Honorary Illinois State President Bryn Callahan, right, is a member of the Charles Carroll Society Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) He recently received the National Historic Preservation Recognition Award, from the Illinois State Organization Daughters of the American Revolution.
Callahan was honored for his outstanding volunteer work, promoting and preserving the history of “The Orphan Train in Illinois.” The presentation was made by Illinois State D.A.R. Historian Marria Blinn, left, and State D.A.R. Regent Sharla Luken.
A direct descendant of one of the orphan train riders, Callahan raised over $7000 during his term as State President. Funds were used to erect a statue to honor the over 10,000 children who rode the Orphan Trains to Illinois during the years 1854-1929. The commemorative bronze statue with informational plaques was presented to the Amboy Railroad Museum in Amboy, IL, a site stop for the Orphan Train.
Children of the American Revolution is an organization of children who can prove their lineage from a person who gave aid or fought during the Revolutionary War. Callahan is a 16-year member of the group from Moline, IL. He descends from Elijah Bailey, Lt. David Holman, Captain James Greenwood, David Kenyon, and several other Revolutionary soldiers, whose descendants settled around Thomson, IL. His heritage also includes three Mayflower passengers.
Callahan picked a project to bring attention to more than 10,000 riders of the Orphan Trains who were placed in Illinois homes from 1854-1929. Many children were placed in Carroll, Whiteside, and Lee Counties. His three-times-great-grandfather, Richard Wilhelm Groharing, was one of them.
Callahan researched his ancestor. He found that young Richard began his Illinois life after being left in a New York City orphanage with two brothers. William was placed in the Thomson-Fulton, IL, area; Edward was placed in the Amboy area. Each was allowed to keep his last name and to keep in touch with Illinois siblings. This is significant, because it allowed Bryn to do a background search. The sisters remained in New York with their mother. He speculated this was, because the mother could teach daughters how to sew or cook and earn a living. Boys would be able to learn farm skills in the Midwest.
During his term While, Callahan led 600+ Illinois C.A.R. members in funding a commissioned bronze bench sculpture with an informational plaque, now installed at the Amboy Railroad Depot Museum. Two bronze children wait fiat the depot or possible sponsors to take them home to a new life. Bryn believes this is the first Orphan Train memorial in Northwestern Illinois.