December 2013: Orphan Trains to Missouri

This will be the thread for the December read, Orphan Trains to Missouri by Michael D. Patrick. We'll begin the discussion on December 9, so you'll have plenty of time to read this short book and still finish your early Christmas shopping!

I picked the book up this evening and read it in a single sitting. What an incredible story.

Good to hear, Sandy. I'll probably start it tomorrow.

My book is waiting at the library. I will probably be Monday before I can get there. Snow covered roads today and quick trip to Kansas City tomorrow for a birthday party. I'm looking forward to reading a short book!

I just started it. I didn't realize it but the Missouri Heritage series is written for adult new readers.

ETA: As Sandy said, once I got going, I read it in pretty much one sitting.

I read it and found it to be very interesting. As an interesting sideline, I found out where the term "Tinker" comes from. So I looked it up and also found out what a "Tinkers Dam" is.

I also finished it in one sitting, and I found it fascinating. I was not aware of this facet of Missouri history. For a small book that I expected would just tell a story, I found myself caught up in the moral dilemma. I kept unconsciously comparing the the goings-on with slavery, of all things, and it wasn't comfortable. It's wonderful that so many children found homes, but the original impetus seemed to be "Here are some kids who can help with your chores!" And the splitting up of siblings was just sad. Yet, it was a positive experience for so many of them, who were orphans and probably ended up with a better life than they would have had in a New York City orphanage. I was definitely torn.

And how sad to be in such a state where you have to take your children to an orphanage because you can't care for them. Although at least back then, there was a place to take them. Now, if you leave a child at a church or hospital, you'll be put in jail. Which is the better way to go? I'm not sure I know...

I was not expecting such a thought-provoking book from this choice!

I was aware of the orphan trains - as a general concept. I knew nothing about their history or how they operated. And I was surprised at how long they ran, and how recently they stopped running.

Terri, the moral dilemmas you mention bothered me, too. I'd like to know more. I appreciated that this small book was easy and quick to read, but I wish it had had more meat to it, if you know what I mean.

ETA - speaking of the original meaning of "tinker" - I was surprised to learn the original meaning of "double header"

My Mom's Mom (Grandma Loch) was born in New York, in 1890. Her parents had immigrated from Germany a few years earlier. Grandma Loch's Dad died a few of years later, leaving her Mom with no support. Grandma Loch was placed in a Orphanage.

I believe it was in 1904 Grandma Loch was baby sitting some kids on the General Slocum when it caught fire. She was one of the 300 some survivors with over 1000 dying in the fire.

With the above said, I found the book "Orphan Trains to Missouri" very enlightening. Grandma could very well have been on one of those trains, and her earlier life would have been very different and She probably would not have met and married my Grandpa with his Scottish heritage.

The Ohjai is my nick name for Old Jim, my son is JC.

Thanks for those interesting thoughts on Orphan Trains to Missouri. I read it in bed last night. Wow! I thought I was reading Dickens when I read about the gangs of homeless children in New York City. Like Sandy, I would have liked to know more. This seemed to be more anecdotal than a book based on statistics. I loved the stories, especially the happy ones. I guess the "agents" did as good a job as possible given the number of children to place. But those poor kids who were just used as farm labor broke my heart.

I thought the pictures added a lot to the book. I noticed some of the children were smiling. That's a good sign. They sure dressed them up well to get covered with coal dust from the trains. Good going, whoever picked this book! It was more than I was expecting, too.

I had mixed feelings about the orphan trains. Certainly, their lives back in New York would've been horrendous but, especially at first, it didn't seem like there was much oversight as to who was getting these kids. Some of the stories about how the orphans were treated were heart-wrenching.

Yet, there were plenty of success stories and many caring people involved.

I was amazed that this went on for over 70 years and I'd never heard of it before. I want to know more!!

Though the stories were told in simple, straightforward terms suited to the new readers, this was a good book.

Jim, that's fascinating information about your grandmother! I'm so glad you participated in this discussion--it's always valuable to have some kind of personal connection!

And just as an FYI, I was like you guys, wanting to know more, so I was looking on Amazon. I found a book called Orphan Trains: The Story of Charles Loring Brace and the Children He Saved and Failed by Stephen O'Connor. It's about 380 pages, and it's well-rated. I think I'm going to add it to our list (and get it for myself!). Any objections?

