John Robert Adams
Private, U.S. Army
303rd Trench Mortar Battery, 78th Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: November 3, 1918
Buried at: Plot G Row 36 Grave 32, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
Introduction
Private John Robert Adams was born in Canton, Ohio on September 29, 1892. When he registered for the draft in Camden, New Jersey in June of 1917 he was living at 614 Erie Street in North Camden. John R. Adams worked as a motor vehicle clerk at the Bell Telephone Company garage at 11th and Cambria Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the United States Army on April 26, 1918 at Camden.
According to the book Camden County in the Great War, Private Adams was a member of the 303rd Trench Mortar Battery, 78th Infantry Division, and was drafted and sent to Camp Dix on April 25, 1918. His unit sailed for overseas three weeks later.
Private Adams died of pneumonia on November 2, 1918 in a hospital in France. He was 26 years old, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Adams, a tool repairer at the Esterbrook Pen factory, of 614 Erie Street, Camden NJ.
World War I Draft Registration Card
World War I Draft Registration Card
Honor Roll
Camden County World War I Honor Roll
Fiancée Loses Suit for War Insurance
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Phila. Girl Sues Soldier’s Mother for Half of $10,000 on Strength of Letter
Firemen, in Answering False Alarm, Laugh at Youngster Using Box for Mail
Engaged to become the bride of John Robert Adams when he died in France from influenza while in service with the American Army, Miss Carrie Cessna, of Philadelphia, yesterday, in Camden Chancery Court, lost her claim for a portion of the $10,000 war insurance which the soldier had taken out. The suit was against the soldier’s mother, Mrs. Lillian Adams, of 644 Erie street, and was in the nature of an application to enforce a trust on the policy.
The trust claim was based on a letter sent by Adams to Miss Cessna while he was ill with influenza and which resulted in his death on November 13, 1918. Presented to court, this letter read as follows:
“I now carry $10,000 in my mother’s name, but I am unable to make a will. I wrote to mother and told her that if anything happens to me you get half of this amount. She will be perfectly willing that you have it, which you have every right in the world to claim.”
Mrs. Adams testified that she never received such a letter from her son. Dismissing the application, the court said that regulations of war insurance barred Miss Cessna from participating.