Two months ago I was browsing in an antique store in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and found a rectangular red autograph album with about 30 entries to Omar. I was intrigued by it and read some of the entries from 1885, as the entries started in Marysville, Kansas, but then most came from the people of Conesville, Schoharie County, N.Y.

On a whim I bought the album and wondered if it would be possible to locate this stranger from 137 years ago. As I walked to my car where my wife was waiting I appreciated how the storeowner had discounted ten dollars off the price. That made me turn around to go back to buy another autograph album (1890) addressed to Velna, sitting beside Omar’s on the same shelf with over 40 entries, and the first ones starting off from Middleburgh, N.Y. When I got home I checked on a map and Middleburgh was only about 20 miles from Conesville and I wondered if these two might have known each other.

I transcribed the album and as I read about Conesville I was impressed by the 200 year-old Richtmyer Tavern and Richtmyer cemetery and hoped this meant I could track Omar’s down. The Town Clerk at Conesville put me in touch with the Town Historian, Kimberly Young, who is a wonderful detective and a wealth of information about the Richtmyer family and their history. Her love of history brought Omar Richtmyer to life and I hope you enjoy stepping back in time 137 years to rural New York.

114th NY. Vols flag and monument with bronze plaque at the battle of Winchester

William Griffin was sold as a slave for a $1,000 on the auction block in Louisiana but was freed when the 114th New York Volunteers marched through. He worked as Lt Breed’s helper and Lt. Breed kept a close account in the back of his diary as to how much William owed from his salary as he drew a hat and clothing for him from the Commissary. On October 19, 1864, just before the battle of Winchester Lt Breed said, “William, go and fill my canteen for me as this may be the last time you ever do this.”

That day when the Union center gave way and was routed, the 114th N.Y. was told to go out in the center of the field and hold at all costs. They held for 45 minutes, surrounded on three sides by the enemy, alone, at a terrible cost of over half their unit. When they retreated back to the tree line the army had been able to regroup. They were told to counterattack, which they did, but with all the color guard shot down and almost all the officers, Lt. Breed, picked up the regiment’s flag and held it at the fence line. He was shot and killed holding the flag. The Union’s counterattack and they won the battle.

Last week I wrote to Dr. Ian Buntain, who is the Director of the World Missions Center, at Southwestern Seminary to ask about a Martyr’s Walk a friend had told about. He confirmed that there was a dedicated walkway with plaques commemorating Christian witnesses who were killed serving the Lord. I hadn’t realized this before and was glad to hear that my next door neighbor, Archie Dunaway, who had been killed during the Rhodesian civil war, was honored in the Martyr’s Walk. He not only sent me the list of the twenty five martyrs but also went outside and took a photo of Archie Dunaway’s plaque which I really appreciated and wanted to share with you. If you are ever in the Ft. Worth area you should consider stopping by Southwestern Seminary and going through this walk.

“Martyrs”: The word was originally translated from Greek as “witnesses,” but it came to refer to people who died because of their testimony. Below is a list of Baptist martyrs who should be remembered for giving their lives in the service of Jesus Christ. The Martyrs’ Walk is dedicated in honor of Myrna and John Hendrick and the Hendrick family.

Dunaway, Archie (1920-1978): Archie was killed by guerrilla soldiers while serving as an FMB (now IMB) missionary in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at the Sanyati Baptist Hospital Compound. He and his wife Margaret served as missionaries to Nigeria and Rhodesia for 31 years. Previously, he pastored churches in Indiana and Tennessee.

Elliott, Larry Thomas (1943-2004), and Donna Jean Elliott (1945-2004): They were killed in a truck by gunmen in Mosul, Iraq. Larry and Jean served as IMB missionaries for almost 26 years in Honduras and for a short time in Iraq. In Iraq, they were looking for a location to provide clean drinking water. In Honduras, they planted 12 churches.

Do you enjoy video games or know someone who does? If so my new book Decurion: Called to be a 21st Century Warrior is just for you.

Gamers are talented individuals. They don’t see color and have learned to co-ordinate with people from many countries. God wants to use their individual talents.

Join Jay, a skilled tactician and team leader, who is caught up into heaven to audition for the role of Decurion. Under the guidance of a veteran centurion, he meets his ten member multi-national team and learns to use their unique gifts to rescue hostages from all parts of the globe.

As Doug Derbyshire related to Mark Randall (3/2011)

It seemed like a good idea at the time. It was two weeks before Christmas and we were busy making preparations for the Christmas Pageant that we were going to hold in our yard. We were planning to invite all our neighbors in the small Thai village that we lived in. It wasn’t unusual to see an elephant walk down the street with his owner trolling along beside him, carrying bananas and other fruit. The children enjoyed spending 20 baht (75 cents) to buy food to feed the elephant and the owner was glad to be paid to give him food. I had a brainwave when I saw him that day and thought wouldn’t it be great to have a live elephant in our Christmas program. It was amazing how easy it was to haggle with the owner and settle on a price of 1000 baht ($33) for the use of his elephant for that day.

The day dawned brimming with anticipation and Cheryl, my wife, dressed in her Thai finery, walked out on the second floor balcony. The elephant had arrived and with fear and trepidation she stepped off the balcony onto his back. With 40 other church members in tow she was led into town and through the market, passing out invitations to the Christmas pageant. When she returned I realized that something was wrong. The elephant owner didn’t say anything but he had that look. I asked, “What’s the matter?”