CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - As the nation gets closer to our 250th anniversary, 19 News is celebrating those who helped get us there.

In this week’s We The People, Katie Tercek introduces you to a Northeast Ohio native whose relative signed the Declaration of Independence.

Doug Preisse is a sixth generation descendant of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Growing up in Akron, Preisse did not know he had such an important relative until later in life.

He was on a road trip with his dad, visiting family in West Virginia when he discovered it.

“Saw a portrait on the wall of my great-grandmother and I said who is that? And one of my cousins said that’s your great-great-grandmother she was the great granddaughter of john hart, the signer,” said Preisse.

Inspiring Preisse

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