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A
Brief History of the Orphan
Train Riders
Our developing history of America deals with the rapid influx
of immigrants to our country that over-whelmed our ports. We
were not prepared with homes, schools, food, medical care and
the needs of people who were arriving by boatloads.
Eventually children of all ages were left to roam the streets,
turning to any source for food, shelter and clothing. They
obtained the basic needs of life by any means they could find
such as singing on street corners or in bars, shinning shoes
selling newspapers or flowers. While some ventured into the life
of crime and were taken to jail.
Not all children were full orphans. Some had one or both parents
living but they could not supply the needs of the child.
Therefore, the parent turned them over to the various orphanages
that were being supplied by the city.
Numerous orphanages, both public and private, were established.
While most of them were 'Christian' by nature, some were opened
for specific ethnic or religious groups. And many are still in
business today.
There are too many to acknowledge so those listed here are the
five major facilities that brought babies, small children and
young adults to Iowa:
Home For Wayward Children opened in Boston, MA. In 1849.
The Baldwin Home for Little Wanderers opened in Boston, MA. In
1850.
Opened in 1851, The New York Juvenile Asylum merged with the
Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Rev Charles Loring Brace began the New York Children's Aid
Society and is still in business today. Rev. Brace initiated the
"Placing out" system because he felt that to confine a child
would undermine their development. And so, he established trade
schools to provide working skills to be useful in a chosen
occupation or at their new home.
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul opened the New York
Foundling Hospital (Home) with $5.00 and an empty building in
1869. Their main concern was the infant, the mother, and a
Catholic up bringing. However, they also welcomed children of
every race, color and creed and still take care of numerous
children every year. Children from this facility were
pre-arranged for through the local Catholic priest in the city
where they were taken and they were most likely to be the ones
that were adopted.
Police and ministers did their best to attend to the needs of
the most sick, hungry or abused child they found and they did
their best to find the parent(s). When this was not successful
they took them to shelters, alms-houses or orphanages.
Upon arrival at the orphanages they were fed, bathed, checked
for medical needs and, if known, information was recorded in
ledgers such as age, date of birth, parents names, place of
birth, etc. Some records were well kept while others are scant
or missing. They were assigned places to sleep and chairs in the
dining room. Those with apparent diseases were placed in an
infirmary or away from the others until they were well.
Life went on from there with Agents and assistants caring for
the well being of the residents. The personality, intelligence
and other factors were closely monitored because eventually the
child would become a member of a new family where these
attributes would have a great bearing on stability in their new
home.
Railroads to Iowa began in the early 1850's to and through
Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa. The trips were planned for groups
of 10-50 children along with their Agent(s) to arrive on Friday
from New York. The Boston groups left on Sunday noon and the New
York group left at noon on Tuesdays.
Children of all ages were chosen for the trip with the older
ones helping the Agents take care of the younger ones. They came
first in boxcars and later in Pullman cars. They were usually
loaded first due to the large amount of luggage and food
supplies needed for the long journey. When they were safely
loaded on the train with their coats and lunches stored away,
the Agents set aside dress clothes to be worn upon arrival at
their destination.
A change of trains and perhaps depots was done in Chicago, ILL.
Once loaded and settled the clatter of wheels on the tracks,
along with the rocking motion of the train soon lulled the
children to sleep and for the most part they all arrived in good
condition.
Present records show that there were 8 Agents who brought groups
to Iowa. There is currently no known list of Catholic nuns but
they did accompany their groups as well.
| Mr. H. D. Clarke |
Miss Clara B. Comstock |
Mr. Robert Curran |
Mr. Charles Frye |
| Miss Annie Laura Hill |
Mr. E. E. Trott |
Mr. J. W. Shields |
Mr. E. Wright. |
In 1910 Mr. Wright had recorded 119 trips West and this same
number, more or less, occurred in the lives of the others as
well.
In the early years when they arrived at the depot they were
escorted by livery wagons or in good weather they all walked to
the hotel or church to get washed up and changed clothes. Then
they were ready to be seen by the folks who had gathered to view
them and perhaps take one home with them. Sometimes the children
sang songs, recited poems or simply visited with the crowd.
When a child was chosen by a family then the Agent and the head
of the household signed an agreement that they were willing to
take full responsibility for the care of the child until it
reached adulthood. It included attending church, school, food,
clothing and any needs of the child. There was no cost to the
family nor were they paid for the care of the child. This could
be reversed at any time should a grievance occur between the
child and family occur. Siblings were usually separated at this
time as couples wanted only one child or perhaps two. They were
sometimes located in the same city or a city nearby.
Catholic orphanages traveled to pre-planned destinations because
local citizens had already applied for a specific age and
appearance of a child. This was accomplished through the local
priest and the local priest sent the applications to orphanage
after approval of the home. These requests were followed as
closely as possible. A number was assigned to the request and
the same number was sewn onto the hem of the dress of a girl and
the inside of the jacket of a boy. A notice was sent to the
couple about when and where the child would arrive. These
children were most usually adopted by the couple because they
were so young. Older children were also placed out by Catholic
orphanages.
At a later time an Agent went to the home to see a child and the
family and determine if everything was going well. If not, then
the child was removed to another home. It is said that some
orphanages encouraged the children to write letters to the
orphanage about their progress and copies of these may be in the
child's file at the orphanage.
Research shows that very few adoptions or placements failed
which speaks well for the families in Iowa. Farmers and
merchants were in great need for assistance in the growing years
of Iowa's development. Here at the Research Center are records
of children all across Iowa, hardly a county or city has not
been touched by the lives of the orphans. They were either
brought to or lived in each community across the state.
Much can be said for and against this method of obtaining homes,
the up bringing of the child and it's affect upon them. However,
if you are ever privileged to be in the presence of an Orphan
Train Rider and hear about their journey they are pleased with
the outcome.
Protestant "Orphan Trains" and Catholic "Mercy Trains" or "Baby
Cars" have long since made their final trips to the West but
their legacy lives on in the hearts of those they carried to
their new homes and lives.
Copyright 2001-2017 Madonna Harms and Nettie Mae Lucas |
