Gene,
I have just, in the last year or two, discovered the many on line city directories. When I was working on my N. Ky token book, names like Lefty, Nubby, Red, Butch etc. etc. would give me fits especially if they were out of the city limits, out in the rural areas. There was simply no listing. One source I found helpful was old school barber shops. If the barber had been around a long time he'd have names and places I couldn't get any where else. His info was head and shoulders above the rest, especially if the name was one of the odd nick names.