Berrier News

My name is Leo J. Kainer. I am retired and living in Schulenburg, Texas. My dad, who was an Orphan Train Rider, was born on October 7, 1902, and passed away on May 24, 1982. His birth name was Jean Berrier and was brought to the New York Foundling Hospital, in New York, on October 28, 1902 by his birth mother. Documents we have from the New York Foundling Hospital indicate that his birth mother was not identified when she brought him to the hospital, but she gave his name as Jean Berrier, and his birth date as October 7, 1902. According to documents we have, she never returned to the hospital after giving the baby up for adoption, and no additional information was ever obtained from the family to indicate who his parents (or parent) might have been.

I know this is a long time ago, but decided to send this message to you, perhaps there is someone in the family who would still be aware of this event and lead us to the proper family. Obviously, the birth mother would no longer be alive, and perhaps many members of the family in that era would also no longer be alive, but perhaps someone in the family could provide information about my dad.

Jean Berrier arrived in Texas on the Orphan Train system on June 25, 1906, and was adopted by Ferdinand and Anna Kainer. He later married Elizabeth Banse and this marriage produced three children (two boys and a daughter) all three of which survive today.

He was baptized in the Catholic faith at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic church in Manhattan on October 28, 1902, the date he arrived at the Foundling Hospital.

If there exists a family tree, or if any one of your contacts have information on his birth, I would be most grateful if they would share it with us.

We are looking only for information on his immediately biological family and nothing more. This would include their names, and where they resided at the time of his birth (we assume that would be in the New York City area). We would also want to know why he was given up for adoption, and if possible, burial location of his biological family.

Of course, we are interested in his heritage and the obvious nationality.

Thank you for letting us tell the story of our dad, and we hope to hear from you soon. If information is not available in your family, perhaps you can guide us in the right direction or to the proper family.

Thanks in advance for your help.