Recently, I used the “find famous relatives” tool on ancestry.com and these were the results:

Davis Family

George Wythe (1726-1806) Virginia Representative. 3rd cousin 10 times removed
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American Actress. 7th cousin 3 times removed
Chester Alan Arthur (1830-1886) 21st President of the United States. 6th cousin 5 times removed
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American Author. 5th cousin 7 times removed
Sam Bass (1851-1878) American Outlaw. 6th cousin 5 times removed
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) Newspaper Magnate. 6th cousin 6 times removed
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) 28th President of the United States. 6th cousin 7 times removed
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) American Author. 8th cousin 3 times removed
Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor (1788-1852) First Lady. 4th cousin 11 times removed
Robert Penn Warren (1905-1989) American Poet and Novelist.  7th cousin 5 times removed
John Peters Ringo (1850-1882) American Outlaw. 8th cousin 3 times removed
Pretty Boy Floyd (1904-1934) American Outlaw.  8th cousin 3 times removed
Gregory Peck (1916-2003) American Actor.  9th cousin 2 times removed
William Lamb (1779-1848) Politician.  7th cousin 6 times removed
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) English Poet.  7th cousin 6 times removed
Clyde Barrow (1909-1934) Infamous American Robber.  8th cousin 4 times removed
Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) American Astronomer.  10th cousin
Bette Davis (1908-1989) American Actress.  10th cousin 1 times removed
John Cage (1912-1992) American Composer.  9th cousin 3 times removed
Walt Disney (1901-1966) American Animator.  9th cousin 3 times removed
Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) American Outlaw.  7th cousin 8 times removed
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish Novelist and Poet.  8th cousin 7 times removed
Button Gwinnett (1735?-1777) Georgia Representative.  7th cousin 11 times removed
Elizabeth Browning (1806-1861) English Author and Poet.  10th cousin 5 times removed
Bob Hope (1903-2003) American Actor.  7th cousin 13 times removed
William Charles Wentworth (1790-1872) Early Settler. 12th cousin 5 times removed

Williams Family

Harriet Lane (1830-1903) First Lady (niece of bachelor President James Buchanon).  3rd cousin 7 times removed 
John Allerton (1591?-1920) Mayflower Passenger.  12th great grand uncle
Isaac Newton (1643-1727) Scientist and Mathematician. 1st cousin 14 times removed
William Brewster (1567-1644) Mayflower Passenger. 1st cousin 15 times removed
Thomas McKean (1734-1817) Delaware Representative. 6th cousin 6 times removed
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English Poet. 5th cousin 10 times removed
Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831-1889) First Lady.  7th cousin 6 times removed

Davis and Williams Families (Yikes!)

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) 12th President of the United States.  4th cousin 7 times removed 

Maybe I can get a discount at Disney World from cousin Walt?  Click here if you need help understanding the various “cousin” relationships.  It basically means if you go back far enough, these famous people and I have a common ancestor.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

This afternoon, I completed The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor enrollment application for my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits.  I enclosed three photographs, two letters, supporting documentation, and a short narrative with the application.  Here is the narrative I submitted on his behalf:

Charles Richard “Dick” Waits (4/27/1919-4/6/1945)

Charles Richard “Dick” Waits was born in Lancaster, Ohio, on 4/27/1919.  He was the only son of Harmon Clay “H.C.” Waits and Mellie Waits (Milligan).  Dick later attended Lancaster High School and enlisted with the United States Army on 12/9/1941 in Columbus, Ohio, two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  While on leave from training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Dick married Margaret Anne “Peggy” Phillips on 6/16/1942.

After returning to Fort Knox, Dick was eventually shipped overseas to fight in the European Theater of World War II with the 753rd Tank Battalion.  From his letters, it seems he had been in the war for quite some time and was very anxious to return home after all he’d been through.  He was killed by a shrapnel fragment wound to the head when his tank was shelled on 4/6/1945 near Kressbach, Germany in the Battle Between the Jagst and Kocher Rivers. 

At the time of his death, Dick was a corporal and tank gunner in Company C of the 753rd Tank Battalion.  He was buried in the United States Military Bensheim Cemetery in Germany on 4/13/1945.  He would later be reburied in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, his final resting place, on 9/20/1945.

Brian M. Davis
12/4/2009

From their website: “The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor commemorates the extraordinary sacrifices of America’s servicemen and servicewomen who were killed or wounded in combat. The mission of the Hall of Honor is to collect and preserve the stories of Purple Heart recipients from all branches of service and across generations to ensure that all recipients are represented.”

