Uncle Walter Lehman and The Old Fool had some close moments when the uncle conducted revival meetings for him in Tampa, Florida. It was probably during that time that he disclosed that he had been in the room with Aunt Ada when each of his twelve children were born. The room was in the old Lehman farm house on the hill. Uncle Walter was far ahead of his time. The Old Fool was chased out of the hospital room when his daughter was born.
Martin, brother John, Cousin Aldus
Aldus, the oldest child, was born on January 5, 1927. The Old Fool has already described the close relationship with this cousin who was so near his own age.
The second child was Walter, Jr. born June 6, 1928. He was a successful farmer and business man. When father needed to have someone to manage his finances, and his sons lived too far away, he gave the responsibility to Walter, Jr . By telephone call, The Old Fool’s perturbed father told him that Walter Jr. had taken his money! About an hour later, his father called again with an abject apology. He had had a dream about Walter, Jr. that was so real he believed it. Walter Jr.was a faithful steward. He hosted the Old Fool many times when he came north to visit his parents. Walter, Jr. is now bed fast with limited ability to communicate.
The third child was a daughter named Grace, born June 21, 1930. The Old Fool called her after her brother’s wife died. Grace is a farmer’s wife. She told The Old Fool that she had read his first book, and that it had depressed her. The book had brought memories of the hard church times our fathers had experienced in ministry. The Old Fool wishes she could read his second book and learn of the good outcomes in the Southeast.
The fourth daughter was Sarah, born November 7, 1933. Sarah has not married and was employed by the Valley Bank and Trust Company. When the Old Fool called her she said she was keeping her house clean, reading and rocking. He encouraged her to get a computer and told her about Ruth Miller in Florida who learned to use a computer when she was 90 years old.
The Old Fool did not know well the eight younger cousins who lived up the hill. Eunice, the twelfth, was born on January 5, 1945, the eighteenth birth day of her oldest brother, Aldus. On that day my brother took Aldus and me to Greencastle, PA. Aldus registered with the Selective Service and the Old Fool caught the train to go to Grottoes, Virginia to enter Civilian Public Service. This youngest daughter must be over 65 years old. Much of this information comes from the book, “The Descendants of Daniel Lehman,” authored by Daniel R. Lehman, son of Walter, Jr. and grandson of Walter.
Each of us cousins and all of the Old Fool’s readers is growing older at the same rate, one day at a time. To subscribe to highlights click here
