The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-30
THE ILLINOIS SOLDIERS OR
PHAMS' HOME.
Its Object, Description of
the Building, and Bene-
fits Derived at the In
stitutiOn.
A Reunion of the cold Or
phans," on Thanksgiving.

-
They form the Alumni Association
of the Illinois Soldiers Orphans
Home"
The Illinois Soldiers Orphans Home,
was established in 1867 and three Homes
were started, two in Bloomington and one
in Springfield, which were used until the
present fine building was erected at Nor
NAL. The matrons Of the Bloomington
Homes were Mrs. Mary Merchant, and
Mrs. Clara Watts. Mrs. Virginia c. Chr.
widow of the late Col S. Z. Ohr, of the
6lst Regiment Illinois volunteers, had
charge of the Home at Springfield. She is
the present superintendent of the institu-
ton.
The object of the state in establishing
this institution was to furnish the children
under IA years Of age, of soldiers in the
late war who went from this state and who
were either killed or died from wounds re.
ceived while in the service, support and
education, as slight compensation for the
the loss of their fathers while fighting for
their country. A great many mothers.
guardians and friends of children OF de-
ceased soldiers took advantage of the gen.
crosby of the state and sent the little ones
to the Home to enjoy its many benefits.
The present building, at Normal, Nc
Lean county, was completed and opened
in June, 1869, with about 800 children.
Since that time not less than 1900 chill
dren have enjoyed the benefits of the inst
tuition, and of these between 1920 and
1890 have left the Home at the age of ID
years and gone out into the world to make
their own living, and in nearly all cases
having better education than the average
children in our public schools.
AS stated in THE ARGUS a few DAYS
ago, invitations were sent to all those VIII,
have been inmates of the Home and wh'
had lett it on their becoming ID year.
of age, to visit the institution and have
grand reunion on Thanksgiving. Tn
number who attended was not large-onl.
24-now nearly all young men and women
who assembled there on that day. Thei
names are as follows;
Mary Poyer Magnolia,
! David J. Van Meter, Rock Island.
Florence Ohr, Normal.
! Lizzie Mcmahon. Elmira, NY.
| Annie Everhart, Bloomington.
| Ella Everhart, A"
George w. Martin, -
Walter Watts, Normal,
Ethal Ohr,
Rosa Ogle, Keokuk, Ia.
Katie POyer, Magnolia
May Gill. WaynCtown, Ind.
Sallie Watts, Rock Island.
MOllie Potter, Eureka.
Marthy Crazy, Normal.
! Nellie Williamson, Normal
Leila Rouse, Bloomington.
| harles L. Martin,
Mary s. Cummings Macon,
: Perry Davis, NJ line,
| James Bagby. Rock Island.
: Jennie Martin, Bloomington.
! James McPherren. Champaign.
Emma Mills, Normal.
The parties from this city and Molin
arrived at Bloomington on Tuesday ever
ing, over the l. B. &W R. r and were III,
at the depot by acarriage from the Hou
and Immediately taken to that institution
where they were welcomed by Mrs. Oh
the superintendent, Miss Mary z. Hughe
her competent assistant, DIR. John Sween
the Home physician, and lately one of IL
trustees; Mr.. f. G. Lawton, the clerk al
: book keeper, and quite number Of your
folks who live at the Home, in Normal al
. at Bloomington. After hearty supp
the company divided up. each one beil
anxious to see his or her "chum' and ha
good talk about the past, present al
future. The superintendent and her a
sistant 'cornered" the writer of this al
: two or three hours we're spent in talkil
u over old times when he was an inmate
= the Home.
On Wednesday more "old orphans g
= rived and by evening the above nam
y parties were present, and the day al
h part of the night were spent in recallil
scenes long gore by. Before the childr
d retired, however, they were assembled
:, the chapel, as is the custom, where tn
: favored the visitors with music. The S
$ perintendent then read chapter from t
e bible, after which the little ones repeat
u the Lords Prayer, and then retired
e the night.
i: Large and important improvements a
e been made about the institution In the la
: three or four years. and for the inform
e ton of the readers of THE ARGUS who ha
never visited and inspected the Home,
J. slight description may be of interest.
Is When the Home was first opened on
. children whose fathers had died in t
army or from wounds received there. we
admitted. Thus, the Home could not e
ist very long, as the children would SO
=, grow up and leave. Last winter our De
ocratic and INDEPENDENT legislature pass
Y. an act admitting children whose faiths
he had been soldiers and had died since t
war There are now 265 children in t
. Home-l45 girls and 100 boys
u The main building is $50 by 80 feet, a
fur stories high with the basement, a
g. having large cupola. The girls occu
I'd the east end of the bull ling and the be
the west end. In the basement or e
or floor are the playrooms for the boys a
u girls; the dining room for the childre
80 the clothes;room for the children, where.
ot the clothing is stored; two bath rooms,o
y, for the boys and one for the girls; and
to store and serving rooms, pantries, N
e, oaIIors aio II 10 on Interesting 81 cht