If he hadn't survived, I wouldn't be here


My maternal Great Great Grandparents, Mary Keziah (Chew)  and Luman Walker LeMaster.
Mary: 1847-1927
Luman: 1842-1931

I learned from my cousin Travis today, that Luman fought in the Civil War, enlisting in July 1861. He 
was shot through the left breast. The bullet entered between the first and second ribs and lodged within 
the thorax. He spent time in the hospital in Nashville and Lousiville before being discharged with 1/2 
disability on Feb. 27, 1864.

And here's the good part. He came home and married Mary Chew and they went on to have 11 
children…..their 4th child being my Great Grandpa William Clifford LeMaster.

Mary Chew was the daughter of Dr Ezekial Cooper Chew. My cousin Travis has wondered if perhaps 
Dr. Chew was treating Luman's wounds, and that is how he met the Dr's daughter, Mary. People didn't 
have many ways to meet back then….they didn't have cars or phones or Facebook. So Travis' idea
sounds likely but I suppose we will never know.

Either which way, if Luman hadn't survived, I wouldn't be here.
I'm not sure many survived gun shot wounds back then, especially to the chest.


And just in case you are wondering, 
here is Luman and Mary's 4th child, my Great Grandpa William Clifford LeMaster.

I think he looks like my sister Peggy.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day as we remember all those who fought for us. 
We have many many people to thank in the next life.






14 comments:

Rebecca said...

First of all I think it is so wonderful that you have these old pictures. How amazing! AND did you know that the church just announced that they have access to Civil War records? It would be very fun for you to look them up and find all of the ones on your ancestors. Those old records are hand-written and the copies you see on family search are scanned copies of the original. I find this fascinating! Thanks for sharing! I am the Family History Consultant in my ward and love this kind of thing!

Rebecca said...

P.S. I forgot to say, you can add pictures like these to your family search and others who you may not even know you are related to can see them, how awesome is that??????

Karen Mortensen said...

What a great story.

Richard said...

Very interesting! That is all new to me.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Is that a sheriff's badge on Luman's chest? And look at his haircut. Looks like it was done at home?
darlene

Grandma Honey said...

My distant cousin Travis says that badge was his GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) medallion. And the hair cut….weren't all of them done at home about the turn of the century and before?

Grandma Honey said...

or to quote my cousin Travis:

"I noticed in the photograph that Luman is wearing a medal signifying he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Luman served in Company C, 39th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, enlisting in July 1861. The unit was later reclassified as the 8th Indiana Mounted Infantry.

It was a part of the mounted infantry on 3 July 1863 that he was wounded at Decherd's Ford, near Winchester, Tennessee."

Grandma Honey said...

Rebecca…I have added several pictures to familysearch.com. :) I didn't know about the access to Civil War records….Is there a link to that on Familysearch?

Richard said...

I think Wm looks like Uncle Don. Very strikingly handsome.

Grandma Honey said...

Now that you mention it, yes, I can see the resemblance between Uncle Don and his grandfather. I think Great Great Grandma Mary (in the picture) looks like our Grandma Lella somewhat.

McKenna Heasley said...

I was going to see he looks a little like McKay!

McKenna Heasley said...

William that is

Grandma Honey said...

oh my gosh McKenna….I DO see a little of McKay in him.

Susan Anderson said...

What a cool piece of history to have, and you are fortunate to have photographs as well.

I wish I had more family history than I do, but I am also grateful for everything I have in that regard.

He was a fine-looking man.

=)

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