Wilbur Don Staley was born September 14, 1890, in Melrose, Ohio, the son of Clinton “Clint” John Staley, born December 1, 1851, in Allen County, Ohio, and Mary Emma “Emmie” (Kingery) Staley, born in 1857. The couple was married September 25, 1887, in Paulding. On August 1, 1888, they welcomed a daughter, Inez, and Wilbur was born in 1890.
By 1900, the Staley family was living in Melrose, where Clinton was a music teacher and the children were attending school. In 1907, Wilbur was working for the Pennsylvania Lines Hotel as a night clerk. In 1908, he was living at 58 Spy Run in Fort Wayne, Indiana. By 1910, Wilbur had moved back to Melrose and was living with his family on River Street. Inez was working for a tinsmith, and Wilbur was working odd jobs as well as laboring.
Sometime in 1913, Wilbur married Gladys Hakes, who was born April 24, 1894, in Oakwood, Ohio. She later became a school teacher. In 1914, the couple welcomed a daughter, Artemesia Staley. Sometime after 1915, Wilbur and Gladys moved to Troy, Ohio. On September 9, 1916, in Muncie, Indiana, they welcomed a son, Don E. Staley…