator prior to his fame as a regular on the “Hee-Haw” show for many years. He has also appeared in a number of motion pictures including "The Buddy Holly Story," "Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws," "Ernest Saves Christmas," "Ernest Goes to Camp," and "Ernest Goes to Hollywood." He is from the South and pronounces his name as Sar-TAIN, which is different than my family says it. But the spelling is the same. It is very likely there is a kinship somewhere, but I haven’t found the missing link yet. This is a famous person who is almost and very possibly related. For more information on Gailard Sartain and the Sartain family, see my SARTAIN/SARTIN/CERTAIN GENEALOGY Page.
AMERICAN MEDIA PERSONALITY WILLARD SCOTT (1934- ). Also of interest is that today in Adamsville, Tennessee, there is a man named Willard Scott. I feel fairly sure that he may be a relative—most likely a descendant of Aunt Sarah (Williams) Scott. Interestingly enough, there is another famous Willard Scott who is the celebrated weatherman on the “Today Show.” One of his remembered features is his announcement of people who have made the century mark and beyond. He is also an author, a gourmet, a goodwill ambassador, and a great storyteller.
U.S. ARMY GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866). Yet another nearly famous relative is Winfield Scott. I have a cousin Winfield W. Scott (1850-1922) who lived in Adamsville, Tennessee. He was the son of Aunt Sarah (Williams) Scott. No doubt he was named for the real General Winfield S. Scott (1786-1866) who served as the country’s general-in-chief for two decades. He was also a hero of the War of 1812 and the Blackhawk War, as well as commander of U.S. forces in the Mexican War. And he was an unsuccessful presidential candidate for the Whig Party in 1852. He retired as chief military officer in 1861, at the outset of the Civil War, but lived to see the union reunited before his death.
BRITISH AUTHOR ANNA SEWELL (1820-1878). The daughter of Quakers Isaac and Anna (Wright) Sewell, she was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England. She had a lifelong love of horses and never married. The only novel she ever wrote was the celebrated Black Beauty, which is told in the first person from the perspective of a horse. She wrote the book during the years of 1871-1877, while living with her family at Old Catton, the family home near Norwich and Buxton. She died the next year after her book was published, at the age of 58, so she never realized its great success and the joy it has now brought to many generations of readers. Although my Sewell family appears to be British in origin, I am unable to bridge the gap to England. For more information on British author Anna Sewell and the Sewell family, see my SEWELL/SOWELL GENEALOGY Page.
SINGER B. J. THOMAS (1942- ). Another example of a nearly famous relative is my first cousin, Jeanie Thomas. She is the daughter of my Aunt Ruby Jean Barber. Jeanie’s full name is Barbara Jean Thomas. She says that a lot of times she gets mail addressed to B. J. THOMAS, the hit singer who wrote "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" and other well-known songs.
GENERAL WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND (1914- ). General William C. Westmoreland was a celebrated commander and chief of staff in charge of the troops in the Vietnam war. He was featured by Time magazine as man of the year in 1965. As a kid, I can remember an airman friend of our family, Craig Parker, who serviced airplanes. He sent our family at least one photograph of General Westmoreland’s plane that he helped take care of. I am sure that Craig must have a picture of him and General Westmoreland standing together somewhere. What a privilege he had! My possible connection to General Westmoreland is through the Neville family. General Westmoreland’s family arrived in the U.S. in the 1600s. The original name was Neville, but since some of the family in England became earls of Westmoreland, many of the descendants took Westmoreland as their last name. For more information on the Neville family, see my Neville GENEALOGY.
AVIATORS ORVILLE (1871-1948) AND WILBUR (1867-1912) WRIGHT. Here are pictures of Orville and Wilbur Wright, and also Orville laying prone on top of their plane in 1903. I’m sure you have heard of the famous aviators, Orville and Wilbur Wright, haven’t you?? Well, on my mom’s side of the family, I do have a cousin named ORVAL WRIGHT. Pretty close, huh? Orval was the son of my Aunt Sally (Pyron) Wright of Adamsville, Tennessee. This Orval did not have a brother Wilbur, but he did have brothers Wilford and Willard Wright. Also, pretty close to the same name. I don’t know if anyone ever asked them if they were kin to the great aviators of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, who took off on their historic flight more than 100 years ago on Dec. 17, 1903, but it is interesting to see these familiar names. Maybe my cousins were named after the famous Wright brothers of aviation fame. For more photos of the Wright brothers, see HistoryImages.com
ACTOR HARRISON FORD (1942- ). Last but not least, I should mention that someone once told me (I’m sorry, but I can’t remember who) that I looked like HARRISON FORD, the rugged actor who played the part of INDIANA JONES in a top-running series of movies. Here are some views of Dr. Indiana Jones wearing glasses in the classroom setting, which might show some resemblance to me. Although Harrison Ford often does not wear glasses (at least not on the set) or sport a mustache, in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (which was one of my favorite movies) he did have some bristle on his face. For most of my adult life I have sported a mustache, and sometimes a beard. I’ve interspersed some pictures of myself. But I’m sure you will be able to tell us apart. Still it is kind of fun to dream …
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Last updated December 1, 2008.
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