Abbott

ABBOTT, GRAY, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Peggy Webster Volunteere (email)
Date: 4/22/2014 at 15:12:12

VERL ABBOTT
By Verl Abbott

On May 18, 1924, in a modest farmhouse in Union County, Iowa, a pair of twins were born to Elmer and Sarah Abbot. The boys were named Verl Gale and Earl Dale. They had four older sisters and three older brothers. Brother Wayne was two years older, so they were more like triplets than twins. He always played with them because Franklin was 11 and Roland was 7 when they were born. They were always working on the farm. The younger brother boys stayed home with their mother. The four older sisters, Thelma, Dortha, Velta and Lucila, took good care of them.

The started school in Lincoln Township just northeast of Creston, Iowa. Verl and Earl were ten in 1934 when they moved to his grandfather's farm northeast of Greenfield. His grandpa's name of B. F. Abbott; the initials stood for Benjamin Franklin. He said he paid for his farm by raising cattle. It is estimated he owned 600 acres. In 1935 they moved to his mother's farm, an 80-acre tract, once owned by this grandpa, Hugh Gray Jr. They attended Grove Township No. 4 school. In 1942 Wayne, Earl, and Verl all graduated from Greenfield High School.

All three were drafted into the U.S. Army. Verl's induction date was May 17, 1943. They were all lucky to come home from the war in Europe. WWII in Europe sent Verl overseas to Portsmouth, England; Omaha Beach, France; Germany and Belgium. When it was over he was discharged December 24, 1945. He headed home to Greenfield. He had grown up, seen the world and wanted to go back to his roots and family.

Once back in Greenfield and back to the farm, Verl was reacquainted with a neighbor girl, Alnora Christensen, and they were married March 31, 1946. He farmed from 1947 to 1949. He has three living children: Yvonne Marlene; Genevieve Eleanor; and Dean Verl; and one stillborn daughter, Wilhamina Marie.

Verl was an ironworker for 29 years. He started in 1950 and retired in 1979. His hobbies included dancing, playing cards, fishing and spending time with his kids, ten grandkids and six great-grandkids. What a wonderful life! He had the best brothers any many could ask for; they really knew how to have fun. Wayne, Earl and Verl were inseparable. They lost Earl in 1985 to a heart attack. Verl lost his best buddy, his twin and his soul mate.

Verl now makes his home in Winterset.

Transcribed from: Adair County Iowa Sesquicentennial Edition 1851-2001
Pages 186-187