After choosing a group of five to thirty children averaging eight to twelve years of age, the agent coached them
on acceptable social behavior. The agent also helped furnish each child with two travel outfits and a set of
dress-up clothes."
"The agent transported children and baggage by streetcar to the train depot and, after boarding the train, took
over complete care of and responsibility for them. Preparing food, seeing to toilet needs, caring for sick children,
and giving comfort were some of the agent's chores on the journey, during which he or she got very little sleep."
"Some groups changed trains in Chicago or St. Louis, which meant that the agent had to make sure the trunks
and children were transferred. Sometimes accidents or train malfunctions caused delays. Older children,
trainmen, and other passengers were helpful at those times."
Source: Cobblestone, April 1998, by Doretta Watson
on acceptable social behavior. The agent also helped furnish each child with two travel outfits and a set of
dress-up clothes."
"The agent transported children and baggage by streetcar to the train depot and, after boarding the train, took
over complete care of and responsibility for them. Preparing food, seeing to toilet needs, caring for sick children,
and giving comfort were some of the agent's chores on the journey, during which he or she got very little sleep."
"Some groups changed trains in Chicago or St. Louis, which meant that the agent had to make sure the trunks
and children were transferred. Sometimes accidents or train malfunctions caused delays. Older children,
trainmen, and other passengers were helpful at those times."
Source: Cobblestone, April 1998, by Doretta Watson
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| Orphan Train Placing Agents |
The Children's Aid Society had a group of people they called "Western Placement
Agents". These were the people who were responsible to the care and placement of
the children. It was their job to select the children who would ride the trains, watch
over them on their journey, and eventually decide which family the child would be
placed with. It was also their responsibility to check on each child once a year, and
they children were to write to the Agent twice a year. This was the Children's Aid
Society's way of checking up on the children and making sure they were being taken
care of and not abused. Below you will find information on some of the Agents.
Agents". These were the people who were responsible to the care and placement of
the children. It was their job to select the children who would ride the trains, watch
over them on their journey, and eventually decide which family the child would be
placed with. It was also their responsibility to check on each child once a year, and
they children were to write to the Agent twice a year. This was the Children's Aid
Society's way of checking up on the children and making sure they were being taken
care of and not abused. Below you will find information on some of the Agents.
Alice Bogardus
"Frankie Korn had a hero. Her name was Miss Alice
Bogardus. In 1914, Miss Bogardus, an agent for the
Children's Aid Society, brought three-year-old Frankie
from New York City by train to a new home in
Nebraska. In the years that followed, she made annual
visits to Frankie and his parents. For more than eight
years, Frankie wrote letters to Miss Bogardus telling
her of the important events in his life. Her picture was
included with those of family. To Frankie, she was a
friend."
"Alice Bogardus and the many placing agents like her
were vitally important to the orphan train movement.
"Frankie Korn had a hero. Her name was Miss Alice
Bogardus. In 1914, Miss Bogardus, an agent for the
Children's Aid Society, brought three-year-old Frankie
from New York City by train to a new home in
Nebraska. In the years that followed, she made annual
visits to Frankie and his parents. For more than eight
years, Frankie wrote letters to Miss Bogardus telling
her of the important events in his life. Her picture was
included with those of family. To Frankie, she was a
friend."
"Alice Bogardus and the many placing agents like her
were vitally important to the orphan train movement.
Rev. Herman Devillo Clarke
Dates:: 11-26-1850ate of Death: 12-25-1928
Clarke worked for the Children's Aid Society in NY, the Children's Home in Cincinnati, OH,
and the Haskell Home for Orphan Children at Battle Creek, MI.
He married Anna M. Jennings on 9-17-1874. Clarke was a minister, musician, author, and
placer of orphans
Dates:: 11-26-1850ate of Death: 12-25-1928
Clarke worked for the Children's Aid Society in NY, the Children's Home in Cincinnati, OH,
and the Haskell Home for Orphan Children at Battle Creek, MI.
He married Anna M. Jennings on 9-17-1874. Clarke was a minister, musician, author, and
placer of orphans
Clara B. Comstock
On November 20, 1957, a luncheon honoring Miss Comstock was held. At that
time the Clara B. Comstock Fund, started with a gift of $1500.00 from a man she
had placed years earlier, and augmented by 46 additional gifts from others who
had been placed as children, was dedicated to assist needy boys and girls with
their education.
