Seeking info on Grt. grandfather Michael Francis "Frank" Conley. Supposedly br. in Sparland 1855. One known sister Ellen V. Conley br. 1852 in Michigan. They only show up in 1880 census in Bloomington, Ill. This is just a hunch on the orphanages and poorhouse. I am at a dead end with my Conley's. So, does anyone know if there were any of these institutions during 1850's?

My great grandfather was orphaned around 1860 in Marshall County, when his mother, Matilda Evans died without any relatives to look after her 4 1/2 year old son. He, Andrew Evans(b. 1856) finally was placed in a farm household when he was old enough, where he apparently worked as a laborer. I don't know long he worked as a laborer, other than from the census records of 1870 at 14. Sort of like a foster home system without child labor laws to protect the little ones. He was well educated and smart so his life turned out well. It was hit and miss trying to find him in the census.