The 1857 Orphan Train which left New York City contained over two dozen children which stopped at Albion where they were fostered out to area families. I have previously written several articles about the Orphan Train phenomenon, and you can access them in the search engine on the www.albionmich.com website.
Briefly, the Timmons brothers were adopted by Eckford Township farmers Simeon and Martha Stone, and took their surnames. George enlisted as a drummer boy at age 13 in the First Michigan Sharpshooters in March, 1863. He served with gallantry and was mustered out in July, 1865. There is a Veteran’s Memorial Stage brick erected in his memory in Riverside Cemetery, funded by descendants. Both brothers became merchants following the War. George was also in public service in various capacities, including as Michigan Auditor General in 1890-92.
George is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Lansing under the name of George Washington Stone, Findagrave #8060536. Joseph is interred in Roosevelt Memorial Park in Gardena, Los Angeles County, California, under the name of Joseph B. Stone, Findagrave #39430407.
The Timmons statue is the 44th erected there memorializing orphan train riders across the country. It was sponsored by Michigan author Sherry A. Burton, who is writing a series of books entitled The Orphan Train Saga. The statue was manufactured by the Randolph Rose Collection of Yonkers, New York. Most of the statues in their series feature the figures about 4 feet tall.
The statue features the boys playing together, with a plaque next to it, as well as a bench. The Orphan Train statues are located at various sites in the City of Concordia, population 5,111. The Timmons statue is located by Hood Park, at the corner of Archer St. and E. 14th St. The National Orphan Train Complex and Museum is located at 300 Washington St., Concordia, Kansas.
From our Historical Notebook this week courtesy of Kaily Carson, curator at the National Orphan Train Complex, is a photograph of the Timmons statue, and the plaque there in Concordia. Do any of our readers have ancestors that were on an Orphan Train?
