By: Mark Holtsberry
Wilbur Earl Miller was born in Payne, Ohio May 3, 1899 in Benton Township. The son of Owen E. born January 28, 1871 in Perry County, Ohio and Francis May (Robinson) Miller born May 18, 1875 in Union County, Ohio. This couple was married August 4, 1892 in Delaware, Ohio.
By 1900, this couple, along with children Sherman Lee born August 8, 1893, Edna Fay born March 20, 1896 and Wilbur Earl, were living in Benton Township. Owen was a farmer. On August 14, 1901, a daughter Mary Elizabeth was born.
By 1910, this couple was still living in Benton Township and the children were in school. On June 28, 1917, Wilbur traveled to Ft. Wayne, Indiana and enlisted in the military. He served in Battery B. 15th Field Artillery, 2nd Division at the rank of Private. Sent overseas December 11, 1917. He saw action at Verdun, Soissons, Argonne-Muese, Chateau Thierry, Mont Blanc, St. Mihiel, and after war occupation December 1918-July 1919 at Heddesdorf, Germany.
During that course of service, Wilbur was slightly gassed at Soissons, partially deaf, in a French hospital for mumps, operated for minor injuries, which left his arm wounded and sore. Wilbur was discharged August 14, 1919 at Camp Sherman. After returning home, Wilbur married Florence Lydia Scott on August 26, 1919 in Paulding, Ohio.
Born in 1899, Florence is the daughter of Amanda Hill. Florence was working as a waitress, she was married once before. By 1920, the couple was living in the Payne area. Wilbur was helping his father, Owen on the farm. Sometime, within 1920 and early 1921, Wilbur and Florence divorced.
On February 12, 1921, Wilbur married Lula Shoemaker in Ft. Wayne. Lulu was born September 20, 1902 in Muncie, Indiana. On April 18, 1921, Owen passed away. He was buried in Lehman Cemetery. Wilbur and Lula moved to Ft. Wayne. They lived at 2009 Randell Street. A daughter, Betty Mae, was born July 12, 1922. Wilbur worked on the railroad as a fireman.
On December 1, 1923, a son Max Reid was born. He went on to serve in World War Two. Another son, Paul Dean was born August 22, 1925, followed by William November 9, 1929. William served in the Air Force in the R.O.T.C. program. By 1930, this family was still living at 2009 Randall Street in Ft. Wayne. Wilbur was still working on the railroad as fireman.
On December 6, 1931, a daughter, Beverly Jean, was born. Followed by another daughter, Carole Ann, March 17, 1936. By 1940, the Miller family had moved to Waynesdale, Allen County, Indiana. Wilbur was still working on the railroad. He was an Engineman. On February 16, 1942, Wilbur registered for the World War Two draft. He is listed as 5’8″, 158 pounds, light complexion, brown hair, brown eyes. In 1949, Wilbur had been dealing with heart issues. Wilbur was admitted to Parkview Hospital on April 16, 1949.
On April 23, 1949, Wilbur passed away from acute heart failure. He was brought back to Payne and buried in Lehman Cemetery. Lula applied for his military tombstone, June 8, 1949. Application approved June 29, 1949 and shipped August 4, 1949. Lula passed away February 15, 2002, seven months before her 100th birthday. She is buried with Wilbur at Lehman Cemetery.
