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Archiver > OREAR > 2006-08 > 1156768184


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Jack Orear - Locomotive Engineer
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 08:29:44 -0400


A short item from the AP in the Syracuse (NY) Herald -Journal of 5
Apr 1943 reported a train accident near Little Rock, Arkansas. This
involved collision between a passenger train and a troop train. The
story reported the death of the passenger train engineer, Jack
Orear. Does anyone know who he was and who his parents were? The
1930 Census of Little Rock, AR lists the family of Jack M. Orear
(54), Steam Railroad Loco. Engineer, born in Misssissippi and first
married at age 28.

The rest of the family include:
Adele (?) Orear, wife, age 53, born in Arkansas, first married at age 27
Gladys Orear, daughter, age 24, divorced, born in Arkansas, first
married at age 18
George Orear, son, age 21, single, born in Arkansas, dry-goods
salesman (unemployed)
Jocelyn (?) Orear, age 4yrs 3 mos, born in Arkansas.

I also found the WWII (1942) Draft Registration for Jack Maren Orear,
age 64, giving his birth as being 18 Sep 1879 in Melton,
Mississippi. At the time of the registration , his address was
Franklin, Arkansas. He also noted Claud Orear of Mulberry, Arkansas
as the one who would always know his address (next of kin not living
with him?). He prints his name without the apostrophe, but seems to
include it in the signature.

Since the age and residence in the 1930 census and the 1942 draft are
close enough, I believe this is the same person. However, I have
been unable to find him in the 1920 and earlier censuses. There are
some possibilities of the same person in 1880, 1900, and 1910 if the
enumerated name is not Jack but Jesse or some other name or just
initials. But even so, the match is suspect as the other family
members don't seem to match.

Can anyone help locate Jack Maren Orear in the earlier censuses
and/or whor his parents were?

Thanks -

Lee Hoffman/KY
TMG Tips: <http://www.tmgtips.com>;
My website: <http://www.tmgtips.com/lhoffman>;
A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)


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