By: Mark Holtsberry
Dr. Ray Henry Mouser, another well known doctor from Paulding County, was born in Latty, Ohio, on July 20, 1895. He was the son of Ambrose Henry and Rose Belle (Price) Mouser. (Interesting side note, Rose Belle’s father was Thomas Price who married a girl by the name of Catherine Holtsberry, whose father was James Holtsberry, who is my great- great- grandfather!).
The Mouser family lived on Alexander Street in Latty, Ohio. Ambrose and Belle raised three children, Justus Ambrose was born on September 13, 1892, in Hedges, Ohio, who also became a doctor. He was slender built, but he had blue eyes, like his mother, with light hair. He married Zada Loop and they lived in Latty, Ohio they had two daughters, Rae and Katherine. Justus was killed January 9, 1957, in a horse and buggy accident. The horse got spooked and threw him out into the street, hitting his head. He is buried in Live Oak Cemetery (As a side note, he delivered my uncle, who was named Justus).
Ray’s sister was named, Nellie Merle. She was born on September 23, 1897. She graduated from college, Ohio State, and went on to various jobs in her field of study. She was married to a man named Chidley, that did not work out. She passed away June 20, 1992, in a Nursing home facility in Van Wert, Ohio and is buried in Convoy, Ohio.
In 1916, Ray graduated from Ohio State Medical School with a medical degree, with plans on working with his father and build up the business. World War 1 broke out so Ray and his father served as doctors.
Ambrose served as a captain in the Officers Reserve Corp, Medical Corp at Greenleaf, Georgia. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1918.
Justus registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, but was not selected Ray registered for the draft on May 28, 1917. With his status as a single man, he knew he was going to have to serve. What he found out was, with his slender and medium build, the United States Government could find a uniform to fit. Ray just added his medical collar disc to his uniform. His black hair and brown eyes played no part or placement in the service of his county.
On March 23, 1918 he was given the rank of 1st lieuteant. Ray served in Washington D.C. at a medical school, until April 16, 1918, where he was assigned to serve with the British Expeditionary Forces Medical Corp. He was wounded on September 10, 1918. He served with the British until, December 18, 1918. He was sent home, served with Medical Corp in New York, then at Camp Sherman, Ohio. Finishing his military career in Washington D.C., he was awarded a medal, while serving with the British army as a chief surgeon. Ray was honorably discharged on January 4, 1919. Ray returned home to his family and admiring friends and neighbors.
Ray tried to explain that he faced death on many a battlefield in France, while the German invaders were being driven back. According to sources that I read, he seemed fine, but wondered if he saw more death and dying than he expected. Ray said that he had enough of war and was glad to get back home.
Among his baggage brought back were a number of trophies and relics of the war which he gathered first hand and which he exhibited to his admiring friends. He shared stories of his experiences while under fire of German guns, his miraculous escapes from death while rendering aid, while also seeing co-workers die. He told of the fiendish traps set by the retreating Germans to destroy or slow down advances by allied armies.
Ray was able to move on with his life. On May 27, 1922, he married a gal by the name of Lelia Agnes Morgan, who was born March 12, 1895, the daughter of Peter Schuyler and Agness (Foster) Morgan. Lelia was a strong and educated woman. She went to college at Henry Kendall College, then transferred to the University of Miami. She became a member of the Independent Womans Association.
In the marriage, they became the proud parents of three daughters. Eleanor Nell who was born April 11, 1924; Lelia Belle who was born May 16, 1927, and Marilyn Rae who was born January 6, 1932. They lived at 615 North Williams Street in Pauling and the house was always filled with music, and with four females, he had not much of a choice.
During the depression, Ray did not make a lot of money, but the family did not go hungry, as resident patients of Jackson, Latty and Paulding Townships kept the family in milk, eggs and butter. As well, as an occasional chicken or pheasant, plus some pork or beef made it to their kitchen table. Ray continued to practice his profession until he passed away from influenza on March 15, 1955, at the age of 59, leaving behind a wonderful wife, whom will follow him in death on November 24, 1973. His daughter Marilyn, passed away on December 16, 2005 in Cleveland, Ohio. Eleanor passed away in 2015 and she is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, beside her husband, Carl (Carl flew missions as a ball turret gunner in World War Two). Lelia passed away on September 19, 2020 and is buried in Live Oak Cemetery, two – three rows behind her parents, also leaving behind five grandchildren.
I had a wonderful opportunity to visit with Lelia over the telephone. Our talks led to stories of her childhood and her dad, Ray. She sent me photos of her dad and her grandparents which I cherish to this day.
Until Next Time!
