MILITARY HISTORY IN PAULDING COUNTY
By: Mark Holtsberry
Raymond Henry Stults was born in January 1892 in Paulding, Ohio. He was the son of George M. Stults, born February 12, 1867, in Highland County, Ohio, and Lizzie C. (Cooper) Stults, born June 8, 1867, in Ohio. The couple was married on March 17, 1889. On December 9, 1889, they welcomed a son, John Clinton Stults. In January 1892, Raymond was born.
On October 8, 1896, Lizzie passed away from ulcers. She was buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery. By 1900, Raymond and John were living with their grandmother in Paulding, where both boys attended grade school. On August 20, 1901, John passed away from typhoid fever and was buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery.
By 1905, Raymond had quit school after completing the eighth grade. By 1910, he was still living with his grandmother and working various odd jobs. That same year, George married Lula Gertrude (Howard), who was born November 13, 1880, in Ohio. On March 29, 1911, she gave birth to a son, Harry Arthur Stults, in Hudson, Michigan. On October 6, 1913, George died in Hudson, Michigan, and was buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery.
On June 5, 1917, Raymond registered for the World War I draft at the Paulding precinct. He was listed as 5 feet 7 inches tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was single and self-employed as a farmer. On March 29, 1918, Raymond joined the National Army out of Paulding and served with Headquarters Troop, 83rd Division. He was promoted to Corporal on April 6, 1919, and to Sergeant on June 13, 1919. He served until July 23, 1919, and was honorably discharged on July 31, 1919.
By 1920, Raymond was again living with his grandmother on Flatrock Pike in Paulding and continued working in farming. On September 14, 1926, in Hudson, Michigan, Raymond married bookkeeper Martha W. Barnes. She was born February 22, 1905, in Paulding. They had two sons: John Clinton Stults, born in 1928, and Raymond Henry Stults, born in 1936.
By 1930, Raymond and his family were living on River Road, where he worked as a road laborer for the state highway department while also farming. By 1940, the family had moved into Paulding, and Raymond was working as a hotel clerk for Ray Schall. In 1942, Raymond registered for the World War II draft.
On February 2, 1948, Raymond passed away and was buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery, Lot 118, Grave 1. His wife, Martha, passed away on March 3, 2000, and was buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery. Son John Clinton Stults passed away on February 17, 1999 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Raymond Henry Stults passed away on October 21, 2013. Both sons were buried in Cooper-Haines Cemetery.
…UNTIL NEXT TIME!
