By: Mark Holtsberry
Cecil Maywood Billman was an Antwerp man who was born November 12, 1897 in Antwerp. The son of Elias Franklin, born May 18, 1868 in Indiana and Cora Burchard (Rumbaugh) Billman, born January 11, 1877 in Ohio. This couple was married, September 29, 1895 in Paulding, Ohio.
By 1900, Cecil and Cora, along with daughter Madonna Gale, born in 1896 and son Cecil M. they were living in Carryall Township, Elias was a farmer. The family had grown with the addition of Alta 1900, Paul F. 1903, Forrest 1906 and Carl 1908.By 1910, the family was living in Antwerp on Payne Avenue, Elias was a wallpaper hanger.
In 1912, Melvin was born and Rex O. was born in 1916. On May 1, 1917, Cecil joined the National Guard out of Hicksville. He was listed as 5’7″, 145 pounds, brown eyes, auburn hair dark and ruddy complexion. He was assigned to Company E. 2nd Ohio National Guard, serving until October 16, 1917. Then was called up to serve in Company L. 146th Infantry U.S. Army. He served with this unit until May 11, 1918. He was stationed overseas and served with 146th Infantry Headquarters.
He served in the Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys defensive sectors and was promoted to Private First Class, November 16, 1918. He departed from Brest, France March 18, 1919 on the ship, “Maui”. Arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, March 31, 1919. Cecil was Honorably Discharged April 13, 1919.
By 1920, Cecil was back home, on Canal Street, living with his parents. He was working as a carpenter on a bridge crew. Cecil met a gal named, Thelma Gretchan Leaman. Born in 1908, the daughter of Harry and Mary Leaman. On December 4, 1926 the couple married in Paulding. By 1930, this couple was living at 224 East Canal Street in Antwerp and Cecil was working at the Antwerp furniture factory as an upholsterer.
A son Max R. was born April 21, 1929. Another son, Ray M. was born September 30, 1932. He was known as, “Pinky”. By 1940, the world going to war. Cecil had to register for the World War Two draft. He did February 14, 1942, but at the age of 44, Cecil was not chosen.
Still working at the Antwerp Parlor Furniture Company Inc., Cecil became ill and was taken to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dayton where he passed away February 9, 1950. He was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
His wife Thelma applied for his Military tombstone, April 9, 1951. Cecil passed on the idea of service and his son, Max, served in the Army during the Korean War and Ray served during the Korean and Vietnam War’s.
As for Pinky, I worked with him at Dietrich’s in Hicksville in 1984, he was my shipping supervisor. What a guy, quite the joker and always pulling pranks! And I won a few quarter bets with him on weigh ups on loads!
…Until Next Time!