No objection from me - I'm adding it to my own wishlist and checking to see if the library has it.

I just ordered the book. When will we be reading it?

I recently got back involved in searching my families ancestry. I am finding it quite intriguing. While searching in Iowa, I found the following site that has some information on the Orphan Trains to Iowa.

http://iagenweb.org/history/orphans/

Enjoy

Here is an interesting story of one of the Iowa orphans.

Helen Marie Delaney

Des Moines Register 28 January 1982

TITANIC SURVIVOR DIES IN IOWA

The Register's Iowa News Service: COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. -


Helen Marie Delaney, one of the last survivors of the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic in 1912, died Tuesday night in a Council Bluffs hospital . She was 74.

Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. at St. Francis Worship Center here.

The fact that Miss Delaney was a survivor of the Titanic, which sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912, with a loss of 1,513 lives, was known to few people in Council Bluffs other than her physician, Dr. Emmet Mathiasen, and his wife, who were her close friends.

She was a very dear person. "She apparently discussed her early life with few people," Mrs. Mathisen said.

Mrs. Mathisen said Miss Delaney, a native of England, told the doctor she was four years old when she and her parents took passage on the Titanic. Her parents apparently died when the ship sank.

As Miss Delaney recounted it, Mrs. Mathisen said, after the Titanic struck the iceberg she was thrown overboard and was caught by someone in the water.

She was then placed in an orphanage in New York and came to Council Bluffs in an "orphan train" where she was adopted by Mr. & Mrs. James P. Delaney.

There are no immediate survivors.

Jim, that's an interesting story about an orphan train child. I wonder just how many of the mid-western states received these orphans? I know Kansas was another one. We're reading the book now and discussing - actually, most of us finished within a day of starting as it is very short. Feel free to add your comments here as soon as you've completed the book.

I have added "Orphan Trains to Missouri by Michael D. Patrick" to my library, and read it. This is the reason for my interest in the Orphan trains

When I mentioned ("I just ordered the book. When will we be reading it?") I was referring to "Orphan Trains: The Story of Charles Loring Brace and the Children He Saved and Failed by Stephen O'Connor". Mentioned in 12

Oh, sorry, my mistake. Terri (tloeffler) keeps a list of all the books any of us have suggested. Periodically, she has her son draw 3 titles from a hat and we vote on which we want to read. Usually the top two vote-getters are the next 2 group reads. After the current book, our next book should be in February. So, I imagine she will begin the selection process soon. If we keep to our recent habits, we'll read the group's first choice in February and the 2nd choice in April. Occasionally, a book is selected by general assent when there is a topic that is universally popular - as the orphan trains might prove to be.

Which reminds me--shall I have Keith draw from the hat so we can get ready for February? Or do we want to do the O'Connor book while the story is fresh in our minds?

And a Very Merry Missouri Christmas to all of you out there!

How about we put the O'Connor book on the ballot, plus 2 more from the hat?

Hello. I am a group laggard, and have used your list, reading some of the books but always too late to get into the discussions. Just wanted to say hi and thanks for this group. I've read Tomato Red and thought it was terrific -- and I would never have found this book if it hadn't been on your list. I did finish Orphan Trains to Missouri, but here it's already the end of January. I thought the book was carefully researched and showed a part of Missouri history that was very important and might otherwise be lost. I was amazed at the number of children who found a better life but lost family members and history in this effort, and even more amazed at the mention of the 2000 British children sent to Australia in a similar but certainly more tragic situation.

The stories and photos in the book really hit home with me -- most of the little girls had haircuts like photos of my mother, and the time period overlaps when she would have been that age. The kids' stories showed how random fate is, and how lack of luck and presence of luck can change everything utterly. The book had enough detail that the individual stories came through clearly.

Thanks again for this group and your list. I lived in Missouri for about 20 years and am now back in Illinois but still commute to Missouri for my day-job, and enjoy tremendously the state parks and wilder corners of the state. Learning about authors and history from Missouri is great.

I think we all feel the same way about a lot of the books we've read. We wouldn't have read them if not for this group. So feel free to share any of your book ideas with us!

This book sparked my interest in the subject (which I knew nothing about before), enough to research and find another book that may be more in depth, and which I believe we are reading for April!

Welcome to the group!