When William Howard Mize was born on August 23, 1894, in Teays Valley, West Virginia, his father, James, was 27 and his mother, Martha, was 34. He had one brother and three sisters. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a PRivate in Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He died from his wounds received in battle in October 1918 and is now buried in Winfield Cemetery, Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia, USA. His headstone says he died in France while his death certificate says he died in Teays Valley.