By request, I have done some digging into the “orphan trains” that came to Harrison County to bring children from New York to be placed with families in rural America. While these trains didn’t actually stop in Ridgeway, there were several children placed with families in the Ridgeway area.
At least two groups of children were brought to Harrison County from New York City by the Children’s Aid Society of New York. The first group of nine older boys ages 10 to 16 and one little girl were presented on March 20, 1891, per an article in the Bethany Democrat. The Children’s Aid Society expected to place the boys mostly with farmers. The families taking the children were expected to treat them as their own “in the matter of schooling and training” and where they would be “at least under strictly moral influence.” There were no contracts or papers signed and either parents or the Aid Society could end the placement at any time. Lawrence Mooney, who wanted to be a farmer, was placed with Harvey Myers, “of near Ridgeway”. Brothers George and Eddie Lake “wept over the prospect of being separated” when one was taken by L. J. Kemp of Jefferson township and the other by A. P. Hayes of Grant township.
In 1918, another group of children was brought to Bethany by the same organization. There were fourteen in this group, both boys and girls from infant to teens. Sadly at least one group of 4 brothers were split up among four families in this group and one brother and sister also split up. None of these children ended up in Ridgeway, however.
