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SOME OF JONI'S ANCESTRY through Ancestry.com Famous People related to Joni Faith Fasekas Ames Thomas More (1478-1535) English Writer Thomas More coined the word "utopia" when he published a book by the same name. He was known as a humanist and was executed by King Henry VIII when he refused to recognize the King as the head of the Church of England. Relationship: 13th Great Grandfather     Lucille Ball (1911-1989) American Actress and Comedian Lucille Desiree Ball was the comedic star of the 1950s TV show I Love Lucy. Often called, "The Queen of Comedy," Ball has acted in Broadway productions, motion pictures, and TV shows. Relationship: 3rd Cousin 1 times removed    Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) Cuban American Performer Desiderio Alberto Arnaz was a Cuban-American musician, comedian, and actor. He performed with his wife, Lucille Ball, for several years before their divorce. Relationship: 4th Cousin 1 times removed    Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Author Spending 2 years "living simply" in the forest was the premise for Henry David Thoreau's famous book, "Walden". Thoreau also wrote "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience", an essay that encouraged people to prohibit governments from having absolute power. Relationship: 5th Cousin 3 times removed     Daniel Wesson (1825-1906) Gun Company Owner Daniel B. Wesson partnered with Horace Smith in Norwich, Connecticut in the early 1850's to develop the first repeating rifle, the Volcanic rifle. Relationship: 4th Cousin 5 times removed    John Trumbull (1756-1843) American soldier, diplomat, author, painter After a military career aiding George Washington, John Trumbull went abroad to paint. His skill as an artist went largely unnoticed until the U.S. Senate commissioned him to paint 4 war paintings which now hang in the U.S. Capitol. He went on to be president of the American Academy of Fine Art. Relationship: 3rd Cousin 7 times removed     James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) 20th President of the United States of America Serving the second shortest term in U. S. history (only 6 months), James Garfield was the second President of the United States to be assassinated. Relationship: 5th Cousin 3 times removed     E.E. Cummings (1894-1962) American Poet Edward Estlin Cummings' use of unconventional punctuation, syntax, and layout distinguish his poetry. His avant-garde style is still popular and influential today. Relationship: 6th Cousin 2 times removed     Mamie Eisenhower (1896-1979) First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower was the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her popularity came from her beautiful clothes, her pride in her home and her husband, and her million dollar fudge recipe. Relationship: 7th Cousin 1 times removed     Orville Wright (1871-1948) American Inventor Orville and Wilbur Wright were the first people to create a working flying machine, which first flew in 1903. They are also credited with many other aviation inventions. Relationship: 6th Cousin 3 times removed     John Locke (1632-1704) English philosopher John Locke is considered one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers. His philosophical writings include "An Essay concerning Human Understanding." Relationship: 2nd Cousin 11 times removed     John Ledyard (1751-1789) American Explorer John Ledyard was an explorer who assisted Captain James Cook in the discovery of Hawaii. Relationship: 4th Cousin 7 times removed     William Williams (1731-1811) Connecticut Representative William Williams, a merchant and politician from Connecticut, signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a Harvard graduate who studied theology. Relationship: 4th Cousin 7 times removed     Samuel Adams (1722-1803) Massachusetts Representative Samuel Adams helped to organize the Boston Tea Party. From the beginning he was a loud voice for independence. Relationship: 4th Cousin 7 times removed     Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831-1889) First Lady Lucy Ware Webb Hayes convinced her husband, Rutherford B. Hayes, to fight in the Union army and to oppose slavery. He later became an influential part of the abolitionist cause. Relationship: 6th Cousin 4 times removed     Charles Stratton (1838-1883) Circus Performer General Tom Thumb (born Charles Stratton) was taught to sing, dance, and act by circus pioneer P.T. Barnum. His small frame and many talents made him famous around the world. Relationship: 5th Cousin 6 times removed     Richard Bedford Bennett (1870-1947) Former Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett was the first Canadian Prime Minister to be a member of the House of Lords. Relationship: 7th Cousin 2 times removed     James "Wild Bill" Hickock (1837-1876) American Outlaw James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was