From 1911 to 1925 the Children’s Home at Lamoni, Iowa was home to 215 children. Whether a temporary stay or years of residence at the Home, it had a huge impact on all involved. Some of the children were returned their families, some adopted and some “aged out.”
Here are the names of children that I have located from a variety of sources:
Through the years, there were 15-40 children at the Home at any time. A 1922 Lamoni Chronicle newspaper reported about a farm known as the “Home Farm,” it fed the Children’s Home, Saints’ Home and the Liberty Home. The 240 acres includes a large lake which furnishes the city water. Alfalfa, pasture land along with 26 acres of winter wheat, 25 acres in oats, 55 acres of corn, 30 acres in timothy and clover and 12 acres in orchard and gardens.
The dairy herd numbered 42 head of Holstein cattle, generating 455 pounds of milk or about 227 quarts per day. Alfalfa and corn are grown for feed. They make their own butter and the inmates are furnished with all the milk and cream they need.
155 Duroc Jersey hogs of which 40 brood sows are kept for breeding purposes. A flock of 800 chickens, 340 hens being kept for winter layers. A variety of vegetables supply the three homes year round. [21 Sep 1922 The Lamoni Chronicle (Lamoni, IA) Thursday, September 21, 1922]
CLOSING OF THE HOME
After 15 years of successful operation, a difficult decision was made to close the Children’s Home.
From the organizational inspiration of Sister Marietta Walker through the leadership of the last Matron, Zilpha Monroe about fifty families were cared for.
A summary from the Report of the Board of Trustees of the Saints’ Children’s Home for the year ending June 30, 1925 to the Seventy-First General Conference p. 104 summarizes the decision to close:
“Since the Home was established in August 1911, two hundred and fifteen children have been cared for here. Of these, one hundred forty-one have been returned to friends, sixty-one have been placed in homes, 5 have died in the home and one in the State Hospital.
A state policy restricted children being brought into Iowa from other states for care.
We therefore, present for the consideration of the conference the advisability of discontinuing the Children’s Home the work of providing for the dependent children who come under the care of the church to be conducted by the Social Services Bureau. It was approved. 1925.”
[1926 Reports To The Seventy-First General Conference April 6, 1926 p. 73]
According to Graceland historian Enid DeBarthe “The Children’s Home discontinued operation in 1926 on recommendation of the Board of Trustees and with the approval of the Presidency, Twelve and Presiding Bishopric.” [Ch. Hist. Vol 8:76] The Home building was used by Graceland College as the Gables, it was destroyed by fire December 17, 1927.
As reported in the Saints’ Herald for December 21, 1927. P. 1490:
Imagine my delight to see this photo of the back of the Children’s Home with Children on the buggy! Must be early days of the Home, could it be my grandfather? [Saints’ Herald, December 21, 1927, p. 1490]
Why do these pictures and names matter? Because they are stories of life. Stories of people who by no fault of their own had parents who were unable to care for them. The Children of the Home grew up tough and scrappy. Facing adversity and adjusting to whatever life gave them.
The following 1927 Saints’ Herald article reflected back on a positive adoption experience from the Home. It also emphasizes the “good work” accomplished by taking in a child into a members home.
[Nov 16, 1927 Saints’ Herald p. 1330]
A description in the 1926 Lamoni newspaper adds some insight about the decision to close.
SOURCES:
Autumn Leaves (Vision in 1929) 1888 – 1932
Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa: 1887. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Decatur County Archives http://www.iowagenealogy.net/decatur
Decatur County IA Gen Web http://www.iagenweb.org/decatur
Decatur District Court Records
History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people. 1915. J.M. Howell and C Smith Heman. Chicago, IL: J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. Vol I Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol I and II Online at: Ancestry — index and images
iagenweb.org/boards/decatur/biographies Decatur County Iowa
Iowa State Census 1905, 1915, 1925
Journal of History 1908 – 1925 Heman C. Smith editor
Lamoni Chronicle Newspaper
Newspaper.com
Saints’ Herald 1877 – 1958
US Census 1910, 1920
USGenWeb Iowa Archives – Decatur County http://www.usgwararchives.net/ia/decatur/decatur.htm
Zion’s Ensign 1891- 1932 missionary publication
Zion’s Hope 1869-1972 for children
Geneographer 