Grandpa Was Shot By A Chicken Thief !

My uncle and dad had both told me about the fact that my paternal grandfather, Ord LeMaster, had a scar around his heart and that it was supposed that he had been shot when he was younger, perhaps when he had served in the National Guard. Thanks to newspaper research, now I have proof of when he was shot.

Grandpa LeMaster was shot by a chicken thief, and fortunately survived.  Had he not, I would not have been here.

"Ord Lemaster of Salamonia," announcement, Huntington Herald, 9 April 1928; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 March 2015).

PORTLAND, April 8 - (INS) - Ord Lemaster, of Salamonia, southeast of here, is recovering from a gunshot wound near the heart, inflicted upon him by an unidentified chicken thief.

Young Lemaster returned home late at night and noticed the door of the chicken house standing open.  He stepped toward it to shut it when out of the dark coop came the shot that laid him low.

A sack containing one chicken, evidently dropped by the thief, was found near the scene of the shooting. 

Ord LeMaster would have been 21 years old at the time of the shooting.  Now that I have the exact date of the incident, I will search the local Portland, Indiana newspaper on my next visit to the library there to see what else I can find out.

Military Monday : Vernon Walker LeMaster, World War II Draft Registration, 1942

Working my way through the hints in the Ancestry database for World War II Draft Registrations, 1942 and located this registration in Shelby County, Ohio for Vernon Walker LeMaster, my paternal great granduncle.

"World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2013); citing Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II, Fourth Registration: Ohio, National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The draft record adds to the information I've collected about Vernon, who was the son of Luman Walker Lemasters and Mary Keziah Chew.  Vernon's draft registration gives his date of birth as December 4, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana, which is consistent with what was reported on his World War I Draft Registration.

Vernon was 53 years old at the time of the registration, and his nearest living relative was his wife, Helen (Garmhausen) LeMaster.  There place of residence was listed as Bon Air Drive in Sidney, Ohio.  His mailing address was the Ohio Building, which was where his office was located - his occupation was listed as a self-employed physician.

Physically, Vernon was described as having a light complexion, white male, 5'11" with brown eyes and grey hair.  He weighed 200 lbs.

Military Monday – We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Research Notes : March 16, 2015

Just a few updates on the research front over the last few weeks.  Work commitments and planning a move have kept me busy.

• Found out that Newspapers.com has the online editions of the Alexandria Times-Tribune, where many of my maternal lines are covered, and I've begun searching for information.  Have also located information on some paternal lines as well.  Will post updates soon.

• Sent off to the National Archives for the service records of my maternal grandfather, William Wright, from World War II.  Already have his discharge papers, but hoping there might be more information gleaned about his activities in the Army Air Corp.

• Checked in at 23andMe and found that I had over 60 new DNA Relative matches.  Sent out introductions, but need to get cracking on updating my spreadsheet of matches.