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Clarence Lester Richmond, Sr
1895 - 1981 (Age 85)
Person ID: I20094 | Tree: Robin | Last Modified: 12 Sep 2021
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Name Clarence Lester Richmond [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15] Suffix Sr Gender Male Born 30 Nov 1895Died 25 Jan 1981Buried Y [11] - FindAGrave Memorial 39692853; portrait in military dress uniform; Very simple in-ground marker in family plot, plus an in-ground military marker with the inscription "Cpl US Marine Corps, World War I"
Cause of Death Congestive Heart Failure Notes - My grandfather, Clarence Richmond, kept a diary during his time in the U.S. Marines during World War 1 - including his time on the battlefront. He then expanded it into a memoir that tells quite a remarkable story, and has several poignant passages. In 1997, I published it online at http://www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/
He arrived at the front toward the end of the epic Battle of Belleau Wood, earned the Distinguished Service Cross and other medals at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, and participated in the decisive Meuse-Argonne offensive, which culminated a brutal crossing of the Meuse River on the last night of the war.
His diary and other artifacts of his time in the war are on display at the Museum of Five Points in Cleveland, Tennessee.
The memoir is quoted (among other places) in a description of the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge at http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bm1.htm
The passage from my grandfather's memoir that is, to me, the most poignant and memorable is about a battle on November10, 1918 - the last night of World War 1 - when the 5th Marines were asked to take the East bank of the Meuse River under very heavy fire from the Germans stationed on the hills above the river. (See www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/diary20.htm ) He reveals the desperation and carnage of the night without hyperbole, and waxes eloquently on the controversy of requiring soldiers to engage in a difficult battle even after the cease-fire was negotiated, but before it went into effect. He also noted dryly that, as he prepared for that battle, "for the millionth time, I agreed with Gen. Sherman about war".
That passage is especially memorable because, in 2012, I went on a remarkable World War 1 - themed tour of Belgium and France that featured the exploits of the U.S. Marines. When I signed up for the tour, I learned that the guide was Mike Hanlon, a WW1 historian who had contacted me at least ten years previously when he first found my grandfather's memoir online. It turned out that he was using the memoir as a primary source for his detailed itinerary. Visiting the Nov 10 crossing site was a key stop on the tour - though none of us (Mike included) knew exactly how to reach the site by road. When we arrived in the vicinity of the crossing, our 16-passenger bus bounced through farm fields and a forest as we search for the crossing site. When we finally saw the river, we got out of the bus for a better look, and I read aloud the words that my grandfather had written about that battle. As we got back on the bus, Mike told me "When I planned this trip, I intended for someone to read that passage to the group, but I had no idea whatsoever that it might be read by Clarence Richmond's grandson."
- Robin Richmond
Siblings + 1. Archibald Rogers (Arch) Richmond (ID:I20754) (Age 77 years)
b. 18 Feb 1884, Bradley Co, TN
d. 26 Jul 1961 (Age 77 years)+ 2. Paul Augustus (Gus) Richmond, Sr. (ID:I20762) (Age 77 years)
b. 26 Jun 1887, Bradley Co, TN
d. 14 Dec 1964, DeKalb Co, GA (Age 77 years)3. Albert Evans Richmond (ID:I20789) (Age 22 years)
b. 12 May 1892, Bradley Co, TN
d. 16 Feb 1915, Chattanooga, Hamilton, TN (Age 22 years) -
Parents
Father Jacob Rogers Richmond (ID:I20752) (Age 67 years)
b. 26 Feb 1859, Bradley Co, TN
d. 14 Feb 1927, Cleveland, Bradley, TN (Age 67 years)Mother Sarah Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bacon (ID:I20753) (Age 85 years)
b. 30 Apr 1861, Bradley Co, TN
d. 25 May 1946, Cleveland, Bradley, TN (Age 85 years)Married 30 Apr 1882Bradley Co, TN
Age at Marriage He : 23 years and 2 months - She : 21 years. -
Family
Wife Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson (ID:I20093) (Age 98 years)
b. 10 Mar 1898
d. 9 Jul 1996 (Age 98 years)Married Age at Marriage He : 27 years and 8 months - She : 25 years and 4 months. Children + 1. Ann Frances Richmond (ID:I20095) (Age 96 years)
