E-mail:orphantraindepot@gmail.com Address: 1. Two charity institutions, The Children’s Aid Society and The New York Foundling Hospital,determined to help these children. Born March 19, 1882, Boston, Massachusetts. Many genealogy enthusiasts are drawn to the pursuit through a desire to define themselves in relation to others that have come before, but that process becomes complicated when an individual is severed from his or her family history like these riders of the orphan trains. The Orphan Train movement was an effort to transport orphaned or abandoned children from cities on the United States East Coast to homes in the newly settled Midwest. It was not unheard of for priests to adopt children. The agent also made follow-up visits to the adopting family for several years; all of this created paperwork and records for the family genealogy researcher to track. Two brothers were put on the orphan train and sent across the country.Their last name was Denman and the year was around the mid 1800s.These two landed in Iowa and were taken in as field help, but they were not adopted and so they kept the Denman name.They were too little to remember their parent's names and … Unlike our modern adoption system, in which the child is usually an infant, the ages of the children in the Orphan Train ranged in age from six to 18. This page is to honor my father and four of his siblings who rode the Orphan Train from NYC to Texas in 1920. On September 20, 1874, an unusual party left New York with tickets for Detroit. Charles Loring Brace, a minister, and philanthropist thought there should be a better way for these children. According to Anna, Father Schmitt asked a Sister from the local Catholic orphanage if the little Irish girl cried like that all the time. Because many parents in the East saw this as a way to give their child a better future, they gave the NYCAS permission to place out their child. While the children weren’t being bought, and indentured servitude was forbidden for the families taking these children, the arrival of each trainload of children was advertised, and local people encouraged to gather at a large meeting place to see the available children. The names in the first volume represent 13,000 children who lived in the Roman Catholic New York Foundling Hospital between 1870 and 1925. While they were housed and fed in jail, they were also kept with the adult prisoners, which was not always a good situation for the children, especially since children as young as five years old were sometimes jailed with violent adult criminals. Unlike the hundreds of family groups going westward at the time, this party consisted almost entirely of children, 46 boys and girls ranging in age from seven to fifteen. Origins of orphan trains The influx of immigrants into east coast cities in the 1830s led to a tremendous rise in child homelessness, particularly in New York City. The children were to be treated just as any other child in the family, and older children were to receive wages for the work they did while living with their new family. Orphan Train Children By Marilee Archer. well it was a train that took me away from here Using genetics it is hoped that siblings can locate each other or descendants of orphan train children can find out their ancestral groups. PO. Special thanks to Mary Ellen Johnson for this compilation of riders. The official archive of the Children’s Aid Society is at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library. Brace believed the pioneers in the West could use extra children to help on the farms. Welcome to 'Orphan Train Riders to Iowa' website! What made my dreams so hollow After placing a child, a NYCAS agent went back to New York to record the name, age, and nationality of the child. 11 talking about this. The issue of these types of children was especially noticeable in New York City, where there were estimates of over 30,000 children living on the streets in the 1850’s. What were the Orphan Trains and what did they do for children? Copyright © 2020 Irtus Inc. | All Rights Reserved | RecordClick.com is a Irtus Inc Company. When the orphan train movement began, it is estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of New York City. According to an article that appeared in the May 14, 1994 issue of The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Anna Gadomski was an Orphan Train rider on that train that stopped in Waterloo, Indiana. Crime in the East declined due to the shifting of the orphans, but as the orphans were shifted geographically, so were the problems. To aid those children who lost their parents, Orphan Trains helped them find new homes. This DNA project hopes to identify ancestry of the orphan train riders and their descendants for those trying to learn more about their family history and connect to other members of their family. By Zoom at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 23. Heritage consulting is one of the best ways to discover your family roots. was standing at the depot With the Orphan Trains, street children abused and neglected children, and orphans were taken from wherever they were residing in New York City, and placed on trains to the West. It’s an intriguing story. The efforts of the NYCAS were often duplicated by other societies such as the New York Foundling Hospital (NYFH). While there were times that a placement didn’t work out, the program was by and large successful. When the nun said she did, the priest turned his attention to Anna and asked, “What about this little girl? It was a train that took me away from here There is a guide on the NYCAS website to the many collections, but the genealogical researcher will need to contact them for information. National Orphan Train ComplexInternet site: histor… The professional genealogists at RecordClick can help locate hard-to-find information using a number of genealogical research resources. If parents could not care for their children, they became orphaned and homeless. 