William Moseley Miller (1909 - 1989)

Born 20 Jul 1909 in Pascagoula, Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Died 12 Sep 1989 at age 80 in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

If you ask Wikipedia^[1] who was William Moseley Miller, this is what they would return:

"William Moseley "Fishbait" Miller (July 20, 1909 – September 12, 1989) was an American who worked in the United States House of Representatives. He served as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 to 1974." And then they would tell you a whole lot more about this man. ^[2]

But "Fishbait," the man was born in Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi on July 20, 1909 to Albert Magnus Miller, who was a sea captian. His mother was Nettie Maddox Miller. His was nicknamed "Fishbait" as a very young boy because he was of very small statue. The name remained with him for a lifetime.

I |Barney Banks first met Mr. Miller in his office in the Capitol in 1968, when my brother, Jerry introduced us. Jerry's next door neighbor in Silver Creek, Mississippi was a personal friend of Mr. Miller and when he found out Jerry was visiting me in Washington, DC, he set up a personal visit with Mr. Miller. Needless to say Mr. Miller put on quite a show for his fellow Mississippians during that visit.

Like all young men in 1940, when trouble was brewing in Europe and the Pacific, Fishbait registered for the Military Draft on 16 October 1940, in Walthall County, Mississippi. He was 31 years old, born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, giving his address and that of his wife's as 605 Columbus Drive, Pascagoula, Jackson, Miss. His employer was the U S House of Representatives, U S Capitol, Washington, D C.^[3]His physical description included his height as 5' 9", 192 pounds, Light Complexion, Brown Hair, and Blue Eyes.

His death was recorded in the North Carolina Death Indexes, 1908-2004, as 12 September 1989, Guilford, North Carolina.^[4]

William Miller was buried September 1989 in Tylertown, Walthall County, Mississippi, in the Tylertown Cemetery. His stone bears the nickname of Fishbait and a Masonic Lodge Symbol. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=who+was+william+fisbait+miller&oq=who+was+william+fisbait+miller&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKAB0gEINzUxMGowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishbait_Miller
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Mississippi, Box Number 81-120. Box 094: Serial No. 2233; Order No. 2571.
4. ↑ Source Vendor: NC Department of Health. North Carolina Deaths, 1988-92. Notes: Disposition: Burial out of state, Autopsy: No, Attendant: Physician, Hospital Status: Home
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96821744/william-moseley-miller: accessed 19 May 2023), memorial page for William Moseley “Fishbait” Miller (20 Jul 1909–12 Sep 1989), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96821744, citing Tylertown Cemetery, Tylertown, Walthall County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Lisa May (contributor 47754706).