William Freer Milam (19 JUN 1912 – 14 AUG 1993)
My father, Freer, was the first child born to Claude E. Milam Sr and Girtha Jane Fisher Milam.These are the pictures of our father, Freer, which have come down to us.
Two baby pictures of Freer taken around Christmas 1912 at about six months of age.
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The left picture was taken in 1914: Freer, his brother, Loren and their cousin Jim Brown, son of Georgia Brown, Grandmother Girtha’s sister. The right picture was taken about a year later when Freer would have been three years old. 1915
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Freer driving his Goat Cart.
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Freer riding his pony, at perhaps 8 or 9 years of age around 192o.
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Freer was fond of his cars and kept them shining. This car is a Ford Model A Town Sedan of the early 1930s. In the background is the Steubenville Country Club on Lover’s Lane.
Click here (link) for the car’s details and scroll down for many photos of the model.
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Weirton Steel Tin Mill baseball team, the Cold Rollers. Freer is at the upper, far right with his brother, Lakin to his left.
Lakin was said to be an ace pitcher and pro material.
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Weirton Steel Tin Mill crew. Freer is in the front row, kneeling, sixth from the left wearing a tan jacket. 1930s
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Freer lounging on the grass in 1930s.
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Freer and good friend, Markie Freese, with Markie’s 1930s five window coupe. Markie would become the Superintendant of the Tin Mill and Freer’s boss. We visited them in Steubenville at Christmas time for years. On one visit, his son who was in medical school showed me a human skull he was studying!
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His lady friend and future wife, Christine Miller, may have taken this picture. 1939
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Freer and Christine. This photo may have been taken the same day as above.
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Freer and his younger brother, Dix, who was 17 years old. Labeled September 1940.
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Freer and Christine. Labeled her birthday 1 September 1940; they were married on 8 NOV 1940.
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Freer, first son Billy and Christine in Spring 1942 on Euclid Avenue, Steubenville, Ohio.
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Freer with Billy and brother, Lakin, holding Donna. Spring 1942
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Freer’s first son, Billy, with an unknown lady. Fall 1942
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Portrait of Private William Freer Milam and Christine with Billy, Spring 1943.
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Corporal Milam was stationed at what would become Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO. 1943
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Corporal Milam and two year old son, Billy, Fall 1943.
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Freer with his sons, Billy and Bobby in their yard in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 1944
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In a sign of the times, the boys had military uniforms.
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Staff Sargeant Milam and family visit the Garden of the Gods, Colorado. 1945
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Staff Sargeant Milam standing before a Packard Clipper Army Staff Car. Freer was the personal chauffer for Major General U. G. Ent (link) who was the Commanding General of the U.S. 2nd Air Force. My father, Freer, admired and thought the world of General Ent who he came to know by flying with him to various bases.
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Major General Uzal Girard Ent
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Freer’s wife, Christine, next to Girtha who is holding baby Carol. Billy (L) & Bobby.
33 Center Street, Weirton, WV. Early 1946
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Freer with Billy, Carol & Bobby (L to R) back on Euclid Avenue, Steubenville, OH three years after he left for Army service. Late 1946
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Freer digging the “footer” for their new house in the village of Wintersville, OH. 1946
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Freer with his children at back of new house in the village of Wintersville, OH. 1946
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Bobby, Carol and Billy (L to R) in front of new house in Wintersville. 1946 and 1947
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Freer and Christine sitting on their new sofa. Interesting story about the dark green wall in the living room. Around the time their new house was built, they had discovered a house in Steubenville where at night one could see the dark green wall in the living room. We slowly drove by a number of times admiring it. Eventually Christine visited during the day and asked the lady of the house about the color. Nothing stopped my Mom! About 1949
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Second Christmas in Freer and Christine’s new home with brother Lakin and Clara. 1949
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Freer in his Chevrolet, father Claude and mother Girtha & their beloved dog Tippy. Circa 1954
Taken in front of Claude’s house on 33 Center Street, Weirton, WV.
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Freer and Christine playing pool in their basement recreation room. 1950s
Freer had walled off and finished the room with mahogany plywood and the tile ceiling. He finished the second floor of the house too except for the pastering. Quite a handy and hardworking guy.
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In 1954 his good friend and work colleage, Markie Freese, invited Freer to join the fraternal organization, Free Masons. After becoming a Master Mason, Dad earned the 32 Degree Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. It is a secret organization and Dad never once spoke of it.
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Claude, Freer, Dix, Girtha, Martha and Helen in Freer’s Backyard. 1961
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Freer’s sister, Martha, Freer and Christine. 1979
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