Vernon Liden

This weeks prompt didn't particularly inspire me so I chose the only grandparent I haven't featured thus far. He's also the only one I have no memory of as he died when I was just 2 1/2.

Vernon J. Liden was born on July 30, 1917. He and his twin sister Virginia were the 5th and 6th children born to Laurence (AKA Laurentis) Leonard Liden and Mary Etta (DeGrasse) Liden. They had been preceded by a half sister Evelyn and 2 sisters, Olive and Ruth and 3 brothers, Victor, Lawrence, and Willard. All the boys had nicknames, Vernon was Dud, Victor was Bud, Lawrence was Tud, and Willard was Wid. Another brother, Lagie would follow in 1919 but he only lived a year, dying of pneumonia just days after his first birthday when Vernon was about 3. A sister, Rosemary was born in 1922. There is another birth record associated with this family, a girl born in 1922 named Franchion. As this is the same year Rose was born, I'm not sure of the validity of this listing. No other records mention this child.

Vernon first appears in the 1920 census at age 2 and 5 months. All the siblings mentioned above also appear (except Rosemary) Their father is listed as a prison guard at the county jail. I assume that is Cook County, as they lived in Chicago. The rented a home at 455 W. 80th Avenue.

an early photo of "the twins" Virginia and Vernon circa 1920

By 1930 the family had moved a short distance to 8662 S. Vincennes. Their father was then working as a Furniture mover for a Storage Company. At age 12 it is assumed that Vernon was still in school but the census does not indicate this. I have found no records of his education at this time.

The Liden Family circa 1930 - Vernon is on the far right.

  It's been told to me that the above picture was taken at an establishment owned by the O'Leary family. There's no indication anywhere that this is true. I do not have the original photograph to check for an inscription on the reverse.

 

1st Communion of  Virginia and Vernon

The date of Vernon's first communion is unknown. I estimate the picture above to be about 12-14 years of age, which would be around 1930-1932.


By 1940 the family had moved to 6613 S. Peoria. At age 23 Vernon was working as a machinist at a steel mill. The census indicates that he had completed 2 years of high school.

On May 12, 1941 Vernon Married Hazel Donovan. They were married at St. Leo the Great Parish in Chicago. Witnesses were Leo Sullivan and Lucille Duffy.

The U.S. entered WWII just months later. I have heard family stories that he was not drafted due to his job as a machinist. This does fit with the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 that was in effect until 1947. He would likely have been granted a II-B deferral "deferred in support of war production (War Industry Occupation)" or possibly III-B "because of dependents and employment in an occupation essential to the war effort."

Vernon and Hazel welcomed their 1st child, a daughter in 1942. She was followed by sons in 1944 and 1948. Vernon's mother passed away when he was 35 in 1953, she and his father were living in Missouri at that time. Vernon and Hazel welcomed their last child, another daughter in 1958. His father passed away later that same year while living in Harvard, Illinois. His brother Lawrence passed away in 1961.

Vernon died from a heart attack at age 56 on April 26 1974. He is buried next to his wife at St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.