[Genealib] orphan trains

[Mara Munroe]

Identifying Orphan train riders through Ancestry (tm)

 

An Oshkosh Public library patron question about a child who came to
Wisconsin on a Catholic-sponsored orphan train led to an experiment with
the searching capabilities of Ancestry LE.   A newspaper article from
March, 1894 said that over 50 children "brought from the orphan asylums
of New York" had been adopted by the people of St. Mary's Catholic
parish, including the priest, within the last year.  To locate these
children, we searched the 1900 census for anyone in the City of Oshkosh
born in New York with birthdate 1890, plus or minus 5 years.  We got 45
hits, some of which were obvious mistakes in reading the census: 1835
read as 1885, for instance, despite being head of household.  But we
were able to identify 13 children born in the late 1880s or in 1890 for
whom birthplace was New York, and parents' birthplaces were unknown.  In
all cases they were using the last name of the adopting family.  Family
members and obits have confirmed several of these people as being orphan
train riders.  The child who was the focus of the original question was
among the adoptees located by this search. 

 

 

Mara B. Munroe

Local and Family History Librarian

Oshkosh Public Library

Oshkosh WI 54901-4985

 

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Miranda Van
Horn
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 1:52 PM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: [Genealib] orphan trains

 

I know i've seen comments/questions on the orphan trains on this list.
Must be in the archives. I'm helping a person who is starting her
research of this orphan placement. Is there a way to search the archives
besides going into each month or am I missing something? (Wouldn't be
the first time and won't be the .....)

Appears to me that a most fruitful site to recommend is the Orphan Train
Heritage Society of America.  Heard of anything better lately?

Miranda

Miranda Van Horn 
Reference Librarian 

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