Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthSeptember 22, 1894
Place of BirthNorman, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinAlexander Adams, Dugdale, Minnesota, USA
Trade / CallingFarmer
Service Details
Regimental Number4069825
ForceAmerican Expeditionary Forces
Branch54th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, 3rd US Army
Address at EnlistmentDugdale, Minnesota, USA
Date of EnlistmentJuly 26, 1918
Age at Enlistment23
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJuly 27, 1952
Age at Death58
Buried AtGlen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park Cemetery, Livonia, Michigan, USA
PlotGarden of Rest (Block 2), Section # 631, Grave #1

Adams, Lester Alexander

Lester Alexander Adams and his twin sister Hester Isabel were born on 22 September 1894 in Norman, Ontario, a community now amalgamated with Kenora in northwestern Ontario. Their parents Alexander John Adams and Harriet Christie Farrell were both from Canada but likely married in 1883 in Minnesota, United States. Their first child, daughter Edith Electra was born in 1884 in Minnesota before the family moved to Norman where Alexander worked as a carpenter. Children born in Norman or nearby Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) were Cora May (1886), Reuben Lloyd (1888), Edna Lucy (1890), Harold Craig (1892), Lester and Hester, and Maude Harriet (1897). By the time of the 1900 US census the family was living in Dugdale in the Township of Tilden in Polk County, Minnesota where Alexander first worked as a carpenter and then later the family farmed. Children born in Minnesota after the move were Earl Douglas (1900), Robert Murray (1902), Alice Pearl (1904), Arthur Gerald (1906), and Allen Glen Ernest (1911).

Along with his brother Harold, Lester signed his WW1 Draft Registration card on 6 May 1917 in Tilden. Single, his residence was given as Dugdale and occupation as farming for CW Lawton in nearby Mentor. As a Private with Company E of the 54th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, 3rd US Army, he embarked for overseas from Newport News in Virginia aboard the Duca D’Aosta on 26 July. His father Alexander in Dugdale was given as next of kin on the passenger list. With the end of the war Lester returned to the US aboard the Artemis, arriving in Newport News on 26 June 1919. He was discharged from service on 7 July. Further details of his service are unknown.

Lester’s brother Harold served overseas with the 157th Infantry Regiment, returning to the US as a Corporal with the unit in April of 1919.

At the time of the 1920 US census Lester was living on the family farm with his parents and some of his siblings, occupation given as farm labourer. By the time of the 1930 census he was living in Melvindale, Michigan, boarding with brothers Arthur and Howard Abbott and working in an automobile factory. Also living in the household was widow Daisy Agnes Anderson, sister of Arthur and Howard. Born on 23 March 1896 in the Township of Grove Park in Polk, Minnesota, Daisy was the daughter of Howard Abbott and Dena Mary Farden. She had been married to Oscar Anderson and together the couple gave birth to two children, Harland and Dorothy, before his death. On 29 August 1932, in Melvindale, Lester and Daisy married.

At the time of the 1940 US census Lester and Daisy were living in Dearborn where Lester was working as a loading checker in an automobile factory. Another child had joined the family, son Glenn Arthur. Lester signed his WW2 Registration card on 27 April 1942, working at the time for Ford Motor Company.

Lester died on 27 July 1952 in Mizpah, Koochiching, Minnesota. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Daisy, the three grown children and their families, and siblings Cora May (John) Dukek (d 1962 in Fosston, MN), Robert Murray (d 1970 in Olympia, WA), Arthur Gerald (d 1973 in Skagit, WA), Earl Douglas (d 1976 in International Falls, MN), Maude Harriet (Forrest) Wilson (d 1978 in Olympia, WA), Alice Pearl (Donald) Schegel (d 1988 in Hoquiam, WA), and Allen Glen (1989 in Camas, WA). He was predeceased by his mother Harriet in 1931 and father Alexander in 1932, both interred in the Maple Bay Cemetery in Maple Bay, Polk in Minnesota. He was also predeceased by siblings Edith (William) Nephew (1934 in Fertile, MN), Hester Isabel (John) Morefield (1937 in Eugene, OR), Edna Lucy (George) Dukek (1944 in Grand Forks County, ND), and Reuben Lloyd (1950 in Dallas County, TX). Lester’s wife Daisy died on 12 September 1985 in Lane County in Oregon. Lester is interred in the Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan while Daisy is interred in the Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery in Eugene, Oregon.

By Judy Stockham

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