The following are a series of articles published in the Montgomery County News in April and May 1895. I happened upon these in doing other research. I have no additional information regarding these articles, nor am I related to any individuals mentioned here. Copies of these articles may be obtained from the Illinois State Historical Library in Springfield, IL, for a fee. I just hope these articles may help someone.

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Montgomery County News, 26 April 1895, page 7

"Asylum Children.

A company of children, mostly boys, aged 7 to 15 years, from the New York Juvenile Asylum will arrive in Hillsboro, at the City Htel [sic], Wednesday morning, May 8th. Homes are wanted for them with families where they will receive kind treatment and enjoy fair advantages. They may be taken on trial for four weeks and afterwards, if all parties are suited, they will be indentured until of age. Persons desiring to take these children on trial are requested to meet them at the City Hotel Wednesday afternoon, as they will remain but one day in Hillsboro. For further information inquire at your post office for a hand bill giving full particulars. All expenses for transportation will be assumed by the Asylum and the children will be place [sic] on trial and indentured free of charge. E Wright, Agent.”

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Montgomery County News, 10 May 1895, page 2

“Went like Hot Cakes.

As advertised in last week’s news, a Mr. E. Wright, of New York, brought an installment of orphan children to the City Hotel in this city, last Wednesday for the purpose of finding them homes. On account of diphtheria being prevalent in the asylum, Mr. Wright only brought four children with him, three boys and one girl.

Their names were William QUETTLENDER, aged 9; Chas. MENZER, aged 12; Anna SUDA, aged 9 and Jerry SUDA, aged 11. There were about twenty men and women here from various parts of the county, all anxious and willing to adopt the children. For instance: Wm. WIEGE, of Butler wanted a girl; T.M. CASSIDY, of Nokomis, a boy; Martha THUM, of Irving, a girl; Fred BROWN, of Chapman, a boy; Alex SIMS, of Rountree, a boy; Leonard BUECHSENSEBUTZ, of Nokomis, a boy; F.P. McCORMICK, of Farmersville, was after a boy; Jacob HENCKLE, of Donnellson, wanted a boy; Chas. CARTWRIGHT, of Litchfield, a boy; George BRYER, of Irving, a boy; Wm. APPLEGATE, of Hillsboro, a boy; Alfred BORROR, of Witt, a boy; Thomas SAATHOFF, of Walshville, a girl and Marshall WINTERS, of Butler, a boy; James MORRIS, of Irving, a boy; Jos. A. SMITH, a girl and Boon DANIEL, a Litchfield, a girl.

Mr. Wright, among so many applicants had a chance to select those whom he thought would take best care of the children. They were taken on a month’s trial, when Mr. Wright will return and bring children for those who left applications with him.

Jacob HENCKEL of Donnellson was given a boy; George BRYER, of Irving, a boy; Thomas SAATHOFF and Murray EASLEY of Walshville, were given Anna and Jerry SUDA, brother and sister, SAATHOFF taking the boy and EASLEY the girl.

We could name several prominent citizens of this county who were brought here in this way. We believe statistics will show that a majority of them have turned out well. Some of these boys who were brought here last Wednesday may be candidates for Governor for our boys to vote for some day, or be loaning money to our children, provided our children can give enough security.”

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Montgomery County News, 24 May 1895, page 2

“The Orphans Find Homes.

Mr. E. Wright, general agent for the New York Juvenile Asylum was here again last Wednesday and brought with him 13 homeless children. Some two weeks ago he was here and found homes for four of his charges and came back by appointment this week bringing with him 13 more most of whom had been spoken for.

As before when he was here, people from all parts of the county met him, all of them willing and anxious to adopt one or more of the children. Before noon Wednesday, he had disposed of nine of them as follows:

George SIMS, of Rountree, took John HASLERTNER, 11 years old.
Alfred BORROR, of Witt, took George DERRICKSON, 13 years old.
Samuel J. FISHER, of Barnett, took Richard COCHRAN 13 years old.
James MORRIS, of Irving, took two, Bertha KOHN and Thomas GILDERSLEEVE each 12 years old.
Marvin THUMB, of Irvin, took Mary GILDERSLEEVE 15 years old.
Leonard BEUCHSENSCHEUTZ, of Nokomis, took George SHELLHAS, 12 years old.
James ANDERSON, of Waggoner, took Thomas DWYER, 11 years old.
Wm. H. APPLEGATE, of Hillsboro, took George BICKNER 10 years old.

The other four were taken to Taylorville.

Mr. Wright informed us that he found homes in Illinois for about 150 orphaned children each year. The children are taken on one month’s trial, when Mr. Wright will return and if the children and the parties taking them are both satisfied, they will be permanently ‘indentured.’ ”