I can't locate my grandfather Loman Mack on the 1910-1930 US censuses, help!

Question

My GF Loman Lambert Mack was born in 1898 in Caw Caw (St. Matthews), SC. He's on the 1900 census with his parents and siblings. His parents died when he was really young because he had no recollection of them and his sister helped raise him and his baby sister Delia (named after her grandmother). He was told his parents were Henry and Eve (Manigault) McDaniel/McDonald and the family surname was either McDaniel or McDonald but eventually changed to Mack.  His WWI Draft Registration Card had him living in Gaston, SC in 1917 and he was sent to France via the Madawska as a member of Co. F, 371st Infantry, 93rd Division on 15 Apr 1918. He fought in the Battle of Champagne and returned to the US aboard the Patricia on 5 Jul 1919.  I lost track of him until 10 Jun 1930 when I found him on a marriage license with his first wife in Clearwater, FL.  I was not able to find him on 1910, 1920, or 1930 censuses and need suggestions.  There is a family story that after the war, work was difficult to find and he went to GA to work on the railroad. Unfortunately, I haven't found any supporting documents.

Comments

I really do hope you mean grandfather.. that abbreviation does have a much more common meaning

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Noting when he started using “Mack” as his surname would be helpful.

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I wasn't aware of that for genealogy.  I thought GP, GM, GF were common genealogy abbreviations.  I'll make the change.

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I have no idea when they started using Mack but the earliest document I have with the Mack name is his WWI Draft Card dated 1917.

Answer 1

The date from the draft card is helpful.

I assume he had a Social Security number. You could do a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Social a Security Adminstration for a copy of his SS-5, or application for a social security number. It should name his parents. The FOIA request will cost about $20. This should verify who he thought his parents were.

Comments

I have his SS-5 and unfortunately, he listed his father as Henry Mack.