Orphan Trains to Hamilton County, Iowa
This information was graciously provided by:
Iowa Orphan Train Research Center
Madonna M. Harms, Archivist
401 Broad Street
Rolfe, Iowa 50581-1101
e-mail: You may contact Madonna about a “rider”, but if doing so by snail mail, please send a self addressed stamped envelope for reply.
List of children to Hamilton County, Iowa
#1 6 weeks prior to 9 October 1890 ….. Late August 1890?
#2 October 9, 1890 -- 10 boys and 3 girls to Webster City
#3 November 20, 1890 – 11 boys and 4 girls to Webster City
Then, in a note from Crossroads Volume 12, page 6 it refers to a train going to Blairsburg, Iowa in 1885.
These children are in no particular order of date because there is no documenting of the date on their records.
Edward Doyle……………
Richard Doyle…………… Wilson
Robert Doyle…………….
Sadie Doyle………………
Wm. Arthur Doyle………
Belle Welch……………… Wientjes
Lillian Langern…………. Roop
Harry Bittner…………… Olmstead & Young
George Breckfeldt……… Witte & Angstrom
Chas. W. Helms………… Evans
Chas. J. Nolan………….. Tarrant
Alma Silverberg…………
Paul B. Forch…………… Fairchild
The names next to the children’s names have been sent here by people who are inquiring about the children and they think those persons took the child to raise.
The orphanages are reluctant to release information about the children. Most of them will do this for family members ONLY. However, this information is occasionally found in newspaper articles and/or census records and other public domain records.
Hamilton County, Iowa Newspaper Articles
Webster City Tribune -- 26 September 1890
BOYS WANTING HOMES
Another company of boys from the New York Childrens Aid Society, of New York, will arrive at Webster City, Ia. Thursday Oct. 9th, 1890, for the purpose of finding homes with the people of Hamilton county.
Boys will be placed in homes on the following conditions: Boys fifteen years old are expected to work till they are seventeen for their board and clothing. At the end of that time they are at liberty to make their own arrangements. Boys between twelve and fifteen are expected to work for their board and clothes till they are seventeen, but must be sent to school a part of each year. After that it is expected that they receive some wages.
Boys under twelve are expected to remain till they are eighteen, and must be treated by the applicants as their own children in the matter of schooling, clothing and training.
Should a removal become necessary it can be arranged through the Committee or by writing to the Agent.
The Society reserves the right of removing a boy for just cause.
All the expenses of transportation are paid by the society.
There will be a meeting at Smith’s rink, Thursday, October 9th 1890, at 2:30 P.M. for the distribution of the boys.
Those proposing to take one are requested to hand their names to one of the following gentlemen who will set on the committee: H. A. Crandall, B.F. Derr, Wesley Martin, R.J. Burleson, E.R. Lee, Webster City, and P.H. Dickman, Kamrar. E. Trott, Agent Children’s Aid Society, 21st Place, New York, N.Y.
Webster City Tribune -- Oct. 10, 1890
Mr. E. Trott agent of the Children’s Aid Society, of New York City, arrived in the city again yesterday with a party of ten boys and three girls for which he found good places in Hamilton county homes. There were over sixty applications filed with the committee and the probability is that he will bring another party here in about six weeks. They were, as was true of the little ones brought six weeks ago— a bright and well looking lot of children, and we hope they will receive tender care in their infancy and may grow up to be good and useful men and women in our county.
Webster City Tribune -- Nov. 14, 1890
BOYS WANTING HOMES
Another company of boys from the Children’s Aid Society of New York, will arrive at Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, Nov. 20th, 1890, for the purpose of finding homes with the people of Hamilton county. Boys will be placed in homes on the same conditions as before. All the expenses of transportation are paid by the society. There will be a meeting at Smith’s rink, Thursday, November 20th, at 2:30 P.M. for the distribution of the boys. Those proposing to take one are requested to hand their names to one of the following gentlemen, who will act as the committee: H.A. Crandall, B.F. Derr, Wesley Martin, E.R. Lee, Webster City, and P.H. Dickman, Kamrar.
E.Trott, Agent Children’s Aid Society, 24th St., Market Place, New York, N.Y.
Webster City Tribune -- 21 Nov. 1890
The third and last party of children from the Children’s Aid Society, of New York, arrived as advertised yesterday. There were four girls and eleven boys this time and no problem was experienced in finding good homes for them in our county.
Webster City Tribune – 21 November 1890
“Little Georgie”, the bright boy taken from the Children’s Aid Society of New York by August Witte, has been seriously ill during the past week, so much so that his life has been almost despaired of, but the best medical attendance now promises that his life will be spared.”
Webster City Freeman -- Wed. Nov. 26, 1890
“Four girls and eleven boys arrived in the city Thursday, from the Children’s Aid Society, of New York City, and with very little trouble found homes among Hamilton county people where they will all no doubt, be well cared for. This was the third and also the last company of children which will be sent to this place.”
Webster City Tribune -- November 28, 1890
“Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Roop are so well pleased with the little girl Lillian Langren, that they took recently from the Children’s Aid Society of New York, that they last week end took out adoption papers according to the law and the little Miss is now Lillian L. Roop.”
Webster City Tribune – September 18, 1891
“Mr. E. Trott of the Children’s Aid Society of New York City, has passed through here yesterday with a party of thirteen children for Dakota City, Ia.”