b. 4 Aug 1924, Cleveland, Bradley, TN
d. 5 May 2021 (Age 96 years)+ 2. Mary "Nancy" Richmond (ID:I20105) (Age 81 years)
b. 22 Jun 1926, Cleveland, Bradley, TN
d. 28 Apr 2008 (Age 81 years)+ 3. Living (ID:I20108) 4. Joe Robin Richmond (ID:I20116) (Age 17 years)
b. 7 Jan 1930, Cleveland, Bradley, TN
d. 4 Apr 1947, Cleveland, Bradley, TN (Age 17 years)
Date/Place spacing for -
Other Personal Events
Residence 1900Bradley Co, TN [3]
– Age 4; son of Jacob and Sarah E Richmond; Older brothers Archie (16), Augustus (12), Albert (10)Residence 1910Bradley Co, TN [5]
– Age 14, Son of Jacob R and Sarah E Richmond; older brother Albert E (19)Residence 1917Bradley Co, TN [6]
Military Feb 1918 [14]– Marines basic trainingMilitary – U.S. Marines active and reserve dury. Most notably the Battle of Somme-Py (Blanc Mont), where he won the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de GuerreMilitary Betw Dec 1918 and Jun 1919 [14]– "The Watch On The Rhine", after the armisticeResidence 1920Cleveland, Bradley, TN [4]
– Age 24; Son of Jacob R and Sarah E Richmond, Occupation: Clerk at Woolen MillOccupation Betw 1924 and 1962– Insurance BrokerResidence 1930Cleveland, Bradley, TN [1]
– Age 34, Married to Edith K Richmond; Children: Anne (5), Mary N (3 10/12), Clarence Jr (2 1/12), Joseph R (2/12); Insurance SalesmanResidence 1940Cleveland, Bradley, TN [7]
– Age 46; Married to Edith; Children Ann (16), Nancy (13), Clarence(12), Joe R (10); Occupation: Insurance Agent; Highest grade finished: 1st Year CollegeResidence 1955Cleveland, Bradley, TN [9]
– Insurance rep -
Photos 
Clarence Sr & his mom
My grandfather, Clarence Lester Richmond Sr. and his mom, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bacon Richmond. At this point, they lived on a farm outside of Cleveland, Tennessee. - Robin Richmond
ClarenceSr-About1901
My grandfather; from my Aunt Ann Richmond Sewell's photo collection, uploaded by Robin RIchmond.
ClarenceSr-HighSchoolClass-1916
My grandfather is at the upper right. He reported that everyone in the class was alive for their 50th reunion in 1966. - Robin Richmond
ClarenceSr-1910
My dad (Clarence, Jr.) still has that gun, but not the dog. - Robin RichmondClarence Richmond in WW1 uniform
My grandfather with his Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and French Croix du Guerre. This photo is displayed with some of his military artifacts at the Museum Center at Five Points in Cleveland, TN. See also his war memoir at www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/ - Robin Richmond
ClarenceSr-HighSchoolSenior-1916
My grandfather may look old for a high school senior, because he was 20, having missed a year because of typhoid fever and repeated a year (because he enjoyed it so much, according to the biographical sketch my Aunt Ann Sewell wrote). - Robin Richmond
Clarence Richmond awarded DSC
Newspapers.com - Chattanooga News (1 Mar 1919) - Page 2 "D.S.C. Awarded to Brave Cleveland Boy"
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld. Documents 
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta)
Edith Richmond. Publication Title: Cleveland, Tennessee, City Directory, 1955.World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Registration Location: Bradley County, Tennessee; Roll: 1852922; Draft Board: 0.Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Clarence Lester RichmondTennessee, Death Records, 1908-1951
Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 3Histories 
Clarence Richmond's Early Life
As told to his daughter, Ann Richmond Sewell, of Searcy, ArkansasClarence Richmond WW1 Marince Corps MusterRolls
Overview of a dozen muster rolls that describe his activity during and after World War 1. See also his war memoir at www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/Obituary of Jacob Rogers Richmond
From The Knoxville Journal - 16 Feb 1927
C.L. Richmond family and the East Side Church of Christ in Cleveland, Tennessee
A two-page history of C.L. Richmond Sr. and his family from a history of the Churches of Christ in Bradley County, Tennessee.
by Raymond H. Crumbliss, longtime minister of the East Side Church of Christ, October 1966
(My Grandfather, C.L. Richmond, Sr, was an elder of that church, and the family home, where my father grew up, was just a half-block from the church building. In my adolescence,. I spent a good bit of time with my grandparents in Cleveland, and I remember "Brother Crumbliss" very well.
