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

by Jill Morelli

282 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2024

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that a genealogist or someone with an orphan train ancestor will love. Morelli did a tremendous amount of research on each of the orphans. She has analyzed all of the data that she accumulated and sumarized it for each of the orphans. It covers the identified orphans from the Children's Aid Society of NYC who arrived in Hamilton County, Iowa in the fall of 1890. Some of placements were successful and some weren't. She follows each one until the trail runs out.

The author has a website where people can check on what information if available on the orphans and they can contribute information.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1890 The Children’s Aid Society of New York took three groups of orphans (or half-orphans) to Hamilton County, Iowa. After discovering one of those children in a relative’s household, author Morelli wanted to learn more about the children. Through diligent research she identified 35 of the 46 Hamilton County orphans. Each has a biographical sketch, some more detailed than others, sometimes with ideas for additional research. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into these children’s lives.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brand new, just published (by the author at Amazon and of good quality despite being print-on-demand). It is a fascinating "case study." Actually, it is 35 case studies of orphans who rode the Orphan Train from New York to Hamilton County, Iowa, where they were fostered (in only one case was anyone adopted) by families there. Despite her excellent research, almost none of these orphans could have their birth parents identified.

While the individual stories are interesting, it is the accumulation of detail that can be quantified and produces the meat of the conclusion which asks was placement of these children with foster families successful? There is no single easy answer. It is complicated. Placement worked for some and not for others. Why? But you can't appreciate the assimilation of all that knowledge if you skip all the detail and read the end first.

Personally, I don't care how well meant this project was, I feel the Children's Aid Society did not think long enough about the possible outcomes. Sure, some farmers got extra help with the labor of running a farm...but what happens after the child grows up? And that is only one of the questions no one considered before the project was under way.

But you must read it and decide for yourself.