Enclosed is a typed copy of some notes made by the Director of our Foster Care
Services, who, incidentally, was our last Western Agent before organizing the
Boarding Home Department in New York City.
On November 20, 1957, a luncheon honoring Miss Comstock was held. At that
time the Clara B. Comstock Fund, started with a gift of $1500.00 from a man she
had placed years earlier, and augmented by 46 additional gifts from others who
had been placed as children, was dedicated to assist needy boys and girls with
their education.
Enclosed is a typed copy of some notes made by the Director of our Foster Care
Services, who, incidentally, was our last Western Agent before organizing the
Boarding Home Department in New York City.
EMPLOYMENT RECORD
Name: Comstock, Clara B. Date of Birth: 7-8-1879
Home Address: 21 Collier St., Hornell, N.Y. Telephone: 1606
Married or Single: Single
Date Branch Position
7/4/1903 Brace Farm Teacher
2/1911 Emigration Agent
5/1928 Home Finding Agent
Date Left: 6-30-1944 Retired
May 1, 1956 - Recalled from retirement for another one and a half years.
Reason for Leaving: Died 9-11-1963
Name: Comstock, Clara B. Date of Birth: 7-8-1879
Home Address: 21 Collier St., Hornell, N.Y. Telephone: 1606
Married or Single: Single
Date Branch Position
7/4/1903 Brace Farm Teacher
2/1911 Emigration Agent
5/1928 Home Finding Agent
Date Left: 6-30-1944 Retired
May 1, 1956 - Recalled from retirement for another one and a half years.
Reason for Leaving: Died 9-11-1963
Georgia Greenleaf
EMPLOYMENT RECORD
DOB: 3/18/1885
Address: 803 Wash St. Columbia, Mo.
Marriage Status: Single
EMPLOYMENT RECORD
DOB: 3/18/1885
Address: 803 Wash St. Columbia, Mo.
Marriage Status: Single
Date Branch Position
1928 Boarding House Inv. Intake Department
March-August Substitute
1931 Free Foster Homes, Agent [Missouri]
Field Section
1941 Free Foster Homes, Agent [Kansas and
Field Section Nebraska]
Date Left: 8/31/1947 Reason not listed
1928 Boarding House Inv. Intake Department
March-August Substitute
1931 Free Foster Homes, Agent [Missouri]
Field Section
1941 Free Foster Homes, Agent [Kansas and
Field Section Nebraska]
Date Left: 8/31/1947 Reason not listed
Letter from the wife of one of Georgia Greenleaf's placements.
G. G. (Georgia Greenleaf) was to me the replacement of the mother-in-law I never met. She treated our
children like grandchildren and my husband like a son, when things were rough. She had some of her social
work training at "Hull House." She kept her stories private between her and her "boys" and "girls." Even nieces
and nephews know nothing of her work.
She had an office on the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, for several years after she officially
retired. Her area was several states. I know for sure it included eastern Kansas.
She had a friend--a social worker she shared the load with--who was a victim of Alzheimer's disease before
her death. The name Margaret sticks in my mind, but not at all sure of it. I don't know how to go about
checking any of this.
G.G. had a sister (Mrs. Diffendurfer). Both are buried in Lebanon, Missouri, where she was born. At 85, G.G.
was still visiting friends in hospital--doing their laundry--running errands for all her OLDER friends (some were
younger than she was).
G.G. said very little about herself and we knew better than ask many personal questions. In later years, we left
a $15 or $20 credit at one of the local restaurants she favored--with instructions to let us get out of town
before they notified her. We knew she would protest--but also knew she wouldn't let the money go to waste.
We heard from mutual friends that when she took friends out for "desert" that she explained when she signed
the check that they were guests of "one of her boys." It got her out of the house and she got quite a bit of
pleasure out of it.
We named our oldest daughter, Georgia Louise Murphy (Bennett) after her. If she influenced her other
charges the way she did Pat (Francis), this old world is a lot better place because of her life. I know his mother
gave him life, but G.G. made life worth living and placed him where we met.
Sincerely,
Christine Murphy, Spouse of Rider Francis Murphy
Source: Orphan Trains to Missouri By Michael D. Patrick / Evelyn Goodrich Trickel, Page 58
G. G. (Georgia Greenleaf) was to me the replacement of the mother-in-law I never met. She treated our
children like grandchildren and my husband like a son, when things were rough. She had some of her social
work training at "Hull House." She kept her stories private between her and her "boys" and "girls." Even nieces
and nephews know nothing of her work.