- Robin RichmondCensuses 
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld. At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld. 1900 United States Federal Census
Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 5, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: T623_1559; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 10.1920 United States Federal Census
Year: 1920; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 3, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1729; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 18; Image: .1910 United States Federal Census
Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 1, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: . -
Event Map
Born - 30 Nov 1895 - Bradley Co, TN 
Residence - 1900 - Bradley Co, TN Residence - 1910 - Bradley Co, TN Residence - 1917 - Bradley Co, TN 
Residence - 1920 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Occupation - Betw 1924 and 1962 - Bradley Co, TN Child - Ann Frances Richmond - 4 Aug 1924 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Child - Mary "Nancy" Richmond - 22 Jun 1926 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Residence - 1930 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Child - Joe Robin Richmond - 7 Jan 1930 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Residence - 1940 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Residence - 1955 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN Died - 25 Jan 1981 - Cleveland, Bradley, TN = Link to Google Earth 
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Source Citations
- [S9] 1930 United States Federal Census; Fifteenth Census of the United States by U.S. Census Bureau (S|C)Details:Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, D.C.; Date: 1930;Citation:Page: Year: 1930; Census Place: Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .Text: Birth date: abt 1896 Birth place: Tennessee Residence date: 1930 Residence place: Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee
- Details:Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security D;Citation:Page: Number: 411-10-6146; Issue State: Tennessee; Issue Date: Before 1951.Text: Birth date: 30 Nov 1895 Birth place: Death date: Jan 1981 Death place: Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee, United States of America
- [S32] 1900 United States Federal Census; Twelfth Census of the United States by U.S. Census Bureau (S|C)Details:Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, D.C.; Date: 2004;Citation:Page: Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 5, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: T623_1559; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 10.Text: Birth date: Nov 1895 Birth place: Tennessee Residence date: 1900 Residence place: Civil Districts 4-5, Bradley, Tennessee
- [S13] 1920 United States Federal Census; Fourteenth Census of the United States by U.S. Census Bureau (S|C)Details:Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, D.C.; Date: 1920;Citation:Page: Year: 1920; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 3, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1729; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 18; Image: .Text: Birth date: abt 1896 Birth place: Tennessee Residence date: 1920 Residence place: Cleveland Ward 3, Bradley, Tennessee
- [S2] 1910 United States Federal Census; Thirteenth Census of the United States by U.S. Census Bureau (S|C)Details:Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, D.C.; Date: 1910;Citation:Page: Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 1, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .Text: Birth date: 1896 Birth place: Tennessee Residence date: 1910 Residence place: Civil District 1, Bradley, Tennessee
- Details:Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Admini;Citation:Page: Registration Location: Bradley County, Tennessee; Roll: 1852922; Draft Board: 0.Text: Birth date: 30 Nov 1895 Birth place: Tennessee;United States of America Residence date: Residence place: Bradley, Tennessee
- [S1] 1940 United States Federal Census, Sixteenth Census of the United States by U.S. Census Bureau (S|C)Details:Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, D.C; Date: 1940;Citation:Page: Year: 1940; Census Place: Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee; Roll: T627_3875; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 6-16.Text: Birth date: abt 1895 Birth place: Tennessee Residence date: 1 Apr 1940 Residence place: Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee, United States
- Details:Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.Original data: Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909. Nashv;Citation:Page: Clarence Lester RichmondText: Name: Clarence Lester Richmond Gender: Male Birth Date: 30 Nov 1895 Birth Place: Bradley Father: Jacob R Richard Mother: Sarah Elizabeth Bacon
- Details:Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;Citation:Page: Clarence & Edith Richmond, Cleveland, TN, 1955Text: Name : Clarence L Richmond Gender : Male Residence Year : 1955 Street Address : 534 4th SE 655J Residence Place : Cleveland, Tennessee, USA Occupation : Ins Rep Spouse : Edith Richmond Publication Title : Cleveland, Tennessee, City Directory, 1955 Household Members: Name: Age Edith Richmond: Clarence L Richmond:
- Details:Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2016;Citation:Page: Clarence L Richmond marriage with Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson. Film Number: 001492198Text: Name: Clarence L Richmond Gender: Male Age: 27 Birth Date: abt 1896 Marriage Date: 18 Jul 1923 Marriage Place: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Spouse: Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson Film Number: 001492198
- Citation:Page: FindAGrave Memorial 39692853; Clarence L. Richmond (1895 - 1981)Text: Birth: Nov. 30, 1895 Death: Jan. 25, 1981 Burial: Fort Hill Cemetery, Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee, USA Plot: 22, Plot 132 Parents: Jacob Rogers Richmond (1859-1927) Elizabeth Sarah Bacon Richmond (1861-1946) Spouse: Edith Hutcheson Richmond (1898-1996) Children: Joe Robin Richmond (1930-1947) Albert Evans Richmond (1890-1915) Created by: Fort Hill Cemetery (Brad... Military Plaque Inscription: Cpl U.S. Marine Corps World War I
- Details:Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Original data: Beneficiary Identificatio;Citation:Page: Name: Clarence Richmond. SSN: 411106146Text: Name: Clarence Richmond Gender: Male Birth Date: 30 Nov 1895 Death Date: 25 Jan 1981 SSN: 411106146 Enlistment Date 1: 17 Feb 1918 Release Date 1: 16 Feb 1922
- Details:Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1951. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Tennessee City Death Records Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis;Citation:Page: Name: Clarence Richmond. Certificate Number: 6809. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 3Text: Name: Clarence Richmond Gender: Male Birth Place: Bradley, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Edith Hutcheson Child: Joe Robbin Richmond Certificate Number: 6809 Wills and Probates: Clarence Richmond
- Details:Name: Robin Richmond; Location: Cleveland, Ohio; Date: 1995; www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/.Citation:Page: The entire memoir, at www.robinrichmond.com/wardiary/Text: Clarence Richmond's own story of his service in the Marines during World War 1, including his time in battle during the last few months of the war.
- Citation:Page: The Knoxville Journal, 16 Feb 1927, page 2Text: Obituary of J. R. Richmond
- Details:Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2016;Citation:Page: Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson. Film Number: 001492198Text: Name: Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson Gender: Female Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1898 Marriage Date: 18 Jul 1923 Marriage Place: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Spouse: Clarence L Richmond Film Number: 001492198 Household Members: Name: Age Clarence L Richmond: Edith Kuykendall Hutcheson:
