The Orphan Train
By: Jake Ashenfelter
What is the Orphan Train?
The Orphan Train was a program from 1853-1929 that brought little boys and girls that did not have mommies or daddies and they brought them on a train to the West where they were put into a foster home.
Who were these Orphans?
Most Orphan Train riders were kids up to 18 years old that lived in New York City. Most of these children had little to no hope for success.
Fred Swedenburg
Fred Swedenburg first boarded The Orphan Train when he was six years old. Even though many girls were very unlucky, Fred was one of the children that did get lucky. Instead of being brought to a farm to work, he was brought to a family that welcomed him to become their son. Years later he was asked if he would have taken back going on the orphan train if he could, he said no because imagine being taken away from your family.
Charles Fredrick
Charles Fredrick was brought to a man named John Nelson. This man brought him to various farmers until a man named Lemmons picked him to come work for him. He worked hard for him, even being able to go to small school classes, until he was 17 when he ran away. He worked for different farmers after that until he met his wife and had children in Loves Park.
Mary Jane Baade
At the age of 2 and a half years old Mary was brought to the train station to meet her new family. Her brother Frank spotted her and they were brought together. She was brought to a place called St. Libory. She loved her mother and her brother. When she tried to get married at the age of 19, she found out where she was born and who her birth mother was. When she went searching for her she found her half-brother, Joseph. She went to knock on the door and her mother opened the door. However, her mother would never admit Mary Jane was her daughter. They sent letters to each other until her mother died 30 years later, she never admitted she was her mother.
Where did they come from/Where did they go?
Most Orphan Riders came from either New York or Boston.
Orphan Riders ended up in various different situations. They were taken West, where some of them were given the opportunity of having a loving family, but others were just forced to work.
How were orphan riders treated?
Depending on the situation, orphan riders were treated in different ways. Some riders were given a very good experience and were given shelter, food and a loving family. Others were basically treated like slaves and had to work for basic needs.