Madison County Orphan Train

Madison County

Orphan Train Riders

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This Page is dedicated to the children who arrived in Madison County aboard the Orphan Trains.
Hopefully the information found here will help those researching their ancestors that came to Nebraska on one of the infamous Orphan Trains.

Beginning sometime during 1853, charitable institutions in New York City began sending orphans on trains to the west to find new families, hoping the children would fare better out west than on the streets of New York. Orphan trains began arriving in Nebraska during 1854 ending about 1930. During this time over 3400 children were placed in Nebraska homes. Some of the children had pleasant experiences with their new adopted families and some did not. Some children remained in Madison County for the remainder of their lives and raised families while others moved on and lived out their lives in other places.

The below link, is a list of children brought to Madison county. If you know of anyone else who arrived in Madison county via
the Orphan Train please contact the county coordinator.

Madison Orphan Train Riders