Military History in Paulding County
By: Mark Holtsberry
William Streeter Travis was born October 22, 1896, in Paulding County, Ohio, the son of Earl Norman Travis, born June 1861 in Ohio, and Margaret C. (Streeter) Travis, born August 1863 in Ohio. This couple was married in 1880. By 1900, with the family living on Water Street in Paulding, the Travis family had grown with the births of Kate (1882), Paul (July 1889), Florence (April 1891), Helen (March 1893), and William (1896). Earl was working as a real estate agent, and most of the children who were old enough were attending school.
By 1910, still living on Water Street, another daughter, Mary Margaret, was born in 1906; she passed away in 1907. Anne Louise was born February 18, 1908. William, along with Helen and Florence, were still in school, and Earl continued working as a real estate agent.
In 1912, the family moved to 212 East Jefferson Street in Paulding. On June 5, 1917, William returned home from Akron, Ohio, where he had been working for the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company as a Kelly airfield worker, and registered for the World War I draft at the Paulding precinct. He was listed as single, with blue eyes, light blonde hair, a light complexion, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, and employed as a bookkeeper. William was inducted into service on August 15, 1918, in Paulding. He served in the 96th Balloon Company, Air Service, until December 16, 1918, then was transferred to the 67th Balloon Company, Air Service, until he was honorably discharged on January 22, 1919.
By 1920, William was living with his family on North Williams Street in Paulding and was working as an agent for the Amoco Fuel Company. On June 28, 1922, he married Francis B. Bashore, born November 2, 1898, in Ohio. She was working as a bookkeeper at the Columbia Sugar Beet Company. On July 14, 1924, Earl Travis passed away and was buried in Live Oak Cemetery. He was followed by his wife Margaret in 1928.
A daughter, Peggy, was born October 23, 1926. By 1930, William, Francis, and Peggy were living at 315 West Perry Street in Paulding. William was working as a clerical clerk for the Board of Public Affairs. In 1933, the family moved to Muncie, Indiana. In 1938, William opened a watch repair shop in Muncie, where the family lived at 1414 West Main Street, and his business was located at 315 South Walnut Street.
By 1940, the family had moved to 637 North Jefferson Street in Muncie. In 1942, William registered for the World War II draft. On August 2, 1948, Francis passed away from a ruptured blood vessel at Muncie Hospital. She was buried in Elm Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana, Evening Garden Plot 4, Lot 39, Space 4-A.
By 1950, William had moved to 102 Rosewood Street in Muncie and was still working as a watch repairman. In the early 1950s, he opened the Travis Gift Shop at Charles and Walnut Streets in Muncie. On Wednesday, March 23, 1955, at 6:45 a.m., William passed away at Ball Memorial Hospital from a ruptured blood vessel, likely a stroke. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Meeks Mortuary, officiated by Rev. David G. Walker. He was buried at Elm Ridge Cemetery beside his wife, Francis. Peggy passed away in 2012.
…Until Next Time!
