By: Mark Holtsberry Canal Street Five – part 1 of 5
About 2 years ago, Stan Jordan and I were talking about these gentleman (The Canal Street Five). He not only knew them, he knew where they lived! We talked about running an article or two, covering the lives of these Antwerp guys. I remember him telling me, “well we better get started sooner than later.” Well, the sooner became the later! He is gone and the information with him. Knowing that I can not leave stones unturned and an idea unfinished, here it goes, The Canal Street Five. A little help, Stan, guide me!
Arthur James Muir, the son of John J. and Catherine Sarah (Diemer) Muir, was born in 1919, in Carryall Township, Paulding County, Ohio. Arthur’s father, John, was born; in 1889, died, September 15, 1950. His wife, Catherine was born, May 18, 1886, died January 16, 1961. Both are buried in Maumee Cemetery. Catherine was first married to Gideon Ankney in 1913. I assumed they divorced, he was married for a total of four times! So maybe it wasn’t her! Well, Catherine found John and they were married in 1917. With this marriage, they had five children.
By 1920 the Muir family lived on Woodcox Street, John’s mother, John and Catherine and 3 children. John was a laborer doing road work. By 1930, the same family, plus two more children, were living on West Daggett Street and John was a farm laborer. By 1940, John, Catherine and the five children were living on 503 West Canal Street. John was doing road work. Arthur and his brother John Jay worked on farms. The same year, 1940, October 15, Arthur enlisted in the Ohio National Guard. Company A. 148th Infantry, 37th Division in Paulding, Ohio. The 151 pound Arthur was 5-11″ and ready to go. Arthur’s brother John Jay, will also enlist in 1941. He served in the United States Air Force, in World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam.
On May 2, 1942, Arthur married a gal from Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, named Helen Screptock, she was of Czech ancestry. Something happened to her health and she died July 31, 1942 in Toledo, Ohio.
Arthur’s Company, which comprised of a lot of Paulding County boys saw action in Guadalcanal, Russell Islands, New Georgia, Bougainville, Fiji Islands and Philippine Islands. Arthur was wounded in action, July 1943 from a pistol or revolver wound and was hospitalized with malaria. He was released from the hospital February 1944.
In action at Bougainville, North Solomon Island, Papua, New Guinea, March 10, 1944, Arthur James Muir was killed. His body was brought home and he was buried February 1949 in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp.
Until Next Time!
