Dorchester Illustration no. 2365 Wilber Herbert Morrill
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. Using a collection of photographs we have of WWI Dorchester residents, we will be featuring servicemen in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit which highlights these men and their service to our country.
Our next biography features: Wilber Herbert Morrill
The photograph of Wilber was taken by Frederick Andrew Frizell, a photographer with a studio in Lower Mills.
Wilber Morill was born on November 18, 1891, to Gregory and Olive (Isnor) Morrill. In 1900 the family was living at 2266 Dorchester Avenue, in 1910 they were living at 1144 Adams Street, and in 1920 they were on Bearse Avenue. In 1900 Gregory was employed in a dining saloon, and Olive was a dining mistress. By 1910, Gregory worked as a mill hand in a chocolate mill, presumably the Walter Baker company. In 1910 the family had Gregory’s step-brother living with them along with a board and a lodger. In 1920, Wilber’s wife Marie had moved in, and the family had 3 lodgers.
Wilber attended the Gilbert Stuart Grammar School, graduating in 1906; he went on to the High School of Commerce and graduated in 1910. The 1910 US Census shows Wilber was a laborer in a wholesale grocery company, and in 1916 he graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College.
Wilber’s draft registration card for World War 1 showed that he was living at 1166 Adams Street, and he worked as a self-employed dentist at 219 Essex Street in Salem, MA. He was described as tall, of medium build with brown eyes and brown hair. Wilber was commissioned 1st Lt in June 1917; was at Camp Lee, Sept. 12, 1917; went overseas May 1918 on the ship Duke Degli Abruzzi and was with the 315th machine gun battalion A.E.F. as part of the medical detachment. According to this service record, he was involved with the engagement at St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. He served overseas until May 27, 1919 during which time, he was promoted to Captain. He was honorably discharged shortly after on June 17, 1919.
While he was in the military, Wilber met and married his wife, Marie Grossman in Chesterfield, Virginia (the bride’s hometown), on February 23, 1918. After his service, Wilber returned to Massachusetts where he began a dental practice on Washington Street in Lower Mills. The 1920 census shows him and Marie living on Bearse Avenue with his parents but a few years later, Wilber and Marie moved to Eliot Street in Milton. He continued as a dentist with his office on Washington Street in Lower Mills at least until the late 1950s. According to Virginia newspapers, the Morrills frequently traveled to Petersburg, Virginia and even had a “winter home” there. By 1942, not much as changed, Wilber’s draft registration card for World War II described him as 50 years old, employed at 1177 Washington Street, Dorchester , 5′ 10″, 150 lbs, brown eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion; Greek letter tattoo on left upper arm.
At some point in his retirement, Wilber and Marie permanently moved to Petersburg, Virginia but spent their summers on Cape Cod. Marie died in July 1981 and Wilbur died only a few months later on October 19, 1981 at the age of 89 years old. He is buried in the Grossman family plot at the Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia.
Do you know more about Wilber Herbert Morrill? We would love to hear from you! All material has been researched by volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, so please let us know if we got something wrong or you think a piece of the story is missing!
REFERENCES:
Ancestry.com Birth Records
Ancestry.com US Census, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930
Ancestry.com Boston Directories
Ancestry.com World War I and II registration cards
Ancestry.com Ancestry US Army Transport Service Passenger Lists
Newspapers.com
