Journeys of the Forgotten: The Orphans of Hamilton County, Iowa

Forty-six orphans from New York City arrived in Hamilton County, Iowa in the fall of 1890. All were unnamed. The farmers expected all boys to labor in the fields; eleven girls arrived as well. The contrast between New York City and the rural farm life of Iowa couldn't be more stark. Contemporaneously labeled as Orphan Train Riders, in the 1800s this process was called out-placement. Thirty-five of the forty-six children have been identified and tied to their foster parents. Twelve have had their New York City parent(s) identified. Biographies of each identified orphan and analysis of the whole completes the work.