The greatest children's migration in the history of the United States took place during the seventy-five years from 1854-1929. Orphan and impoverished children were transported from the overcrowded eastern cities to the vast midwestern farmlands. A young minister named Charles Loring Brace and the Children's Aid Society of New York City pioneered the "placing out movement" which sought to place deserving, healthy orphans into nurturing farm homes. There they would be welcomed and given a good upbringing in a proper moral setting. The Society specified that the children were to be housed, fed, clothed, educated and given religious training. Clarinda and dozens of other Iowa towns shared dramatically in these remarkable events which became known as the "Orphan Trains." Nearly 10,000 children found new homes in Iowa before the Depression and changing laws ended the migration.
Very little is known about the first Society placing out in this area. Willie "The Kid" Moran arrived in Clarinda in March of 1881. The 12 year old was placed with G. A. Miller where he worked on the farm for several years. Willie left the farm to travel in the far west, returning in 1897. Tragically, Willie spent the next seven years here in the State Hospital. His later life is unknown.
Sarah Hunt, (1894-1990) an Orphan Train Rider to Sidney, IA, in 1904, became the wife of Hal Maxwell and stepmother of Hollywood Actress Marilyn Maxwell. She was a Western Union Telegrapher in Clarinda for nineteen years.
An orphan train from the Children's Aid Society came to Clarinda December 15, 1922 with a precious cargo of twelve sleepy children led by Miss Clara Comstock, the Society's Agent for the state of Iowa. The Clarinda Herald reported that at the appointed time the children were taken to the Methodist Church to be introduced to an eager crowd. One little boy, asked why he came said "To find a mamma." Arthur Fields "was bundled up tightly to go to a home north of Clarinda," to the Worley Smith home on North Twelfth Street where he found a new brother, Cecil, and was later adopted.
The Colowski brothers were fortunate to find homes. Alexander (1916-1988) was adopted into the Harry Douthit family and was called Alexander Douthit. Walter (1918-1950) was adopted by the Roy Beavers family. He was called Harold R. Beavers, became an army captain and was killed in Korea.
The placements of some of the other children were temporary and little is known about them:
Howard Blizzard (6) and Ethel Blizzard (12) went to the Armstrong home near Blanchard.
Byron Stevens to the Schoonover's near Clearfield.
Mary and Anna Brodie to the Hoyt home in Clarinda.
James Leroy Smith to the Scroggs home in Clarinda.
Carrie Adams to Roy Baker's home west of Clarinda.
Isabel and Harry Adams to the Swanson home east of Stanton.
In 1987 Mary Ellen Johnson, established The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America, Inc., to gather and preserve the stories of orphan train riders nationwide. The Society is located at: 614 E. Emma Ave., Suite 115 Springdale, AR 72764-4634, Tel. (501) 756-2780
Presented as a memorial to the memory of these orphan train riders.
(Charity & Public Work) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
First white man in Wyoming.
Created in 1932 as 
The fortress structures of Fort Phoenix remaining today are the parapet, built before the Civil War, and the gunpowder magazine, completed in 1865. The Civil War era officer's quarters and barracks were destroyed by fire in 1918.
Inventor, pioneer in the field of aerodynamics, patented the "American Flying Machine" in 1877, served for 45 years as a Methodist Circuit Rider.
Known in the early 1900s as the tallest building in north Texas. Erected 1907 for the renowned Dr. Bacon Saunders, Dean of City Medical College; Chief Surgeon, Nine Railroads; acclaimed as a pioneer of medicine in Texas.
Seeking funds for a public library, local women asked the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, to donate "the price of a good cigar." He gave $50,000. With that and substantial local gifts, including land donated by Mrs. Sarah J. Jennings, the first city library opened on this site, 1901.
Gifford Pinchot Birthplace
Gifford Pinchot (1865 – 1946)was for more than 50 years a staunch advocate of forestry and conservation in the United States. He was born on this site on August 11, 1865 to James Wallace Pinchot and Mary Jane Eno; his maternal grandparents were natives of Simsbury. Gifford Pinchot was a founder and first president of the Society of American Foresters, served President Theodore Roosevelt as the first Chief of the USDA Forest Service, with his family helped establish the Yale School of Forestry, became Pennsylvania’s Commissioner of Forestry, was a principal in creating the National Association of State Foresters, and was a two-term Governor of Pennsylvania.
Dedication
On 6 October, 1863, Confederate forces raided Fort Williams. Union losses were 9 KIA, 26 WIA and 226 POW. Confederate losses were 1 KIA and 4 WIA.
