Monroe County Infirmary: "Poor Farm"

Over the hill to the poor-house--I can't quite make it clear! Over the hill to the poor-house--it seems so horrid queer! Many a step I've taken a-toilin' to and fro, But this is a sort of journey I never thought to go. Excerpt from Poem: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse by Will Carleton, 1868 County Farm Cemetery County Farm Deaths from County Papers Obit of "Stick Horse Johnny", first inmate of the Monroe County Infirmary 1920 Census Listings of Inmates in County Farm List of Residents in 1930 at County Poor Farm Some records for research: County Ward Book 1909-1954, holdings at County Clerk's office Insanity Records, A-R & S-Z, 1884-1944, at County Clerk's office Poor Farm Records, including Nursing Home 1885-1974, County Clerk's office Links for more information about County Farms and Poor Houses The Poorhouse Story Over the Hill to the Poorhouse Part 1: They didn't just die - they disappeared Part 2: Seeking dignity for the dead Part 3: The search for family members Part 4: Poor conditions at poorhouses Part 5: The worthy vs. the unworthy poor Part 6: Today's poor - better off? Articles about Poorhouses & Poverty The American Poor Farm & It's Inmates, 1925 Poor Farms & Asylums Going to the Poorhouse

 Graphics courtesy of Rhiossampler