a legendary gunfighter and law man in the American Wild West. Many characters in Western novels are fashioned after Hickok. Relationship: 5th Cousin 6 times removed     Jane Means Appleton Pierce (1806-1863) First Lady Jane Means Appleton Pierce was an American First Lady and the wife of President Franklin Pierce. The social obligations of First Lady were a constant struggle for her, but she found solace in her close friends. Relationship: 5th Cousin 6 times removed     Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) American Author Laura Ingalls Wilder's experiences growing up in the unsettled West inspired her famous children's series Little House on the Prairie. Relationship: 7th Cousin 2 times removed     Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) 13th President of the United States of America Made president after the sudden death of President Taylor, Vice-President Millard Fillmore made his mark on the country by signing the Compromise of 1850 in an effort to avoid Civil War. Relationship: 6th Cousin 4 times removed     Raymond Massey (1896-1983) Canadian Actor Raymond Hart Massey became famous from his traditional American roles even though he was Canadian. He starred in films such as Abe Lincoln in Illinois and How the West Was Won. Relationship: 7th Cousin 3 times removed     Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) American Painter Norman Rockwell is known for his illustrations on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. His work most often portrays the idealized American lifestyle. During his lifetime he produced over 2000 original works. Relationship: 8th Cousin 1 times removed     Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge (1879-1957) First Lady Grace Goodhue Coolidge was a strong support to her husband, Calvin Coolidge, during his rise in politics. Her extroverted friendliness brought balance to his shyness. Relationship: 7th Cousin 3 times removed     Julia Gardiner Tyler (1820-1889) First Lady The 2nd wife and 3rd First Lady of John Tyler, Julia Gardiner Tyler was the First Lady for the last 8 months of her husband's term. Relationship: 6th Cousin 5 times removed     Oliver Winchester (1810-1880) Gun Company Owner Oliver Fisher Winchester was an American businessman and politician. He manufactured and marketed the Winchester repeating rifle, which was a much re-designed descendant of the volcanic rifle of some years earlier. Relationship: 6th Cousin 5 times removed     T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-born British Poet Nobel prize winning poet T.S. Eliot is considered one of the most significant poets of the twentieth century. His most famous works are "The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land". Relationship: 7th Cousin 3 times removed     William Avery "Billy" Bishop (1894-1956) Military Canadian World War I flying ace William Avery Bishop is credited with 72 victories, the highest number for a British Empire pilot. Relationship: 8th Cousin 2 times removed     Florence Kling Harding (1860-1924) First Lady Florence Mabel Kling Harding was the wife of President Warren G. Harding. Though she had struggled to support herself and her young son, she thrived as the hostess of the White House. Relationship: 7th Cousin 4 times removed     William W. Winchester (1837-1881) Gun Company Owner William Wirt Winchester was the second president of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company from 1880 to 1881. He was the son of Oliver Fisher Winchester who manufactured and marketed the first Winchester repeating rifle. Relationship: 7th Cousin 4 times removed     Philo T. Farnsworth (1906-1971) Inventor of the Electronic Television Philo Taylor Farnsworth grew up in Rigby, Idaho and tinkered with electronics for fun. His "image dissector tube" was the first prototype of the modern electronic television which showed only one straight line across the screen. Relationship: 8th Cousin 2 times removed     Lillian Gish (1893-1993) American Actress Lillian Diana de Guiche, or Lillian Gish, is known as the "first lady of the silent screen" and starred in many silent films including The Birth of a Nation and The Scarlet Letter. Her career spanned over 75 years and countless television and film appearances. Relationship: 8th Cousin 2 times removed     Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th President of the United States of America Ronald Wilson Reagan was the oldest person to be elected president. A former actor, he was called "The Great Communicator." He helped to cut income taxes and to reduce inflation. Relationship: 8th Cousin 3 times removed     Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) English Author English author Aldous Huxley emigrated to England with his scientifically genius family. He was known for his novels, such as "Brave New World" and "Time Must Have a Stop". Relationship: 10th Cousin 4 times removed