The McNamee Family
Submitted by John and Judy Krug
Laura Morris was the oldest child of
a family of 5 half-orphans placed on an Orphan Train by the New
York Children's Aid Society of New York City. Laura's mother had
just died and the father was unable to care for 5 young children
so he turned them over to this agency with the understanding
that they were all to be placed in the same city and were not to
be legally adopted. Laura married George Washington McNamee and
they had 13 children. George and Laura farmed in Clark Twp, Tama
Co., Ia for most of their married life. The following news
article was in the Dysart Reporter in June 1941. It was taken at
the annual McNamee Family Reunion that has been held every year
on the 1st Sunday of June since 1923.
[click for larger picture] [caption] - Allaben Studio
Undoubtedly the largest family in north Tama County is that of
Mr. and Mrs. George McNamee, of Geneseo, pictured above at a
recent reunion of the family at the McNamee home. Mr. and Mrs.
McNamee have reared thirteen worthy children, all honest,
industrious, and good citizens. The McNamee family, from left to
right, is pictured as follows: Seated - Amor McNamee, Lorena
McNamee, Mrs. George McNamee, all of Dysart; Mrs. Helen Coats,
of Waterloo; and David McNamee, of Dysart. Standing - Mrs. Ruth
Krug, of Dysart; Mrs. Theone Magill, of Bloomingdale, Ind.; Mrs.
Jeanette Burrows, Mrs. Iola Whitmire, of Dysart; Gilson McNamee,
of Traer; Viola McNamee, Mrs. Ercell Bahr, Mrs. Mary Jane Krug
and Namon McNamee, of Dysart. Mrs. Whitmore and Viola McNamee
are twins.
[note: Geneseo must have been an unincorporated village in
Geneseo Township, in the NW corner of Tama County.]
