This page is dedicated to the children who arrived in Webster County aboard the Orphan Trains. Hopefully the information found here will help those researching their ancestors who 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 and continued until about 1930. During this time, over 3,400 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 Webster County for the remainder of their lives and raised families, while others moved on and lived out their lives elsewhere.
The link below is a list of children brought to Webster County. If you know of anyone else who arrived in Webster County via the Orphan Train, please contact the county coordinator.