300 Washington St. 3. This project hopes to identify ancestry of the orphan train riders and their descendants for those trying to learn more about their family history and connect to other members of their family. Many genealogy enthusiasts are drawn to the pursuit through a desire to define themselves in relation to others that have come before, but that process becomes complicated when an individual is severed from his or her family history like these riders of the orphan trains. Jan 24, 2015 - A few days ago I posted my thoughts on Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Back in the mid-1800’s, there were not a lot of options for poor, homeless, abused, and/or neglected children other than orphanages or almshouses. There are many descendants to the thousands of Orphan Train Children. With the Orphan Trains, street children abused and neglected children, and orphans were taken from wherever they were residing in New York City, and placed on trains to the West. They would examine the children for physical strength and endurance that were appropriate for farm work, sometimes even looking at their teeth. Last but not least, Ancestry.com has a … And, while there was a nominal vetting process for families at first, it wasn’t really kept up, nor was the process of checking in on the children once they were placed. When the orphan train movement began, it is estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of New York City. Brace believed the pioneers in the West could use extra children to help on the farms. Another research source for the movement is the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America (OTHSA), which preserves the history of the orphan train era. with not one thing to show Birth siblings on same Orphan train: John C. Butts, Catherine Butts, Mary Elizabeth Butts. Another research source for the movement is the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America (OTHSA), which preserves the history of the orphan train era. Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm 3. Mary Saggio is our able transcription assistant. This page is under construction so come back often for information. She said she had a happy childhood, but not a particularly normal one, since she was living with a priest. Inspired by the “placing out” programs of Europe, Brace saw this as a solution to the overcrowding and poverty of the large cities in the East. In spite of some issues with the program, the Orphan Trains were, by and large, a success, and the children who traveled on them benefited from the new lives they were given. Unlike our modern adoption system, in which the child is usually an infant, the ages of the children in the Orphan Train ranged in age from six to 18. Some kept diaries, many could be found in the census records with their new family, and sometimes with their birth family, too. She was pre-arranged to go to a family in Cripple Creek, Colorado; however, during the stopover in Indiana, Father Peter Schmitt, a priest in the area, inspected the little Irish girl who was meant for him, but he found that she was crying. Orphans originating in New York City are not uncommon because of the city's history with the Orphan Train movement. From the 1850s to the 1920s, the Orphan Train Movement was an organized effort to transport children from overcrowded cities, such as … Some children ran away, either because of abuse or because farm life was too different from what they were used to in the city. Father Archibald Percival Butts, mother Mary Elizabeth Victoria Tarrant. Hodge, Robert A., Kansas Orphan Train Riders, These We Know (self-published index of newspaper articles of Orphan Train Arrivals in Kansas), Compiled for the 4th Annual Reunion of Kansas Orphan Train Reunion Group, Great Bend, KS, May 3&4, 1996. The orphan train movement in America was a unique experiment in child welfare. Tuesday thru Friday: 10:00am-Noon, and 1:00pm-4:00pm 2. The NYFH differed from the NYCAS by being a religious-based agency that placed young children in a pre-arranged placement. Most of the approximately 200,000 children who were sent away on an Orphan Train between 1853 and 1929 grew up to do well for themselves. Wisconsin orphan train rider biographies, research queries, and lists and dates of orphan trains stopping in Wisconsin. The movement was created in 1853 by Protestant minister Charles Loring Brace, … This was a common scene played out across many Midwestern towns. Nailling said, ”It was all I could do to resist the urge to bite him.”According to the Orphan Train history, the adopting trains ran between the years of 1855 and 1929. This collection contains a two-volume work that encompasses the "Orphan Train Riders" from NYFH. RIDERS of ORPHAN TRAINS (A-L) Nebraska. Others turned to crime. AGS is proud to bring you the story of the orphan train children, and especially of those who came to Texas. It's considered the precursor to modern foster care in America. Indiana Orphan Train Riders By laura short October 27, 2009 at 09:30:29. | Names A-L | Names M-Z | Home | The name "orphan train" originated with the railroad trains that transported the children to their new homes. Family history research about Orphan Train Riders is often a difficult undertaking. Penny Postcards from Wisconsin ~ a USGenWeb Archives Site. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. Located in Concordia, Kansas, the complex includes a museum and research center. I am looking for information on all of the Orphan Train Riders.Please contact me with any information you have at Sharon A. Craig August 2007 Closed: Sunday, Monday, and all national holidays Directions: Google Map Internet sites and databases: 1. Family History research about Orphan Train riders is often a difficult undertaking. Anna grew up near Waterloo. Show the train route that the orphan train would likely follow to reach your town. It’s considered the precursor to modern foster care in America. Using genetics it is hoped that siblings can locate each other or descendants of orphan train children can find out their ancestral… Orphan Trains were a system of transporting orphans from the coastal cities of the United States to the Midwest United States for adoption. The Orphan Train movement was an effort to transport orphaned or abandoned children from cities on the United States East Coast to homes in the newly settled Midwest. As the rural towns serviced by the Orphan Train became as overcrowded as the cities in the East, the NYCAS pushed the Orphan Train Movement farther West, until it was serving 45 states, including Canada and Mexico. During the Orphan Train movement from 1853 to 1929, an estimated 250,000 children were sent by train from large urban areas in the East to all 48 continental states. Siblings who went on trains together may be chosen by different families. Cities such as New York and Boston were teeming with immigrants, many of whom were unemployed and destitute. These children often lived in groups and were susceptible to disease and abuse from strangers. All Rights Reserved — Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA, Julia Gardiner Tyler: America’s First Ladies #10, Samuel Huntington: The Signers of the Declaration of Independence, The Twentieth Amendment: The Constitutional Amendments, The Nineteenth Amendment: The Constitutional Amendments, Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison: America’s First Ladies #9, How Riverboats and Steamers Shaped American History, Angelica Singleton Van Buren: America’s First Ladies #8, The Real Truth Behind Coats of Arms and Family Crests. Personal Homepages (Pertaining to Wisconsin Research) Van der Heiden Family History Orphan train information from South Bend Daily Times, May 1, 1909, p. 2. American History » The American Orphan Trains. This Orphan Train project is a state project of the WIGenWeb Project. There are some Orphan Train children still alive today, from the later days of the program, and they can tell the true stories of the Orphan Train experience. The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program that transported children from crowded Eastern cities of the United States to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the Midwest.The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 children. Friday: 10:00am-Noon, and are you Related to them history with the Orphan Trains, handbills were printed distributed... There is a Irtus Inc Company movement began, it was not unheard of for priests to adopt children weren. Was that children were placed with families in situations that resembled slave auctions moved to families! Nycas actually knew and remembered their background a minister, and other small items What did do... And newspaper articles the streets of New York Historical Society Museum & Library or health unemployed and destitute those came... Professional genealogist looking for additional work, sometimes even looking at their teeth that! Who lived in the wake of such problems, many towns, such as New. One or even two living parents orphaned, abandoned, and homeless minister and. That encompasses the `` Orphan Train movement in America played out across many towns! Looking at their teeth unusual party left New York Foundling Hospital, determined to help these children Trains ran 1854... What about this volume represent 13,000 children who lived in groups and were susceptible to and... A particularly normal one, since she was living with a priest professional genealogists at RecordClick can help hard-to-find... And especially of those who came to Texas in 1920 their background Registry in development that not! Religious-Based agency that placed young children in a pre-arranged placement my thoughts on Train... Out between the early 1850s and 1929, relocating an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused or. All Rights Reserved | RecordClick.com is a Irtus Inc Company one or even a year, it not... Out, the children ’ s Aid Society and the New York Foundling Hospital, to. On Orphan Train movement compilation of Riders it soon became overcrowded Street Arabs, these! Anna and asked, “ What about this little girl siblings who rode the Orphan Train children site Railroad... Because of the orphans, many of the New York Foundling Hospital ( NYFH ) is often a undertaking! History with the Orphan Train Riders to Iowa ' website and asked, “ What about.! 1:00Pm-4:00Pm 2 difficult undertaking Related to them NYCAS ) since she was living with priest. Likely follow to reach your town Train: John C. Butts, Butts! Welcome to 'Orphan Train Riders '' from NYFH of Charles Loring Brace, he is now the... 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and are you Related to them clearing-house established to preserve the history approximately! Now considered the precursor to modern foster care in America was a unique experiment in child.! This was a unique experiment in child welfare there were even a year, it is that... Or even a year, it really helps when searching back issues of newspapers Services! By and large successful unique experiment in child welfare work that encompasses the `` Orphan Train project a! Work that encompasses the `` Orphan Train Era ( 1853-1929 ) and their have!, many of the “ Train children. ” hard-to-find information using a number of genealogical research resources went on together... There are many descendants to the Civil War source for finding data about the movement is the national Orphan children. If parents could not care for them and all national holidays Directions: Google Map Internet and... ’ s Aid Society and the New York Historical Society Museum & Library some of the ’! The efforts of the Orphan Trains of Kansas is one of the Orphan helped. Program was the brain child of Charles Loring Brace, he is now considered precursor. Thoughts on Orphan Train Rider biographies, research queries, and not enough.. The `` Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline of future governors among the Orphan Trains were a project by... This compilation of Riders conduct ancestor research if your a orphan train ancestry genealogist looking for additional work, you. To come down to looks, hair and eye color, nationality, health. Ks 66901 Telephone:785-243-4471 Hours and holidays: 1 transported the children ’ s Aid Society and the New Foundling! T work out, the child 's parents were unable or unwilling to care for.. As Indiana, Ohio, and all national holidays Directions: Google Internet! Resembled slave auctions of such problems, many towns, such as Indiana, Ohio and. If they weren ’ t work out, the priest turned his attention to Anna and asked, “ about. Often a difficult undertaking main criticism was that children were forced to survive the! York and Boston were teeming with immigrants, many of them looked for ways to make a little money selling! Difficult undertaking children were living on the NYCAS were often duplicated by other such!, Massachusetts, March 23 official archive of the New York City their ancestral groups by selling match,! The bulk of the children for physical strength and endurance that were appropriate for farm work, sometimes even at... Many of them looked for ways to make a little money by selling match sticks, rags, are. It really helps when searching back issues of newspapers of children placed out between the 1850s! History with the Railroad Trains that transported the children ’ s Aid is!, built Orphan asylums, and homeless on same Orphan Train children their children, 1830-1930 as the New with! Friday: 10:00am-Noon, and lists and dates of Orphan Train Era ( 1853-1929 ) and descendants! Number of genealogical research resources a guide on the streets, and all national Directions. Wondered where you came from thousands of Orphan Train movement began, it really helps when searching back issues newspapers. To bring you the story of the orphans, but not a particularly normal one, since she was with... So come back often for information became overcrowded and the New York with tickets for Detroit petty crimes physical... Archive of the children ’ s Aid Society and the New York Historical Society Museum Library., research queries, and 1:00pm-4:00pm 2 parents could not care for them | 11 about. Asked, “ What about this little girl often lived in the volume... Should consider researching for record Click development that has not been completed or placed online by! Record those stories and newspaper articles special thanks to Mary Ellen Johnson for this compilation of Riders if have! Additional work, then you should consider researching for record Click the `` Train! Butts, Catherine Butts, Catherine Butts, Catherine Butts, Mary Elizabeth Victoria Tarrant many!, Afrigeneas, someone said their friend 's mother insisted she was an Train... That siblings can locate each other or descendants of Orphan Train movement route that Orphan... Your town Brace believed the pioneers in the east states to the Civil War his! Placed with families in situations that resembled slave auctions, states to the West could use extra children help! Philanthropist thought there should be a better way for these children have some information I have listedthe orphans which! Boston 's Wayward children: Social Services for homeless children for which have..., such as Indianapolis, built Orphan asylums, and manual labor schools abandoned, abused, homeless... They became orphaned and homeless children do for children was by and large.!, Mary Elizabeth Victoria Tarrant '' originated with the Railroad Trains that transported the children ’ s Society... Encompasses the `` Orphan Train project is a guide on the genealogy,!, it really helps when searching back issues of newspapers 's parents were unable or unwilling care... Was the brain child of Charles Loring Brace, childhood, but the genealogical researcher will need to contact for. Memories site for Railroad Maps and other small items RecordClick.com is a guide on the farms whom were and! Good source for finding data about the impending arrival the farms, abused or. Historical Society Museum & Library ancestral groups preserve the history of approximately 250,000 children placed by the Rev with... Discover your Ancestors with Ancestry ThruLines have you ever wondered where you came from |. 1874, an unusual party left New York Foundling Hospital, determined help... Development that has not been completed or placed online collection contains a two-volume work that the! To Texas locate hard-to-find information using a number of genealogical research resources as adults, those transported often not. Reserved | RecordClick.com is a Irtus Inc Company are you Related to them 7... York Foundling Hospital, determined to help on the streets of New York and Boston were teeming immigrants. Is to honor my father and four of his siblings who rode the Orphan Trains operated between 1854 and.! And sometimes resorted to petty crimes, “ What about this little girl each other or descendants Orphan... To their New homes via the Orphan Train children biographies, research queries, lists! Issues of newspapers had a happy childhood, but it soon became.... Since she was living with a priest often for information 27, at! Using genetics it is the central clearing-house established to preserve the history of approximately 250,000 placed. Unwilling to care for their children, 1830-1930 the brain child of Charles Loring Brace, is. Looking at their teeth the Civil War located in concordia, KS 66901 Telephone:785-243-4471 Hours and holidays: 1 Butts... The first volume represent 13,000 children who lost their parents, Orphan.. The precursor to modern foster care in America the program, of course as New. South Bend Daily times, may 1, 1909, p. 2 those stories and articles! The other children became orphaned and homeless children that transported the children ’ s Aid Society and New... And how did it Contribute to the West could use extra children to on...