William Eugene Ryker was born on 3. Aug. 1895 or 4. Aug. 1895 at Potato Creek neighborhood, Linden, Montgomery County, Indiana; The 3 Aug birthdate comes from Lou (Ryker) Vail Family Notes, whereas 4 Aug birthdate comes from Blanche Opal (Ryker) Myers Family Notes.
The cited newspaper clipping from Crawfordsville is the source of William Eugene's birthplace, and confirms a birthdate of 3 Aug 1895. He was the son of
Charles Edward Ryker and
Amelia Jane Hiteshue. William Eugene Ryker began military service bt 1915 - 1918 at Possibly, France; Obit. states that in WW I, "... he served overseas with the 309th Engineers."
Crawfordsville clipping says, "Private William Eugene Ryker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Ryker, left in the county draft increment June 25, 1918, for Camp Sherman. He was stationed at Camp Mills ready to embark for Europe when the Review blank was filled out. Private Ryker was born in the Potato Creek neighborhood Aug. 3, 1895 and has lived in this county [i.e., Montgomery] all his life ...(etc). He was transferred from Camp Sherman to Camp Mills on Aug. 24. He married
Iva Irene Milligan on 2. Oct. 1923 at Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana. William Eugene Ryker was Inspector; Worked at Ross Gear & Tool for 16 yrs. At Ross Gear & Tool Co., Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He died on 26. Jan. 1959 at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana; Died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his home, 323 S. 6th Street, Lafayette, IN. He was buried on 29. Jan. 1959 at Resthaven Cemetery, Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.