Please send any information you have on a family member that was wounded or killed in combat, and I would be honored to submit it on their behalf.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)

On 10/28/09, I sent the following request to the National Archives and Records Administration:

Modern Military Records Unit (NWCTM)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

Dear Sir or Madam:
I have been researching my grandfather (Ralph Scott Williams Jr., USNR, 570 06 78)’s service in World War II for several years.  I am writing to find what records are available pertaining to the ship that he served on overseas. 
He served on USS LCI(L)-11 from 5/21/1943 to 11/4/1944.  In his military file, it states he took part in the invasion of Sicily, Italy, the assault landings at Anzio, Italy, and the D-Day assault in Normandy, France.
I would greatly appreciate any help in locating records pertaining to this ship.

Thank you,
Brian M. Davis

I recently received the vessel’s action report from Operation Overlord, dated 7/12/1944.  It states the following:

[LCI(L)-11] participated in transporting officers and men to Utah assault area – invasion of Normandy from 6-13 June 1944 – in task force 125.

Click on the above images for more detailed information pertaining to LCI(L)-11 and its role in Operation Overlord. I am currently piecing together a short history of my grandfather’s naval service for my World War 2 project, which should be posted sometime next year.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

Davis Family Christmas 2009 Portrait

Click here to view the complete Christmas portrait picture set.  Pictured above are: Kaylyn Michelle Davis (daughter), Charlyn Davis (Cajipe/wife), Brian Michael Davis (me), and Jackson Scott Davis (son).

Thanksgiving 2009 - Lufkin, Texas

Click here to view the complete set of Thanksgiving 2009 pictures taken at my parents’ house in Lufkin, Texas.  Pictured are: Charlyn Davis (Cajipe/wife), Brian Michael Davis (me), Jackson Scott Davis (son), Christine Davis (Williams/mother), Kaylyn Michelle Davis (daughter), James Michael Davis (father), Kathleen Sui (future sister-in-law), and Scott Williams Davis (brother).

Annell Dorsett (Davis), my great grand aunt, was born 1/16/1903  in Mexia, Texas.  She died of complications from a miscarriage at the Baptist Sanitarium in Dallas, Texas on 6/3/1921.  Annell was 18 years-old at the time of her death.  She had recently married R. Dorsett.  I am still searching for information on her husband.  Her gravesite is located at Forest Glade Cemetery in Mexia, Texas, alongside other members of the Davis family.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Sherman Harry Davis (brother of Annell Davis)

This morning, I received a booklet with a color picture of Charles Richard “Dick” Waits’ headstone.  Recently, I sent a request (with payment) to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to place a floral spray at Dick’s headstone.  They placed the flowers on November 11, Veterans Day, and took the above picture.  Please visit my other blog posts for more information on Dick’s life and his military service.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)

Floyd Jacob Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Floyd Jacob Mast, and was featured in the 9/7/1989 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Floyd J. Mast, 77, of Fre Mar Road, died this morning in Lancaster-Fairfield Community Hospital.

He was a member of Lancaster United Brethren in Christ Church. He was an employee of Lancaster Glass Corporation and retired from Lancaster Meter Parts.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret M. Mast; a daughter, Susan Van Meter of Lancaster; two sons and daughters-in-law, David M. and Linda Mast of Lancaster, Jerry L. and Cheryl Mast of Bremen; grandchildren, Ronald, Rogar, Scott, Brian and Stacy Mast, Pamela Keese, Laura J. Amspaugh and Kelli S. Van Meter; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and cousins.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Glenn Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Tschopp Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and until the time of the service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Visiting Nurses Association.

This is the last in the Lancaster, Ohio obituary series.  Many thanks again to Charlotte Dittmar for taking the time to visit the Lancaster library, find the obituaries, copy and mail them.  I hope to make many more family connections with the information from these obituaries.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Floyd Jacob Mast)

Raymond J. Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Raymond J. Mast, and was featured in the 7/8/1944 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Raymond J. Mast, 36, died Friday, 11:30 p.m., in his home, 347 East Mulberry-st, following a ten months’ illness. Mast worked for 15 years for Thomas Corbin Plumbing company and one year for himself before becoming ill.

He leaves the widow, Mary; two daughters, Jean Rose Mast, Lancaster, and Patricia Ruth Mast, of the home; his mother, Mrs. Essie Mast, of north of Lancaster; and one brother, Floyd Mast, of north of Lancaster.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 4 p.m., at Olive church, north of Lancaster, with the Rev. James Hough of Baltimore, and the Rev. Walter P. Castoe officiating. Burial is to be made in Tschopp cemetery, by Frank E. Smith.

Friends may call at the funeral home after Sunday noon.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Raymond J. Mast)

Charles Richard "Dick" Waits Headstone

I received this picture from the American Battle Momuments Commission (ABMC).  They also included a very nice color lithograph (too big to scan) of the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, where Dick is buried.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)