By: Mark Holtsberry Canal Street Five part 3 of 5
Max I. Seslar, the son of Franklin Jonas and Alta B. (Hughes) Seslar, was born, April 13, 1918 in Antwerp, Ohio.
Max’s father, Franklin Jonas, was born, January 20, 1893, in Ohio. Franklin had registered for the draft in World War I, June 5, 1917 in Paulding, Ohio. Slender, medium build, black hair, brown eyes, also registered for the draft in World War II, in 1942. He married Alta, September 19, 1912, Paulding, Ohio. Frank J. was mayor of Antwerp, Justice of the Peace, barber and a painter. In 1920’s the Seslar’s lived on Canal Street. In 1930 they live on North Main Street He passed away June 11, 1958.
Max’s mother, Alta B., was born January 22, 1895, served on the Antwerp American Legion Auxillery, she passed away, July 1972. Both are buried in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp, Ohio.
Max enlisted in the Ohio National Guard at the age of 15 around 1933, in Paulding, Ohio. He was taken under the wings of officers such as Henry J. Donnell, Marcus Ptak, Claude Miller and Laurence Hipp. Max met a girl named Karma Jean Wilcox, born September 5, 1921, the daughter of Willis and Arietta (Cochran) Wilcox, from Montpelier, Ohio.
Max and Karma Jean was married, May 19, 1939. In 1940, Max and Karma Jean moved to North Main Street, Antwerp, Ohio. Max enlisted, October 15, 1940 in Paulding, Ohio, to serve in the United States Armed forces. Max was listed at 5′-5″, 145 pounds. Through extended research, I found a daughter born to Max and Karma Jean, Marla Jean Seslar, born September 15, 1942. Max was assigned Company B. 148th Infantry, re-assigned to serve Company L. 148th Infantry Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, as a Captain.
I believe when Captain Claude Miller was killed, Max was promoted to captain. February 11, 1945, Manila, Philippines, Max was killed in action by mortar fire. His body was brought home and he was buried with his parents in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp, Ohio.
Karma Jean remarried before 1949, and she never had any more children. She passed away, August 17, 1997, in Ft. Wayne Indiana.
