My grandfather was JOHN McNAMARA. I believe he was born in Lexington,
Fayette Co KY on 30 Apr 1884; however, on various documents his birth
year is listed as 1874, 1883, 1884, 1885. His Social Security
application in 1936 states his parents are Frank (Francis?) McNamara and
Mary McCoy.
John was orphaned at an early age (between age 2-7), but I have been
unable to find marriage or death records for his parents in Kentucky.
He was raised by "Aunt Laura and Uncle Will" in the IN/OH area near
Richmond and Eaton, and left their home when he was about 19. I do not
know their surname!!
John McNamara died in Mobile AL on 17 Sep 1947. He was a locomotive
engineer with the L&N Railroad and I have obtained his personnel file
from the Railroad Retirement Board. He started to work for the L&N in
the Cincinnati Division in Dec 1907. I found him on city directories in
Cincinnati in 1906-09 and later in Covington KY in 1910 where he married
my grandmother, Lula May Franks, in March 1910. It is prior to 1906
that I have been unable to locate him or the couple who raised him.
I am trying to locate information about "Aunt Laura and Uncle Will" who
apparently raised my grandfather. Are they perhaps related to either
one of John's parents? I do not know why a small boy born in Lexington
KY would have been raised by a couple in IN/OH area. My grandfather did
not talk about his early life. The little info I have is: Uncle Will
was a wheat farmer whose property lay across the state line in both
Indiana and Ohio; and he lost a lot of money in the 'wheat bust' of the
late 1800s. Since Preble Co OH is adjacent to both Wayne Co and Union
Co in Indiana, I am hoping someone can help me.
I have been searching for any information on my grandfather for over 40
years. Would appreciate any help or suggestions. Thank you.
Barbara McNamara