George T. McNamee, 1854–1934

Born in Jefferson County, Missouri, on 20 January 1854, George T. McNamee was a son of George McNamee and Sarah Treanor, who were refugees of the Irish potato famine of the 1840s, having arrived from County Tyrone in May 1849.

George Junior attended the McNamee School, which had been founded by his father and ancestors. After graduation, he became a teacher there, and in 1876, he tutored in Byrnesville, Missouri.

In 1878, George moved to St. Louis to study law, but instead joined the police force as a patrolman. In 1882, he became a sergeant, then in 1898 a captain. He served in many locations around the city, including the Soulard, Wyoming, Magnolia, Page, North Market, and Carondelet districts. He was commander of the mounted police in Forest Park for many years. In 1885, he was credited with helping to arrest several dynamiters who had blown up four St. Louis street cars by placing “infernal machines” on the tracks [New York Times, 6 November 1885]. As captain, he raided and broke up gambling dens, such as the old Delmar race track in 1905.

After his retirement from active service in May 1921, George studied at Benton College and for five years was a special investigator for the police department at the municipal courts building. He was a member of the Police Veterans’ Association.

George owned land in Meramec Township, Jefferson County, and often visited his mother and friends there. Known to family as “the Captain,” he never married. For many years he boarded at 3016 7th Street in St. Louis. Later he lived with his sister, Mary Cradick, after she was widowed in 1892. George died on 30 December 1934 at his home in St. Louis, located at 4425 Forest Park Boulevard, survived by a sister and two brothers. George was buried in a family plot at St. Patrick of Armagh Cemetery located in Catawissa, Missouri.

(Sources include census records, city directories, death and cemetery records, land records, newspapers, obituaries, a passenger list, and a book, The McElmeels of Clogher.)

Written by John Sullivan
April 2017

© 2017, St. Louis Genealogical Society