thomas conklin orphan train was 17 in 1880
Thomas Conklin, 17, had been an orphan for 3 years. After his mother died, he worked for $2.00 a week on a
farm at 184th Street and 10th Avenue, but couldn't live on that wage.
New York Daily Tribune
New York Boys Sent to Virginia
April 7, 1880
A party of nineteen boys gathered from homes of poverty and the lodging houses of the Children's Aid Society
were to be sent to Winchester, Virginia.
It was the first party sent south by funds entrusted to Whitelaw Reed, publisher of the Tribune, but it was the
seventh party under his sponsorship.
Some of those who gathered at the rooms of the Society at West Fourth Street were ragged and unkempt.
Others were bright and fresh looking, having taken pains to make their appearance as prepossessing as
possible.
The boys were taken downstairs and supplied with strong shoes, serviceable caps and such other clothing as
they needed. Some were taken to a neighboring barber and came back looking the better for the visit.
Soon after 2:00 p.m. Mr. Whitelaw visited the rooms. He explained they were being given a chance to be, first,
good boys, then good men and he wished them a pleasant journey and a prosperous future.
In the care of Agent H. A. Holt, they were taken to a restaurant near by for dinner as their train did not leave
until 10:00 p.m. They would change trains in Baltimore, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad taking them to
Winchester where they were to be met by a local committee and the approved applicants.