In your family’s history, what action by one person decades ago caused a ripple effect with other family members? ~

One day, my great, great, great, great grandfather spied a fair young maiden and bed her.  That event has affected every member of my family in one way or another, up to this very day. 

My father leaving.

In my family's history, the Davis Memorial is still a landmark in Kansas.  

As it is told in my family:
When John Davis married, her family was wealthy and gave them money as a wedding gift (even though they never approved of him).
When she died, the Davis' were multi-millionaires from farming, but had no children.
Her family began asking him to "repay" the wedding gift - except for what he spent on her burial.
So he spent all his money on the memorial of their life together.