An Analysis of Soldiers Orphan's Deaths at the Lincoln Institution

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1868-01-16; Notwithstanding the kind and unremitting care of the attending physicians, within the last year we have lost two of our little inmates, one from water on the brain, the other from pneumonia.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1869-01-21; We have only lost one inmate by death, and that not directly in the “Institution,” the boy having gone home, for the vacation, to his Mother, where he was taken ill, and died.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1871-01-19; The sanitary condition of the pupils has been most excellent, no deaths have occurred -during the past year, and there have been very few cases of sickness, requiring more than the prompt attention of the matron and nurse. Many thanks are due to the fidelity and care of the visiting physicians, who have at all times performed their duties zealously, and who have been instrumental in thus averting sickness.

The only case of any importance which has occurred, is one of an incurable disease. The patient referred to is Thomas Gordon, who has been confined to the Infirmary for the past year. The excellent physical condition and appearance of the boys, is principally due to the quality and quantity of their food, as great care is taken that the table shall be supplied with wholesome and nutritious articles of diet.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1872-01-17; Since our last report, eighty-four boys have been placed at various trades and occupations; thirty-one have left the Institution, eight to return to their mothers, four transferred to country schools, seventeen discharged on order and on age, two have been called to a better home from a life of suffering, for both were always delicate children : one, George B. Wilson, although he died away from the Institution of a contagious disease, was subject to convulsions from his birth; the other, John P. Leslie, the orphan of a New Jersey soldier, and therefore not a ward of this State, was left motherless as well as fatherless at the early age of nine years. He was placed in a factory, where his young strength was so severely taxed that it brought on enlargement of the heart. The year he was with us was one of intense happiness to him: he constantly recognized this by his daily cheerful and hearty greeting to the Managers. Almost his last words to his aunt were, “I have wanted for nothing here.” Many of the Councillors and Managers attended his funeral. He was buried in the lot at Woodlands belonging to the Institution, where a suitable headstone has been placed over him through the liberality of Mr. Ed. Greble. There are now one hundred and twenty boys in the Institution.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1874-01-15; from Treasurer of Board of Managers - Board of T. Gordon at Atlantic City; $16.87

Educational Home Annual Report, 1875-02-04; 1 died (Thomas Gordon an invalid when admitted, mentioned in last report)

The Chairman of the Committee on Admission and Dismission reports having received 30 boys during the year, 27 of them being transferred from “The Educational Home,” 26 left to return to their mothers and friends, being over 16 years of age; 4 were transferred to “The Educational Home” (as boarders). The present number in the Institution is 88, of these 19 are State Soldiers’ Orphans between the ages of 13 and 16 years, 17 graduated (State Soldiers Orphans between 16 and 21 years of agey 12 from the Soldiers’ Home; the remainder are supported by scholarships and wages. There have not been any deaths during the year.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1878

The Committee on Admissions and Dismissions report, during the year past twenty-five boys were received, twenty-two being
transferred from “The Educational Home,” fourteen left to return to their Mother or friends, being over sixteen years of age, and one, Samuel Richie, was removed by death, caused by nervous postration; he was bitten by a strange dog which had run into the Store where he was employed, in trying to catch it as it ran out it bit him on the arm; he was at once cauterized and sent to “ The Educational Home” for three weeks. He returned apparently well, but in about a week’s time be showed symptoms of nervousness that resulted in such weakness that nothing could overcome; and he died in sixty hours after he was taken sick; he received every care and attention from the Physician in charge, but it seemed one of those mysterious cases in which Medical skill is of little avail.
With the above exception there has been no serious sickness in the Institution during the year, the. general health of the
inmates has been remarkably good.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1879

During the past year forty-two boys were admitted; thirty-seven transferred from “ The Educational Home,” one from the “Foster Home,” and four received by Admission Committee. Thirty-two left during the year;..fifteen returning to their friends, three placed in the country, one returned to “The Educational Home,” and the remaining thirteen left on age or at their own desire. - We have lost none by death. Ten boys were confirmed at the Church of the Epiphany on April 8th, 1879.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1880

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1881-01-20. During the past year twenty-one boys have been admitted; seventeen were transferred from The Educational Home; and four were received by order of the Admission and Dismission Committee. Twenty-six left, twenty of whom returned to their friends; one was placed in the country, two were sent to the Meade Farm in Dakota, and the remaining three were returned to The Educational Home.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1882-01-19; No deaths occured during the year.

Educational Home Annual Report, 1882-02-02; In presenting our Tenth Annual Report to our contributors it gives us much pleasure to record that the past year has been one of great satisfaction. With the exception of the death of two of our boys, one aged four years, who died from the effects of whooping cough while on a visit to his mother, and another, aged eight years, who died from tubercular meningitis, our family have enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health.

We numbered up to March, 1882, forty boys; from that time our average number has been fifteen, they are treated simply as boarders, under the care of Miss Cogbill our former Assistant Matron, and their conduct has been very satisfactory. There has been no sickness of any account and no deaths during the year. There are at present forty-two boys at “The Educational Home” belonging to the “Lincoln Institution.”

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1883

During 1883 we received twelve boys and dismissed thirty-five; seventeen were at the Lincoln Institution on Eleventh Street, and eighteen at The Educational Home in West Philadelphia. Those in the city were under the charge of Miss Cogbill, our Assistant Matron. There are at present thirty-five boys on the roll, all at The Educational Home.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1884

There are at present forty State Soldiers’ Orphans on roll, who are boarded as usual at “The Educational Home,” and we are glad to report that they and the Indians are the best of friends. Since the organization of the Institution we have had 296 Soldiers’ Orphans. During the past year twenty-one were discharged on age and none were admitted.

Lincoln Institution Annual Report, 1885