William VanBuren Adams (1890 - 1965)

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Childhood 1.2 Military Service 1.3 Death & Burial 2 Notes 3 Sources

Biography

Genealogically Defined

Childhood

William was born on September 16, 1890, in Ethridge, Tennessee. He was the 1st son and 2nd child of William F. Adams and Rutha Mildred Emeline Rose. His father passed away during William's youth, before he was three years old.

During the 1900 census, William lived in rural District 2 of Lewis County, Tennessee with his mother, half-brother, and older sister and younger brother. He attended school with his sister and was in the third grade. The family was supported by his half-brother, Ambrose Dickey, who was employed as a heading turner for barrels.^[1]

Just four years later, William lost his mother and was subsequently raised by Ambrose alongside his siblings. By 1910, William was living with Ambrose's family on Shelbyville Road in Lawrence County, Tennessee. He worked as a farm laborer on the home farm.^[2]

Military Service

On June 5, 1917, William was registered for the World War I draft in Ethridge, Tennessee. He was employed as a farmer, owning his farm. He had nieces who were partially dependent on him and claimed exemption from the draft. William was single at the time, with medium stature and build. He had blue eyes and light hair.^[3]

On April 27, 1918, William was inducted into service in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, alongside his brother, Claude. He first trained with the 32nd Company, 8th Training Battalion, 156th Depot Brigade until May 25th, 1918. He then was transferred to the 317th Field Artillery, Battery E, where he remained until his discharge.

William was sent overseas to serve in France on August 7th, 1918, and remained there until June 8th, 1919. He was honorably discharged on June 15th, 1919.^[4]

Death & Burial

William passed away on December 25th, 1965. He was buried in the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.^[5]

Notes

• His military records list his date of birth as 1892/93

Sources

1. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 2, Lewis, Tennessee; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0060; FHL microfilm: 1241584
2. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Buffalo Road, Lawrence, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1509; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0083; FHL microfilm: 1375522
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
4. ↑ Smith, Graeme McGregor. World War Record of Ex-Soldiers of Lawrence County, State of Tennessee. 1917-1919. RG 36. Record of Ex-Soldiers in World War I, Tennessee Counties, 1917-1919. Record of Ex-Soldiers in World War I, Tennessee Counties, 1917-1919. Tennessee State Library and Archives.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #259351