By: Mark Holtsberry
George William Outland was born February 21, 1895 in Payne, Ohio. The son of Frank Bruce and Barbara A. Kerns. Frank was born 1864 in Ohio, the son of Alonzo Outland, a Paulding County Civil War Veteran. Barbara was born April of 1871 in Ohio. Frank and Barbara were married in Paulding on December 25, 1892. By 1900, the Outland family was living in Payne, Ohio.
Frank, a barber, Barbara a housewife, was raising a family consisted of four children, Mary born May of 1889, she was from Frank’s first marriage, Elizabeth (Abbs) who passed away November 17, 1891, a week after giving birth to daughter Garnet, November 10, 1891. Garnet, was raised by Frank’s sister, Maud and her husband Dr. James E. Mulligan. A daughter Vivian, born October 1893, son George W. and daughter Hazel M. born April 1898. By 1910, the Outland family, still living on Merrin Street, Payne, added daughters Carol 0., born in 1905 and daughter Princess Dawn, born May 23, 1906.
George was a student at Payne High School with a plan to go on to College. In 1916, George graduated from Ohio State with a degree in Architectural Engineering. Also in 1916, George joined the Army, he was stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On June 5, 1917, George was registered for the draft and was listed as medium height and weight, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His employment listed him as serving with an Engineering Company, 4th Provisional Training Regiment, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
On August 15, 1917, George was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Engineers, October 26, 1917, George was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Cavalry Regular Army. Then November 13, 1917, George was sent to Officers Training School with the 6th Company Engineers.
On March 13, 1918 in Cameron, Texas, George married a gal named Elvah Close, born September 14, 1896. Elvah went to school in Mishawaka, Indiana. On October 2, 1918, a daughter Elva Dawn Outland was born in Ft. McAllen, Texas.
George served with 13th Cavalry to September 10, 1919 and he also served with the Ordinance School of Application Aberdeen Providing Grounds in Maryland until the end of World War 1 and in 1919, George’s mother, Barbara passed away. She was buried in Wiltsie Cemetery, Payne, Ohio.
In 1920, George, Elvah and daughter Elva Dawn, were living in Hartford, Maryland. A daughter Virginia Jane Outland was born, August 21, 1921 in Syracuse, New York. Between the years of 1926 and 1930, the family lived in Hawaii, on the Island of Oahu. While living in Hawaii, George’s father Frank passed away May 16, 1929, he was buried beside his wife Barbara.
In 1935, with George still in the Military, the family found themselves living in Washington D.C. Also in 1935, George graduated from Industrial College. By 1940, George and family were living in Hartford, Maryland. On September 1, 1946, George was promoted to Colonel. George stayed in the Military until 1952, when he was discharged.
In 1957, George and Elvah were living at 1112 Dorchester Avenue, Orlando, Florida. George and Elvah lived out their days in Florida. On May 3, 1978, George passed away in Orlando, Florida. His wife, Elvah, passed away November 25, 1983. They both are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Gotha, Orange County, Florida.
…Until Next Time!
