Challenging Norms of His Day

by Chloe Allison

Headstones of Vern Adamson and his fourth wife, Ruby M. Worrell. (Photos courtesy of Chloe Allison)

Vern Dallas Adamson

May 5, 1900 - June 2, 1980

Picture it: the year is 1918. The world is at war while the children are outside playing with their Raggedy Ann dolls. Every day people are dying from the flu and everyone on the block is driving their Model Ts to church on Sundays. Teenagers are not forced to attend high school and women begin entering the workforce. That was life for Vern Adamson, a veteran of both world wars and a man with passion for the United States military and the law. The story of Vern Adamson is set in a time that is much different than what we see now, but, even so, as his family story illustrates, he challenged traditional norms of his day.

Vern Dallas Adamson was born to Jennie Adamson and her husband Samuel on May 5, 1900 in Hamburg, Iowa.[1] Vern was the first child born to the couple, but he soon had two younger siblings—Everett was born in 1906 and Juanita was born in 1909.[2] The Adamson family moved from Hamburg, Iowa to Rock Port, Missouri between the years of 1909 and 1910. While living in Rock Port, Vern attended Rock Port High School, but he did not graduate.[3] Vern would have graduated in 1918, but he enlisted in the Army before graduation. There is quite a story behind Vern’s enlistment, as told by his son, J.C.: “He had obtained his father’s permission to join the Navy, but on Halloween night 1917, he took his father’s car, it was a brand new REO. He wrecked the car, so my grandfather Samuel got mad and revoked his permission for dad to join the Navy. So dad ran away from home, lied about his age, and joined the Army.”[4]

Vern Adamson enlisted in the United States Army on November 4, 1917.[5] Vern said that his first position was burial detail at Fort Logan in Denver, Colorado—the reason why he elected to be buried in the cemetery.[6] Adamson began his military career with the rank of private first class, but before long he was promoted to sergeant. Vern stated that he never saw combat, but he was still stationed overseas for his short service during the First World War. Vern Adamson told his son that he was stationed in England until the end of World War I and then later spent time in France.

Sergeant Vern Adamson was honorably discharged from the United States Army on July 3, 1918.[7] He returned home to Rock Port, Missouri upon his discharge, but moved to Clay, Missouri and, by the time the 1920 U.S. Census was taken, Vern was working as a clerk in an office.[8] Vern’s census record said he was not married, but that would soon change. Vern Adamson and Katharine Zieke married on April 4, 1920.[9] The marriage certificate has proved to be another example of Vern lying about his age, as he claimed to be 22 years old at the time of his marriage when in reality he was not even 20. Soon after their marriage, Vern and Katharine welcomed their first son, Robert Vern Adamson, on September 4, 1921.[10] However, the family did not stay a trio for long because the couple welcomed their second son, Jack Everett Adamson, about thirteen months later on October 16, 1922.[11] The family remained together in Rock Port until about 1926 or 1927 when they moved to Pawhuska, Oklahoma.[12]

Vern had shown an interest in the law and began reading the law.[13] Reading the law is an historic form of apprenticeship where people are able to work as lawyers without having attended law school.[14] Apprentices can work as lawyers as long as they work side-by-side with someone that is a member of the bar. The practice of reading the law was very popular in the 1920s and is currently making a comeback in the legal world. Although it was not necessary, Vern took courses at LaSalle University in the 1920s and was later admitted to the Missouri Bar on November 25, 1925.[15] Although Vern did not officially graduate high school, he was “graduated” by the Army during his enlistment in World War I.[16] Vern was approved to practice law in the state of Missouri and also worked as an attorney in Oklahoma and Texas.

While living in Oklahoma, Vern worked as the Director of the Abstract Department for Pawhuska Abstract & Title Company.[17] Vern continued his work as a lawyer in Pawhuska, but he and his wife Katharine were divorced on September 25, 1929.[18] Katharine was granted custody of their two children, Robert and Jack, in the divorce proceedings. After the divorce Vern moved to Dallas, Texas. The 1930 Census has Vern reporting that he was divorced and working as an attorney in Dallas.[19] Vern soon married his second wife, Gertrude, while he was living in Dallas.

Vern and Gertrude lived together in Dallas until their divorce on May 1, 1937.[20] The couple did not have any children together. Vern maintained his law career in Texas for a few years before meeting and marrying his third wife, Lucille. Vern and Lucille were married on April 22, 1936 in Texas.[21] Vern and Lucille lived together in Texas where Vern continued to pursue his law career. Life for the Adamson family dramatically changed in the early 1940s when Vern was disbarred. His family claims that he was disbarred for appearing intoxicated in court, but there doesn’t appear to be a written record of what happened.[22] Vern re-enlisted in the Army on February 16, 1942.[23] He was stationed at Ellington Field in Texas during the Second World War.[24] Vern Adamson was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and worked in the supply offices where he met the woman who would eventually become his fourth (and final) wife, Ruby M Worrell, a civilian working on base at the time.[25] Although Vern was still married to Lucille until July 8, 1944, it can be speculated that they were separated before then, as she did not move onto base with him and he was re-married just over a month after their divorce.

Vern was not drafted in World War II, but wanted to do his part and voluntarily enlisted. Vern’s two sons, Robert and Jack, enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor.[26] The Adamson family showed much dedication to the military and the United States during World War II.

