Searching for Home by Martha Nelson Vogt & Christina Vogt

A week ago, I read and reviewed "The Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline and you can read that review H.E.R.E. The next sale-ing day for us I found "Searching for Home" by a mother and daughter team, Martha Nelson Vogt & Christina Vogt. This is the true story of that time in American history and as so often happens, I found it more interesting than the fiction.

"I will never forget my children. I have carved you on the palm of my hand." Isaiah 49 "The best adventure stories often turn out to be real life, more gripping, touching, and life-changing than any other kind. This book -- "the one that started it all" -- is the only true narrative of three families of orphan train children: orphaned, half-orphaned, and abandoned, creating a unique microcosm of the long-hidden story of Orphan Trains. From 1853 to 1929, nearly 100,000 children were brought from the East to small towns and farms in the Midwest. Yet nothing about this segment of American history has been captured from those who experienced it until "Searching for Home" was first published in 1979. This book has timeless appeal, for it shows lessons of overcoming adversity, of forging new family life, and examples of courage, character, love and commitment. Six years of primary research from these families, neighbors, friends, and other sources resulted in this unique touching family story and historic document. "Searching for Home" is a tribute to the human spirit, for it shows even young people working to survive, to fit in, to be loved, in new surroundings, and among strange faces and accents. The story also reveals the faith that many of these children found, to strengthen them in the hardest times and make their sense of belonging complete." (From the back cover)

The mother and daughter team Martha Nelson Vogt and Christina Vogt did a wonderful job of letting us understand better the attitude from all sides of the orphan trains. The orphans, the families who took them in, the communities in which they became a part of.  100,000 children are a lot of young ones to bring into the mid west and find homes for but Anna Hill and the Children's Aid Society did the best they could in placing these children in good homes.

The Vogt's have told the true stories of three families of children who rode the orphan trains, the adjustments that had to be made in their lives and the lives of the families who took them in. This 75 year period of American history should not be lost. We need to make sure our children and grandchildren learn about it. 

After reading "The Orphan Train" (fiction)  - which I greatly enjoyed, this book just seemed to add the extra ingredients. Interviews with real people that lived through this. A few pictures - all in all a very good book that I highly recommend.  

I did begin to get characters confused and suggest you make a list of the orphans - their brothers and sisters and the families with whom they were placed. - Unless of course you do better at keeping people and places straight!!

I was impressed with the Kansas modern educational system in 1911. After Bill and Ida met their new parents, they were shown where they would go to school. 

" 'We are unifying the country school districts. You'll be going to Union 5 - one of the three best in this area...' she (their new mother) pointed to a two-story brick building surrounded by a large playground. 'A team of horses and a wagon called the 'kid hack' will pick you up at the end of our lane.' This school also had a bathroom inside the building!"

"The authors Martha Pat Nelson Vogt and Christian Lynne Vogt are Mother and daughter. Pat is a retired journalist, editor and feature writer for newspapers and magazines in KS, NE, and MI. She holds a degree in Humanities from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI.  Christina holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, NE and has worked as an attorney specializing in nuclear power litigation. Both authors enjoy historical research. The authors may be contacted c/o Triumph Press, Box 93, Hillsboro, KS, 67063." (from the back cover) (this book was published in 1979 - my note)