Arthur Ronald Lehman, the son of Frederick and Marie (Hamel) Lehman, was born June 2, 1896 in Coudersport, Pennsylvania where he worked on the family farm. According to his draft registration Arthur was tall, slender with dark eyes and hair. He served in the Military Police from September 18, 1917 until his discharge July 7, 1919. In 1934 he resided in Rochester New York with his wife Katherine Grom Lehman and their son Arthur aged four.
In the 1940’s he worked at the Elk Tanning Company in Coudersport. On July 3, 1943 he married Katheryn Onalee Maybee age 36 at Belfast New York. This was the second marriage and possibly the third for Katheryn. In 1925 she had married Kenneth Short. According to the 1940 Census she was divorced and resumed using Maybee as her surname. In 1950 Arthur and Katheryn resided in Amity, New York where he worked at an electric company.
Arthur died October 26, 1968 and was buried in Eulalia Cemetery in Coudersport.
Special thanks to Chris Bell for the photos of Arthur.
July 14th 1918.
Somewhere in France
My Dear Father:
Well how are you this evening? I have not heard from you in a long time. I guess the mail must have got strayed, do you get my mail regular? All right once or twice a week. I got a letter from Roy a couple weeks ago. We are not very far apart. I hope I can see him soon.
Today was a French holiday. The same as the 4th is to us. I do not know if they are celebrating much or not as I have not been away from here much today. You’ll have to excuse the scribbling as I am writing on an old slab of wood I suppose some of the fellows from my old Co in the States have left by this time as I have heard from some saying that they expected to come soon.
Well news is pretty scarce so will close
As ever
Your son
Arthur
Pvt. Arthur R Lehman
Provisional Co.
116th Train. Hqs and MP
First Depot Div.
American E.F. via N.Y.
June 16th 1918.
Somewhere in France
My Dear Father:
Well how are you this nice afternoon? Wish I could drop in for a little chat but then “There’s a good time coming.”
We had a fine dinner today. I feel like a poison pump because I ate so much. How is Mr. Mandle getting along? Does the Dr. Think there is much help for him? He must be about 75 or 80 yrs old is he not?
When is the reunion. Is it this month or in August? Tell them that I send my best regards to them and hope to see them next year if everything goes well. I suppose you will soon be “making hay while the sunshines.” I suppose help is pretty scarce to this year. Mr. Miller says in a letter I got from him that they were short of men in the factory she was working in. Well take good care of yourself and don’t work to hard. Have you been down to see sister yet?
There has been a little change in my address you will notice. Will have to close for this time.
As ever
Your son
Arthur
Pvt. Arthur R Lehman
Provisional Co. 116th Train. Hqs and MP
Depot Div. First Corp.
France via N.Y. American E.F.
March 29th 1919.
Montrichard, France
Dear Father:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still living. I have not heard from you our sister in a long time. Maybe when the next batch of mail comes in they will be a letter or two.
I have not heard anything about going home yet. I guess we will have to stay over here until the soldiers all get out of the section of the country and I guess that will be some time yet. Do you ever hear from Roy? I expect to write to him this afternoon to his old address. If he has a different one now and you know his new one you can send it to me when you ride again. Well the weather is still pretty bad. Rain nearly every day. If we should have a nice day it will rain 8 or 9 to make up for it. I never saw so much rain as I have since I have been over here.
How I wish I could be home so I had to help you with the springs farming. How are the little pups getting along? I bet they are quite playful. Most of the dogs around here look like Airedales. I guess they are just dog tho.
I was out to the pistol range the other day and practice a little. At 25 yards I made 93% points out of a possible 100. We fired 10 shots at each range. I suppose my pistel at home is pretty rusty by this time. Wish I could be home for fishing season. I guess the last time I went was with Roy and Herm and now we are all over here. Haven’t heard from Herm lately. Is he out of the hospital yet? Well news is my scarce so close. Write when ever you can. I expect to ride to Sister today too.
As ever
Your son
Arthur
Pvt. Arthur R Lehman
268th M.P. Co
124th MP Corps
American E.F.
A.P.O. 727