July 3, 1863 -- Following Pickett's Charge, William Mitchell lay injured on the bloody, dark battlefield at Gettysburg. The 35-year-old knew he must get up and get away before daybreak. Eventually, he returned home where his family had sometimes hidden in the cellar as the Northern Army passed nearby. Sometime later, he moved his family west to Richmond, Indiana, where he worked at a wire factory.
Even in advanced years, the 5'10" "self-sufficient" strong man could out-armwrestle the neighborhood teens who came around to challenge him. Seven-year-old great grandson Robert watched and remembered well. One day, when his checkers opponent had finished waiting on a customer and returned to their game, he found William Mitchell passed away -- at age 94.
How curious! The great grandson grew to manhood, gained fame as an athlete, was awarded a Purple Heart in WW II, moved his family west, became well-known as Bob Lemen the oldest working Marriott employee, and passed from among us only days ago -- having armwrestled one last time -- at age 94.
Robert is the son of Alma Thompson Lemen. Alma is the daughter of Mary Ann Mitchell Thompson. Mary Ann is the daughter of William Mitchell. Some of us reading this are Robert Lemen's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren -- seven generations in the great flow of humanity.
(Lest the reader think otherwise, this is not meant to be an obituary. Elsie)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Funny things happen...
...on the way to blogging...things like rooms full of people and the ease of Facebook communications :-)
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