The earlier the info in a person's life, the better the chances that it will be accurate. - Not as much to cover up the younger one is. As some people get older, they sometimes close doors on parts of their lives.
Have you tried tracing the parents listed in census data in 1910 and 1920? Remember that in that era prejudices were often stronger re certain situations and some situations were often apt to be covered up- illegitimacy, racial intermarriage, even certain illnesses.
If you find even one parent is accurate - more often the mother- and you can find her relatives or descendents, often a story of what happened to someone in the family has been passed down. Good luck.