She had an office on the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, for several years after she officially
retired. Her area was several states. I know for sure it included eastern Kansas.
She had a friend--a social worker she shared the load with--who was a victim of Alzheimer's disease before
her death. The name Margaret sticks in my mind, but not at all sure of it. I don't know how to go about
checking any of this.
G.G. had a sister (Mrs. Diffendurfer). Both are buried in Lebanon, Missouri, where she was born. At 85, G.G.
was still visiting friends in hospital--doing their laundry--running errands for all her OLDER friends (some were
younger than she was).
G.G. said very little about herself and we knew better than ask many personal questions. In later years, we left
a $15 or $20 credit at one of the local restaurants she favored--with instructions to let us get out of town
before they notified her. We knew she would protest--but also knew she wouldn't let the money go to waste.
We heard from mutual friends that when she took friends out for "desert" that she explained when she signed
the check that they were guests of "one of her boys." It got her out of the house and she got quite a bit of
pleasure out of it.
We named our oldest daughter, Georgia Louise Murphy (Bennett) after her. If she influenced her other
charges the way she did Pat (Francis), this old world is a lot better place because of her life. I know his mother
gave him life, but G.G. made life worth living and placed him where we met.
Sincerely,
Christine Murphy, Spouse of Rider Francis Murphy
Source: Orphan Trains to Missouri By Michael D. Patrick / Evelyn Goodrich Trickel, Page 58
Letter Written by CAS Agent Anna Laura Hill to Her Mother
Decorah, Iowa
April 2, 1913
Dear Mamma,
The days are slipping by so rapidly for me, but I presume you have been reading so much about the floods that
it has seemed a long time since you heard from me.
Alice wrote Mate on the way or I should have written before. We certainly had a strenuous trip. All went well until
we reached Cleveland and found that city about flooded; from there on to Fort Wayne we had an awful
experience. We went from Cleveland to Bellevue on the Nickel Plate, the railroad we were on from Buffalo.
There they pulled the train on a side track and said we would wait for orders and might be there for days, for all
reports that could be obtained from the West were very discouraging. We waited until two other trains came in
from the East, then we took on the passengers from these trains and proceeded westward, but over the
Baltimore and Ohio, for the Nickel Plate was washed out entirely west of Bellevue. While at Bellevue we could
see the men and boys going about town on rafts and many houses entirely surrounded by water. We were in
constant danger for twenty-six hours and such awful places that we went thru and over, submerged tracks,
water on both sides and terrible rivers. We crossed a river at midnight. They sent a work train and 200 workmen
ahead of us, they worked about two hours making the bridge more secure. They put in 8 carloads of rock and
sandbags, then took two engines, across, and then we went over. It was an anxious time for everyone on that
train, not a berth was occupied that night. I shall never forget the awful roar of that mighty torrent; just as we
were in the center there was a sudden jar. I closed my eyes, I couldn't look, for I thought it was all over and we
were going down.
But GOD continued to look after his helpless little ones and HE has in all the years of the past history of the
Children's Aid society. There was many a prayer offered that night on that train, and by men who had not
mentioned God's name before in many a day.
There were nine houses washed down next to the bridge that we could see distinctly thru the storm, for, to add
to the horror, the ground was covered with a heavy snow and a terrible sleet storm was falling accompanied by
a biting wind. In these houses were people whom the lifesavers were working desperately to rescue. There was
a lite in one house. Think what must have been the feelings of those people held prisoners in those awful
places. I hope I shall be spared witnessing such a scene again. The train crew were with us 26 hours with no
relief.
In all my experiences I have never seen train men that would talk about any trouble or accidents, but these men
were under such tension for so long they had to relieve themselves by talking with us.
Early that morning (Wednesday) the conductor brought me a paper and talked about it. He said,"Do you notice
how unnatural the atmosphere seems? There is something awful ahead of us." And I certainly thought of his
remark many times in the next twenty-four hours that followed. Just as we were ready to cross the worst river, he
came in and said,"We are going to try it now but GOD alone knows the results." We, of course, were a day late
getting to Decorah, but in spite of that we have done well, but roads are muddy, which makes the work slow. I
wrote to Mr. Brace from Chicago telling him about the flood. I had a letter from him today saying that my letter
was very thrilling and should be printed in Elmira's best paper. I didn't realize that I embroidered it any, but I had
just gotten out of it and that was rather fresh in my mind.
