2006 Missouri Orphan Train Reunion

On a Friday afternoon in the mid part of May people began gathering for the Fifteenth Annual Reunion of the Missouri Orphan
Train riders. Individuals from Kirksville, Jefferson City, and Trenton along with those from St. Joseph, MO, spend Friday evening
renewing friendships and making final preparations for the big day.

That day was May 20 and the place was St. Joseph, Missouri where Richard & Ruthie Pistole welcomed the riders,
descendents, and friends to Caring First Church.

Some took a tour in the morning of the Patee House museum and the Jesse James Home as additional people arrived from
the local area.

                                                            After lunch Evelyn Trickel introduced Elizabeth Wilde Daniel, who road an Orphan Train in the
                                                            early 1900’s. Evelyn also shared about the history of the Children’s Aid Society and the
                                                            Orphan trains.

                                                             Shirley Andrews told the experiences of her mother at the New York Foundling Hospital and
                                                              the Baby Trains.

A graduate of Truman College at Kirksville, MO, Lydia Hanson of Boonville, MO shared about her experience of preparing a class
assignment. She chooses to do it about the Orphan Trains. When the assignment was completed and presented to the
instructor, additional information was necessary as the instructor was not familiar with this part of American history.

Shirley Andrews interviewed Elizabeth Wilde Daniel. Elizabeth shared about her
experiences as an Orphan Train rider, changes that have taken place during the
94 years she has spent on this earth and how her faith in God has always brought
her through.

Several came looking for information regarding relatives.

                                                                    Jean Koenighain from Williamsburg, IA is looking for information about her
                                                                     grandfather, William “Bill” Wehner of New Columbia, MO. (May be Columbia, MO)
                                                                    William ‘s name was Joseph Navarro when he arrived in Missouri from the New York
                                                                     Foundling Hospital.

Mary Obermier of St. Joseph, MO is looking for information regarding Sophie Valentine (Seille) Obermier and Herman Julius
Selle. They rode an orphan train to Savannah, MO in 1908.

Donna Holt is searching for any information available regarding her father, Louis Lawson. Louis was born on April 17, 1897 in
New York City. He lived with his mother, Hilda Lawson, at the Mercy Home for Children in Brooklyn, NY in 1900.

If you have information regarding any of these please notify OTHSA.

Thus the 2006 reunion concludes, but plans are already in process for the 2007 to also be held in St. Joseph, MO.

Richard Pistole
St. Joseph, MO