Was contacted by someone who found this blog and had a copy of a M4A2 Tank Manual that was written on by Ralph LeMaster and he wondered if it was the same family I had written about.
It appears that from the scribbles, that this manual was used by Ralph Vernon LeMaster (1922-2011) who was wife was Donnabell Fields and did serve in the U.S. Army. Ralph would have been my 1st cousin once removed, a son of Chesley Franklin and Clara (Burkey) LeMaster.
Recently obtained the obituary of Peter Wilbur Decker from the Crawfordsville District Public Library. Peter was the husband of Pansy Gilliland, sister of my great-grandmother, June. Peter died November 1, 1947 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana.
Peter W. Decker Expires in City
Peter W. Decker, a resident of Montgomery county for the past 26 years and an employee of the Crawfordsville Seed Company for the last three years, died suddenly at 3:45 o'clock Saturday afternoon at his residence 702 Mill street. His death was attributed to a heart attack.
Son of William R., and Amanda Rollins Decker, the deceased was born March 13, 1889 at Beaver Dam, Ind. He married Pansy Gilliland at Bloomington, Ind., Dec. 11, 1912. Mr. Decker was a member of the Freedom Baptist church.
Surviving in addition to the widow and mother, the latter who resides at Browns Valley, are two sons, Wilbur R. and Robert Jean, both of Crawfordsville; one daughter, Mrs. Wandalee Purcell of Gulfport, Miss.; four brothers, Bert of Browns Valley; Alva and Bill of Louisville, Ky., and Delpherd of Fountain City, Ind. and four sisters, Mrs. James Burkett of Culver, Ind., Mrs. Leona Cowden, Mrs. Ernest Patton and Mrs. Fred Hurst, all of Bloomington.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Freedom Baptist church at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in charge of Rev. H.W. Steen. Friends may pay their respects at the Decker residence until 11o'clock Tuesday morning.
Source : "Peter W. Decker," obituary, Journal-Review, 3 November 1947, page 4, column 7.
Had a little bit of experience with some cemetery serendipity when at the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Indiana. Right after I finished photographing the Civil War cannons and the Veterans memorial, I felt drawn to turn to my left. There I noticed a surname that was familiar and I walked over to the gravesite.
The Schell family plot appeared before me. Though not a blood relative, I have done research on this family due to their connections. Elizabeth E. Walker (c1830-1907) who married Dr. Frederick A. Schell had been previously married to Eli Davis, my maternal 4th great-granduncle.
Eli Davis was the son of John and Susannah (Unknown) Davis of Monroe County, Indiana. I do not have his birthdate, and he may have been born in Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth E. Walker, daughter of Gideon and Susannah (May) Walker, on 29 April 1848 in Monroe County, Indiana.
Poor Eli died between the time of his marriage and May 1849, when his probate court records indicate he had died. I know of no children born to Eli and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth married Dr. Frederick A. Schell on 14 February 1850 in Monroe County, Indiana. They were the parents of at least three children : California, Dorothy and Walker.
Locating the tombstones, I learned that Frederick was a veterans of the Mexican War in Company I of the 16th Infantry, as well as the Civil War as assistant surgeon of the 6th Indiana Cavalry.
Frederick and Elizabeth are buried together next to all three of their children and their son-in-law