What do you hear from Harry? Was he in the flood? I have tried to go on the principle that "No news is good
news" and feel that is alright for I haven't heard a word from him for a long time. I thought I would hear from him
before this. I know you have been busy, but Bess could write.
Tell me what you did down at Burlington.
I shall be here over Sunday and then go to Kansas. We have taken a three-week-old baby born here and I do
not know yet what we will do with her. Will have to wait and help Mrs. Comstock out with it.
Don't forget that I now have a P.O. Box #26, Topeka, Kansas, and will have all mail forwarded from there.
Love to all, and write soon.
Anna Laura
Decorah, Iowa
April 2, 1913
Dear Mamma,
The days are slipping by so rapidly for me, but I presume you have been reading so much about the floods that
it has seemed a long time since you heard from me.
Alice wrote Mate on the way or I should have written before. We certainly had a strenuous trip. All went well until
we reached Cleveland and found that city about flooded; from there on to Fort Wayne we had an awful
experience. We went from Cleveland to Bellevue on the Nickel Plate, the railroad we were on from Buffalo.
There they pulled the train on a side track and said we would wait for orders and might be there for days, for all
reports that could be obtained from the West were very discouraging. We waited until two other trains came in
from the East, then we took on the passengers from these trains and proceeded westward, but over the
Baltimore and Ohio, for the Nickel Plate was washed out entirely west of Bellevue. While at Bellevue we could
see the men and boys going about town on rafts and many houses entirely surrounded by water. We were in
constant danger for twenty-six hours and such awful places that we went thru and over, submerged tracks,
water on both sides and terrible rivers. We crossed a river at midnight. They sent a work train and 200 workmen
ahead of us, they worked about two hours making the bridge more secure. They put in 8 carloads of rock and
sandbags, then took two engines, across, and then we went over. It was an anxious time for everyone on that
train, not a berth was occupied that night. I shall never forget the awful roar of that mighty torrent; just as we
were in the center there was a sudden jar. I closed my eyes, I couldn't look, for I thought it was all over and we
were going down.
But GOD continued to look after his helpless little ones and HE has in all the years of the past history of the
Children's Aid society. There was many a prayer offered that night on that train, and by men who had not
mentioned God's name before in many a day.
There were nine houses washed down next to the bridge that we could see distinctly thru the storm, for, to add
to the horror, the ground was covered with a heavy snow and a terrible sleet storm was falling accompanied by
a biting wind. In these houses were people whom the lifesavers were working desperately to rescue. There was
a lite in one house. Think what must have been the feelings of those people held prisoners in those awful
places. I hope I shall be spared witnessing such a scene again. The train crew were with us 26 hours with no
relief.
In all my experiences I have never seen train men that would talk about any trouble or accidents, but these men
were under such tension for so long they had to relieve themselves by talking with us.
Early that morning (Wednesday) the conductor brought me a paper and talked about it. He said,"Do you notice
how unnatural the atmosphere seems? There is something awful ahead of us." And I certainly thought of his
remark many times in the next twenty-four hours that followed. Just as we were ready to cross the worst river, he
came in and said,"We are going to try it now but GOD alone knows the results." We, of course, were a day late
getting to Decorah, but in spite of that we have done well, but roads are muddy, which makes the work slow. I
wrote to Mr. Brace from Chicago telling him about the flood. I had a letter from him today saying that my letter
was very thrilling and should be printed in Elmira's best paper. I didn't realize that I embroidered it any, but I had
just gotten out of it and that was rather fresh in my mind.
What do you hear from Harry? Was he in the flood? I have tried to go on the principle that "No news is good
news" and feel that is alright for I haven't heard a word from him for a long time. I thought I would hear from him
before this. I know you have been busy, but Bess could write.
Tell me what you did down at Burlington.
I shall be here over Sunday and then go to Kansas. We have taken a three-week-old baby born here and I do
not know yet what we will do with her. Will have to wait and help Mrs. Comstock out with it.
Don't forget that I now have a P.O. Box #26, Topeka, Kansas, and will have all mail forwarded from there.
Love to all, and write soon.
Anna Laura
Anna Laura Hill
Pictured in back center with a group of children she
was placing.
(Photo from the National Orphan Train Complex)
Pictured in back center with a group of children she
was placing.
(Photo from the National Orphan Train Complex)