In the year 1906, the big cities loaded up hundreds of orphans that were wandering the streets and byways and took them by train "out west' for adoption. The train stopped in Hopkinton and shown at left are some of the orphans who called Hopkinton their home after their adoption by area families.

The Hopkinton, Iowa Company of March 15, 1906. Agents H. D. Clarke and Anna Laura Hill are in back. Miss Hill is holding Bernice Lindergren. The girl in back center is Kathleen Marie Belt. Center row, left to right Alfred Bauman, Amy Calhoun, Joseph Rowland, Ira Rowland, and Gertrude Perry. Child on front left is Samuel Orr. Emily Reese is assent as she was placed in Chicago on the way out. Photo taken in Hopkinton, Iowa

Hopkinton, IA 15 Mar 1906. Children placed were: Alfred Bauman (placed with Matt Pierce), Kathleen Marie Belt, Amy Calhoun (placed with W. E. Doane), William Faust, Bernice Lindergren (placed with E. M. Ferguson), Gertrude Perry (placed with Samuel Orr), Emily Reese (placed with Mr. and Mrs. C. U. Parker in Chicago and replaced several times later), Ira Rowland (placed with A. D. LeClere)and Joseph Rowland (placed with Ben Kurth).

These photo comes from "ORPHAN TRAINS & THEIR SPECIAL CARGO: The Life's Work of Rev. H. D. Clark" by Clark Kidder and is put here with his permission.