Help, I've hit a "brick wall"?

Question:

Help, I've hit a "brick wall"?

My great-grand mother was Carrie Harris and great-grandfather's name was either James or Oscar, *nickname Harry from Harris probably* two different censuses have a different first name, but same wife and kids, location. Carrie may also be a nickname... But her father was born in New York (state not city) and mother in Virginia. Oscar's parents were both from NYS (New York state, probably western ny). My problem for Oscar and Carrie is that I can't find out where they where from, Carrie's maiden name. I mostly just want to find out the names of their parents since I can't go back futher. Carrie was born in 1865 in Ohio, Oscar 1852 in NYS. I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could please help me with this, I've looked on familysearch.com and can't find anything and am relying on free resources due to financial constraints!

Additional Details

2 weeks ago
GenevievesMom, thanks for all the info, Kenerson was my grandfather and I was referring to the 1920 census which stated that "Oscar" had both parents from NY. My mother always told me his parents were from Canada and that she thought farther back that his mother's side may have come from Wales. They were protestants, but Kenerson converted to Roman Catholicism, and I believe his family did not take that very well and I know his sister never spoke to him again. His wife was Mary Hartman (well probably Thomas at the time of the marriage, she was married three times, I believe all three husbands died of cancer.) and his first wife Margaret died before 1950 when he married my grandmother. I've heard of Hattie, I think she died of a heart attack when she was only a young woman because she was a big lady. He also had a sister Frances and brother William (Bill). I've never heard of most of the other children. Can you possibly send me this 1900 census? It sound pretty interesting.

2 weeks ago
Also, I know they lived in Erie County, more specifically Tonawanda and Buffalo. I know James/Oscar was a boat builder, I think rowboats so I know GenevievesMom is correct about that, also I know Kenerson was in WWI and that he was a crane operator for many years. There have been stories of them owning a poultry farm in Franklinville, New York. James seems like a more likely name, since that name is very popular. Is there any possibility Kenerson and Vertner were the maiden names of James and Carries mothers? I've done internet searches on google and other search engines and those two names are often paired together, for example I seen a doctor in NY in the 1910's and his name was Kenerson Vertner and he worked in some hospital in WNY, and a guy that was listed as Vertner Kenerson and Kenerson Vertner who was a member of the infamous "Skull and Bones." I wonder if these people are somehow connected. I think they all were from the northeast USA.

2 weeks ago
GenevievesMom, also, I know where my grandfather was buried, it is in St. Francis Roman Catholic cemetery, which is extremely small and it is a parish cemetary and he is buried next to his first wife, so I already know his parents, brothers and sisters aren't there. :(

2 weeks ago
Cork County, Ireland has also been mentioned.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 2 weeks ago
GenevievesMom, thanks for all the info, Kenerson was my grandfather and I was referring to the 1920 census which stated that "Oscar" had both parents from NY. My mother always told me his parents were from Canada and that she thought farther back that his mother's side may have come from Wales. They were protestants, but Kenerson converted to Roman Catholicism, and I believe his family did not take that very well and I know his sister never spoke to him again. His wife was Mary Hartman (well probably Thomas at the time of the marriage, she was married three times, I believe all three husbands died of cancer.) and his first wife Margaret died before 1950 when he married my grandmother. I've heard of Hattie, I think she died of a heart attack when she was only a young woman because she was a big lady. He also had a sister Frances and brother William (Bill). I've never heard of most of the other children. Can you possibly send me this 1900 census? It sound pretty interesting.