Orphan Trains

From: Before Today, A History of Holt County Nebraska, Centenial Edition
In 1912 the Omaha Bishop notified his Nebraska parishes that the New York Foundling Home was overcrowded and was looking for homes for some of its babies and small children. People in the Atkinson, O'Neil and Stuart areas responded generously and within a few months a train with three coaches filled to capacity with orphans left New York.

Some of these children had been orphaned by the sinking of the Titanic, some by the loss of both parents from other causes, others by the loss of the father, leaving the mother unable to provide for her family.

The children were cared for on the long journey by a priest and several nuns of the Sisters of Charity Order, operators of the orphanage. The children were placed in homes throughout the midwest, many in Nebraska, and twenty in Holt County. Each child wore an identification number pinned to his clothing, and when accepted by his new parents papers corresponding to the numbers were given to the adopting parents.

The following Holt County families adopted children: In the Atkinson area Mr. and Mrs Donat Seger took a boy, Ed, and a girl, Anna. . . .