Copy of a photo of little Margaret Young McInteer Miller, age 2 years and 5 months, born in New York City on November 19, 1908. Her mother took her to the New York Foundling Hospital, saying she was unable to take care of the infant and wished to give her to the Catholic hospital. Before she left, the mother gave her the name “Margaret Young.” Margaret’s mother never again inquired about her welfare.
When Margaret was two years old, a nun took her and other foundling children to board one of the Orphan Trains, heading west. Margaret was wearing the clothes shown in the photo. The foundling hospital had received a request for a little girl of that age from a Catholic couple (Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McInteer) in Enid, Oklahoma. The hospital sent a notice that the child would be arriving. This notice had a number on it that would match with the assigned number of their requested child on the train. (See number 26 on Margaret’s coat.)
Margaret’s adoptive father was a large property owner in the county. He and his wife had no children, so Margaret was welcomed with great love. Mr. McInteer died suddenly before the adoption was complete, but it was still approved. She grew up in Oklahoma, but moved to Batesville, AR later in life when she married Herman Miller in Newport, AR, in the early 1960s. She owned a business “Margaret’s Antiques” until her death in 1983. (OIRM, Sturch, Margaret collection)
