Mount Carmel Home was founded as a country home for children in 1900 by the Brethren in Christ Church.
It was located on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 10.
Originally it was a 40 acre farm with a 13 room house on it; it was
owned by the Rev. and Mrs. Abraham (Abram) G. Zook.
On March 1, 1900, the home was dedicated. The first orphan arrived in
April from Chicago, to be followed by 11 more from the same city. The
official name of the institution was Mount Carmel Faith Missionary Training Home and
Orphanage but it was commonly called Faith Home for many years.
The name was shortened to Mount Carmel Home and it was taken over as a
project by the Brethren in Christ Conference in 1912. Dedicated workers
labored hard for its success.
The first worker to join Mr. and Mrs. Zook
at the orphanage was Miss May L Donaldson. She was a teacher at the
Franklin School during the term 1899-1900 and remained for the
dedication of the home. The meeting lasted for several days in a tent
across from the newly-opened refuge. Diphtheria broke out and a quarantine
was imposed; it lasted for several weeks. Miss Donaldson remained to
help care for the children. The first year was made more difficult by
the epidemic. One of the children in the home died as did a daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Zook.
There were sensational and unfriendly stories printed
in metropolitan newspapers, which alleged improper care and lack of
the bare necessities. When the motives of the workers became better
understood, there was general support for the home. Many donations from
outside sources were made through the years. The primitive facilities
which were common to country living at the turn of the century were
improved and the home was enlarged. A cement-block school-house was built
south of the home in 1915 and was used by the children until 1940
Starting July 27, 1901, the home published a small newspaper. It was called
Soul Food until July 27, 1912, when the name was changed to Mount Carmel Tidings."
Source: History of Whiteside County - Wayne Bastian Pg 165 (1968)
The 1900 Census for the Orphanage is found on the following link
This link is offsite so you will need to use your back button to return here.
1900 Census Mt Carmel Home
The 1900 Census Mt. Carmel Orphanage & Faith Home
Clyde Township, Whiteside County, Illinois, A.D. 1900*
1 Zook Abram B Super M Sep 1853 46 M 19 Penn Penn Penn Super Y Y Y
2 Zook Rosa A Wife F Apr 1882 47 M 19 7 4 Ill Penn Penn Y Y Y
3 Zook Anna M Daughter F Apr 1892 18 S Ill Penn Penn Y Y Y
4 Zook Samuel A Son M Sep 18?? 11 S Ill Penn Penn At School 4 Y Y Y
5 Zook ???neda* Daughter F Jul 18?? 7 S Ill Penn Penn At School
6 ???* ???* Daughter F ??? ???? ?? S Ill Penn Penn
7 ???* ???* F Ill Engl Irel
8 ???* ???* ?
9 Beeson Jonathan H* Inmate M Aug 1856 43 M 7 Wis N. Car Ind Y Y Y
10 Beeson Susie E Inmate F May 1867 33 M 7 1 1 Penn Penn Mass Y Y Y
11 Beeson Joseph E Inmate M Nov 1893 6 S Kan Wis Penn
12 Boubaker Benjamin Inmate M Sep 1849 50 M 27 Penn Penn Penn Y Y Y
13 Boubaker Elizabeth Inmate F Dec 1850 49 M 27 1 1 Penn Germ Penn Y Y Y
14 Boubaker Lora* Inmate F Jan 1892 8 S Ill Penn Penn
15 Price* Edward G Inmate M Jan 1892 8 S Ill Unknown Unknown
16 Price* Laura A Inmate F Jan 1894 6 S Ill Unknown Unknown
17 Price* William A Inmate M Sep 1895 4 S Ill Unknown Unknown
18 Price* Edna Inmate F Nov 1897 2 S Ill Unknown Unknown
19 Price* ?o?ne E Inmate F Nov 1899 6mo S Ill Unknown Unknown
20 Holmes* William H Visitor M Jan 1850 50 M 19 Ohio Ohio Ohio Y Y Y
21 McCulloh* William E Inmate M Oct 1866 33 M 5 Penn Penn Penn Y Y Y
22 McCulloh* Marian Inmate F Nov 1877 22 M 5 4 3 Ill Ohio Penn Y Y Y
23 McCulloh* Anna M Inmate F Dec 1896 3 S Ill Penn Ill
24 McCulloh* William P Inmate M Jul 1898 1 S Ill Penn Ill
25 McCulloh* Rhoda M Inmate F May 1900 1mo S Ill Penn Ill
26 McCulloh* Archie S Inmate M Dec 1892 7 S Ill Penn Penn At School 9
27 Wise Samuel Inmate M Jan 1817 82 M 12 Penn Penn Penn Y Y Y
28 Wise Hannah C Inmate F Apr 1834 66 M 12 12 9 Penn Penn Penn Y Y Y
29 George Jacob H Inmate M Oct 1867 32 M 5 Ill Penn Penn Y Y Y
30 George Anna* ??????* F Jun 1869 30 M 5 2 0 Penn Penn Penn N.Y * Y Y Y
31 Donaldson May L Teacher F May 1874 26 S Iowa Ill Ill Teacher Y Y Y
32 Goldring Edmund F Inmate M Mar 1898 2 S Ill Unknown Unknown
33 Collar* Walter C Inmate M Mar 1900 2mo S Ill Unknown Unknown
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The 1910 Census - Name / Age
Abram Zook 55
Mrs. Katie Bollinger 36
Mac Donaldson 17
Magaiet Christy 17
Mary Leanesne 16
Stanley Flynn 16
John Pocock 15
Aias Bollinger 15
Clyde Bigbee 15
Ruth Lequesne 14
Elizabeth Riley 14
Bessie Mosser 12
Reuben Bigbee 12
Helen Houston 12
Alma Bollinger 12
Arron Cummings 12
Edmond Goldring 12
Ambrose Flynn 12
Esther Lesesne 11
Dorothy Houston 11
Lydia Riley 11
Katie Aiken 11
Esther Mosser 10
Madalene Flynn 9
Levi Cummings 9
Annie Aiken 9
Florence Houston 8
Morris Flynn 7
Marion Flynn 7
Willie Houston 6
