I have to say, I have some
really cool ancestors. But there's only one I can think of that's famous. My great-something uncle is Elias Howe. He was the first to patent a functioning sewing machine invention. He's credited with inventing the sewing machine, but there were other forms before his design. He also fought in the Civil War for the Union.
He's my mother's father's mother's father's brother or something like that. My great grandmother was a Howe. It's the only side of my family that's been in America country that long.
Isaac Singer lost a patent war to Elias and had to pay him royalties for taking his ideas. But Singer's machine is the one you see today. So unfortunately, his family gets the credit (and money) for the sewing machine. At least, I'm assuming that his descendants received money from his company. My family's a bit bitter about it. :roll:
Edit: I have a friend who's related to Grace Kelly. :D