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Orphan Traiw Sisters Find G*>od Parents
In her letter to OTHSA, Margaret Braden tells the story of the Orphan Train ride that took both her and her sister to South Dakota.
“In 1914, my little sister and I came to Mitchell, SD by Orphan Train with 17 other orphans from New York City. They put us all on a big platform in some big building while people came from all around the countryside to pick out those of us that they wished to take home.
“I was four years old, and my sister was only two. Two lady-agents kept check on us. It was a nice train ride, and we were fed mustard and bread during the trip.
“There was no way anyone could have kept me from knowing that I had a sister, because I
ORPHAN STORY
remember the ride. We were separated when we were taken by two different families.
“I was taken to Parkston, SD while my sister’s adoptive family lived at Storla, SD. We both were fortunate to have been given to wonderful parents.
“The following year, my folks adopted a boy, one of the riders that came on the same train we did. He had been adopted into a family in Mitchell, SD, but it hadn’t worked out. His family asked the social worker to come and get him...he hadn’t worked out.
“He was brought to my folks in Parkston in hope they would keep him. They did.
“He is still living and resides in Corrville, WA. He was 79 in December of 1987, and I was 78 in January of 1988.
“When I was seven, our family moved to a ranch in Ree Heights, SD. We lived there for several years.
“I married a neighbor boy and rancher in 1927 We ran three ranches south of Ree Heights. We were married until his death in 1966. We had four wonderful sons and a little girl that passed away when she was only 18 months old.
“I attended a banquet for Orphan Train riders at O’Neil, NE many years ago. Sponsored by the Catholic Diocese in O’Neil, they received orphans from New York.
“My sister and I got to meet our real mother once when she came out by bus from New York. Neither of us could feel she was our real mother. My adoptive mother was a little jealous, thinking I’d switch my love from her to my biological mother, but that never happened.
“My sister always wanted to go back to New York for a visit, but I never did. She died of cancer at age 61, and is buried in Casper, WY. She had two sons from her first marriage.
“In 1971 I married an old school friend living in Sturgis, SD. His first wife had passed away in 1968.
“Several years ago, at Hill City, SD a movie about the Orphan Train was filmed. I visited the set a few times during the filming and found it very interesting.”
OTHSA and Margaret Braden would like to hear from other South Dakota orphan train riders. See mailing address on page one.
Minnesota Orphans Hold 28th Reunion
The 28th Annual Reunion of New York Foundling Orphans will be held on Sept. 8 and 9,
1988,	at the St. Francis Center, Little Falls, MN.
This is the eighth time this event will be hosted in Little Falls which invites all people who were sent out on Orphan Trains from the New York Foundling Hospital to various states.
Participation is expected from Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and North Dakota as well as other states. Past reunions have included persons from Michigan, Illinois, New York and Montana.
To register or obtain more information, write to: Sister Justina Bieganek, St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, MN 56345 or call 612-632-2981. Mary Buscher, 211 N. 3rd St, Breckinridge, MN 56520 will also be glad to send information. You can reach Mary by calling 218-643-4926.
Orphan Train Heritage Society of America Route 4, Box 565 Springdale, Arkansas 72764 Tel. (501) 751-7830 (evenings and weekends only)
Mary Ellen Johnson, Editor Ken Woodward, Artist
Newsletter published quarterly
Newsletter subscription rates — yearly.............$15.00
Newsletter individual copy rates — each............$ 4.00
This is a national organization founded to locate, document, and preserve information about the Orphan Train riders.
Membership information sent upon request.
Advertising information sent upon request.
____________________All rights reserved.___________________
Orphan Train Heritage Society 5