National Orphan Train Complex Unveils Statue #55 in Concordia
On Tuesday, April 7, the National Orphan Train Complex held a statue unveiling ceremony in front of the Concordia Chamber of Commerce for statue #55.
The statue honors orphan train rider Jeanette Minneman, who was born in 1899 and lived in Manhattan, New York. After her mother's death, she was placed on a train in 1909 and went to Logansport, Indiana, where she was adopted and lived the rest of her life until her death in 1979.
The statue was sponsored by Cathy Ceder Galaway and Susan Ceder King. 15 of Jeanette's descendants attended the ceremony, and two of her children were present to unveil the statue.
The mission of the National Orphan Train Complex is to collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about the orphan trains, and the children and agents who rode them. The museum’s collections, exhibitions, programming, and research will instill a sense of pride for Riders and Descendants; engage historians and researchers, heritage visitors, and the general public; and further promote understanding of this nationally significant chapter of cultural and social history.