William Bryan Raner, U.S. Navy, World War I
Photo courtesy of Martha Crawford.

William was a policeman, a large man and couldn't fit into the small cars they used at the time and so he had to walk a beat. He was known to be a man of sweet disposition. He was the son of Jasper Newton, Sr. and Henrietta (Davis) Raner. He married Essie Stella Barney. Both are buried in Sunset Cemetery in Corning, Tehama county, California.

They had 7 children. The ashes of their son, William Bryan Raner, Jr., were placed in the coffin with his grandmother, Henrietta (Davis) Raner, in the Powell Township Cemetery at Wilmore, Kansas.

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The Wilmore News, August 23, 1917.

Letters From Our Soldier Boys

(Excerpts from William Bryan Raner's letter written under date of August 18th from Norfolk, Va.)

I have been transferred from the Kearsarge. I am going over to town so thought I would write.

Say, that box of candy was sure good and you can send some more sometime. I can get chocolate candy here but that isn't good any more.

I am sending you a picture of my new home. I am fireman, first class, and I am helping clean the ship up now.

Until after I go to sea my address will be U. S. S. Necker, Navy Yards, Norfolk, Va. After I go to sea it will be U. S. S. Necker, in care of the Postmaster, New York.

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Also see:

Jasper Newton, Sr., father of William Bryan Raner.

Henrietta (Davis) Raner, mother of William Bryan Raner.

Jasper Newton Raner, Jr., brother of William Bryan Raner.

James Alonzo "Jim" Raner, brother of William Bryan Raner.

Myrtle Mariah "Wytole" (Graves) Raner, sister-in-law of William Bryan Raner.

Bryan & James Raner: Letters from the USN, 1917

Emma Gertrude Raner, niece of William Bryan Raner.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article/letter to this web site!

Shirley Brier noted that the Raner brothers wrote to their family often and that their letters were often published in The Wilmore News during this period of time. Check microfilms of the newspaper available through the Kansas State Historical Society for the other letters.

Photo is courtesy of Martha Crawford. Thanks to Marji Turner for contributing the above biographical information and photograph to this web site!

This website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was created 6 May 2008 and was last updated 26 May 2008.