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.]