An 1870 "Orphan Train" visit to Chariton

The Children's Aid Society of New York City, founded in 1853 and still operating as a childrens and family services nonprofit in 2020, placed more than 200,000 abandoned, orphaned or neglected children in homes across America between the year of its founding and 1929, when what came to be known as the "orphan train" strategy was discontinued.

The earliest visit to Chariton that I've come across occurred during early November of 1870 and was promoted with the following story, published in consecutive late October editions of The Chariton Democrat:

"A company of boys from the children's aid society of New York, will arrive at Chariton, Iowa, November 4th 1870. All interested in this work of charity are earnestly requested to assist the agent in placing them in homes with the farmers and others living in this vicinity. Those proposing to make applications for children are expected to provide themselves with satisfactory recommendations. The meeting for the distribution of the children will be held at the Presbyterian Church, Friday, November 4th 1870 at 10-1/2 O'clock a.m. The terms upon which the children will be placed in homes will be stated at the meeting, and cannot fail to be satisfactory. The following gentlemen from the committee of reference are now prepared to receive the names of applicants.

"(Signed,) Rev. D.S. Tappen, Robert Coles, D.D. Waynick, Rev. S. Guyer, N.B. Gardner, Thomas Brown, G.W. Blake.

"J.P. Brace, agent children's aid society, No. 19 east 4th street, New York."

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A follow-up story was published in The Democrat of Nov. 8, but no names were given so we do not know with whom these children were placed:

"CHILDREN ARRIVED: On Friday last, a company of fifteen boys and one girl arrived here from New York City, under the auspices of the Children's Aid Society of New York. They were all furnished with parents and good homes."

A brief "filler" paragraph in The Democrat of Dec. 10, 1870, reported that the Children's Aid Society had placed 2,357 children in the West during 1870 at an average expense of $15 each. Since its founding in 1853, the report continued, more than 18,000 children had been placed.