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Howard Hurd, Orphan Train Rider
In 1925, my brother Fred Swedenberg and I were removed from our home in upstate New York because of neglect. I was three and my brother was six.
We went to an orphanage and were later shipped to New York City and placed on a train with several other children and sent to the Midwest to live in a foster home. We were separated and went to different homes at Osceola, Nebraska. He was placed in Clarks Nebraska. I went to Stromsburg Nebraska. We both received good homes. We were lucky. Some children were not so lucky, as some were abused.
There were around 150,000 to 200,000 children who were dispersed in this fashion between 1854 and 1926. We are becoming extinct as all of us are now over the age of 75.
Howard Hurd 13 October 1921 - 17 January 2002
Howard Hurd died 17 January 2002, and will be sorely missed. We at the NEGenWeb will continue to carry on his mission, seeking riders, answering questions, and telling the stories of the riders. If you would like to contact his family
Or snail mail :
the family of Howard Hurd
1009 15th Street
Aurora, NE 68818
