Orphan Trains
WHAT? and WHY?
Journey
This journey began in 1854 until 1929. The Big Apple used to be very over populated during the time the Great Depression kicked in.
The trains weren't really convenient in the beginning of transporting children due to the lack of money to fund the rides. However, towards the end of the 20th century, the trains became much nicer and even had sleeper carts'. This allowed the children to have a much more comfortable and hopefull journey to their new beginning.
WHY? WHat was the need too?
Orphan Train Riders?
These riders were:
- homeless
- had half-parents; parental death
- neglected and abandoned by parents
- overpopulation of NYC
- abusive family
The Adoption
Stories..by the riders
Charles Frederick
This story is about Charles Frederick (1888), this boy was on the Orphan train over 105 years ago. The boy was put into a wagon with many other children and sent down West, where they would go to new families. Frederick had a chance to go to school, with a lot of hard work. The Lennons, the family that took in Frederick, were not a warm family and there was never really any love. When Frederick was just 17 he ran away, Frederick son says,”He said he was going to the outhouse, but never came back.” After that Frederick worked for many different farmers around Shirland, Harrison, and Rockrod. Frederick got married and had a pretty good life, living in a house in Loves Park. While this different give Frederick a great childhood he was able to grow up and become something.
Fred (Engert) Swedenburg
This story is about Fred Swedenburg (1925). At the age of 6 young Swedenburg got off the train in Nebraska, where he would find his new family. Swedenburg was never officially adopted, however, he said he parents always tried him like he was their real son; even giving him an inheritance. Swedenburg was one of the lucky riders as his parents were very loving, unlike a lot of the riders. Swedenborg's brother was, also, just 20 miles away and he said,”We visited and got to play together just like you do with your cousins.” Swedenburg got to meet his real father once and said,”I never held anything against them.”
Anna
The first 15 years of Anna was spent on Staton Island, NY. She boarded the train to Kansas, where she wasn't "actually" adopted into the Kimmel family. At the age of 19, she was married to a young man -- having a divorce, three years after. Then, she married Joseph, later on, settling down in Topeka, KS. Anna, despite the first 22 years being bitter, her future was colorful. She married Williamston Keeton in 1918, living in Valley Falls, KS. She was a bright and enthusiastic person, fulfilling all her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She chose to bring the best out of her, despite her rough start.
Want to know more?
The End, Why?
- The period of the Great Depression started to kick in. Families were unable to feed another child, thus, chose to keep from taking children.
- New laws were kept in place to benefit the children it was difficult for the trains to carry children across states.
References
- http://www.kancoll.org/articles/orphans/orphan_t.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFkL-4tpRLk
- http://christinabakerkline.com/blog/my-next-novel/
- http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/about/history/orphan-trains
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/orphan/
- http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2007/novemberdecember/feature/lost-children-riders-the-orphan-train