Vern was discharged from the United States Army for the second time in 1944 at Camp Atterbury in Indiana.[27] Much like his initial enlistment, Vern had a story for why he was discharged. According to Vern, he was at the officers’ club, dancing with his future wife Ruby, when he fell. The fall resulted in Vern severely fracturing his hip and requiring surgery. Vern was moved to Camp Atterbury where he was honorably discharged. Although Vern did recover, the fall resulted in him having to use a crutch to walk for years afterwards.[28] Vern returned to Texas where he and Lucille finalized their divorce.[29] The July divorce paved the way for Vern’s final marriage to Ruby Worrell on August 29, 1944 in Englewood, Colorado.[30]

Vern, Ruby, and Ruby’s son, Robert O. Lindsey Jr., moved to Cortez, Colorado following the end of the war where Vern planned to pursue a business opportunity with a man he met while recovering from his fall.[31] The Adamson family later welcomed J.C. Adamson on August 10, 1947.[32] The family only stayed in Cortez for eleven months after J.C. was born before moving to Denver, Colorado.[33] Vern and his family lived in a hotel above a bar on Fairmount Drive in Denver for about a year once they moved to the city.[34] Vern worked a series of different jobs throughout the 1950s and 1960s, all the while remaining in Denver.

In about 1951, while the family was living on Pennsylvania Street, Vern was working as a supply school teacher at Lowry Air Force Base.[35] Vern had experience working in the supply offices during World War II, so that made him an ideal teacher for young cadets at the air force base. After working as a teacher for about a year, Vern switched jobs. He began working in the law field again, but this time at a firm at the Colorado Stock Yard as an accountant.[36] Vern left his job working at the stock yard around the year 1953—he soon began working as a credit manager for Arvada Dairy in Denver.[37] Vern worked with the dairy for about four or five years before leaving in about 1957.[38] Vern’s next job was working as an accountant for Tepper Plumbing in Denver—he stayed with the company for about a year.[39]

Vern also worked numerous private jobs while living in Denver.[40] Vern had this company he called “the consumers buyer” where he would order out of catalogues for people.[41] Vern also worked as a private tax attorney, filing taxes for friends and family from January to April each year.[42] Vern retired by the mid-sixties and remained living in Denver, Colorado.

In 1962, Vern injured his hip once again.[43] Vern had been walking with one crutch since his accident in 1944 and he fell once again, breaking the same hip. Vern was hospitalized for weeks and bedridden for months after the second break. Vern spent eight months recovering from his second fall and had to start using two crutches to walk.[44]

Vern Adamson passed away on June 2, 1980 in Denver, Colorado.[45] Vern was known as an intelligent man by those who knew him. He loved his country and deeply respected the U.S. military; he also had a passion for the law that could be traced back to his teenage years in Rock Port, Missouri.[46] Vern was a proud father and husband, and spent his life dedicated to military service and a legal career. He was a man who challenged traditional family norms of his time, and volunteered to serve his country not once, but twice.

Footnotes ↓

[1] “1900 United States Federal Census,” entry for Vern Adamson, Hamburg, Fremont County, Iowa, database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[2] “1910 United States Federal Census,” entry for Vern Adamson, Rock Port, Atchison County, Missouri database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[3] J.C. Adamson, interview one by Chloe Allison, July 18, 2018, DU VLP.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “Enlistment Record,” photo, Vern D Adamson.

[6] Adamson, interview one.

[7] “Honorable Discharge,” photo, Vern D Adamson.

[8] “1920 United States Federal Census,” entry for Vern D Adamson, Clay, Atchison County, Missouri, database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[9] “Iowa Marriage Records, 1880-1940,” entry for Vern D Adamson, Polk, Iowa, database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[10] “U.S. WWII Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940-1947,” entry for Robert Vern Adamson, Missouri, database, accessed July 19, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[11] “Jack Everett Adamson Obituary,” Find a Grave, http://findagrave.com.

[12] Adamson, interview one.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Sean Patrick Farrell, “The Lawyer’s Apprentice” The New York Times, July 30, 2014.

[15] “Circuit Court Record, Book 27, page 18,” photo.

[16] Adamson, interview one.

[17] Adamson, interview one.

[18] “Divorce Record in the District Court of Osage County, Oklahoma,” photo, Vern D. Adamson.

[19] “1930 United States Federal Census,” entry for Vern D Adamson, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[20] “Divorce Record in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas,” photo, Vern D. Adamson.

[21] Adamson, interview one.

[22] Ibid.

[23] “U.S WWII Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940-1947,” entry for Verne Dallas Adamson, Texas, database, accessed July 19, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[24] Adamson, interview one.

[25] Ibid.

[26] “Jack Everett Adamson Obituary,” Find a Grave, http://findagrave.com; Adamson, interview one.

[27] Adamson, interview one.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.; “Vern D. Adamson Obituary,” The Denver Post, June 6, 1980.

[31] Adamson, interview one.

[32] “U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1,” entry for J.C. Adamson, database, accessed July 19, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[33] Adamson, interview one.

[34] Ibid.

[35] “U.S. City Directories 1822-1995,” entry for Vern Adamson, database, accessed July 10, 2018, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com; Adamson, interview one.