Johnson, Axel b1871 Frändefors. Emigr 1889

[Katie West]

My Great Grandfathers name was Axel Johnson. He was born Feb 1 1871. I think he was from Smedserud Ellina? Sweden. He came to America in 1888-1889. This is all the Swedish information I have. I would greatly appreciate any help to get to my Swedish roots.

[Moderator USA]

Thread transferred from Discussions in English/Swedish names as the posting is not a general question concerning a name, but a regular querie for the background of an emigrant. Poster is also informed by e-mail.

[Olle Kandell]

He might have changed name to Johnson at migration, which makes it difficult to pin-point him in Sweden so far.
There are also a lot of locations named Smedserud. If you could ad some more US facts of his immigration it might be of help.

[Eva Almqvist]

There are a village called Smedserud in the parish of Frändefors in Älvsborgs län just north of the town Vänersborg. On February 1 1871 a boy Axel is born to torparen Johannes Jonasson and Elisabeth Bengtsdotter. You can find them on page 32 Frändefors kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/GLA/13133/A I/23 (1871-1875)
They move in October 1871 to Torsp parish but I can not find them there.
 
This could be the Axel you seek.
Do you know when he emigrated. There are lots of Axel Joh...ssons in the emigration records

[Olle Kandell]

As said, location Smedserud is found at lot of locations in Sweden, but I could get it and also details possible to verify. So here comes a first report:
 
Axel was born 1 Feb 1871 at Stora Stuveryr, Frändefors parish, Västra Götaland county (former Älvsborgs county).
Location 4 km (2,5 mi) W of Frändefors church
 
Parents:
Father Johannes Jonasson b.  5 June 1839 in Frändefors parish
Mother Elisabeth Bengtsdotter b.  15 June 1842 in Frändefors parish
At time of birth Axel had two elder sisters
 
Sources are Frändefors parish  Birthbook (Arkiv Digital  C:10 1871 nr 17) and Household Examination Roll (Arkiv Digital AI:23 1871-1875 page 32).
 
Have not checked how the family moved around, but At time of emigration:
 
Axel lives at Smedserud, Valbo-Ryr parish (located some 13 mi further west west of Frändefors).
Still living with his parents and now also 3 younger siblings.
He is registered as emigrated 7 March 1889 (named Axel Johansson)
 
Sources  - Valbo-Ryr parish:  Household Examination Roll (Arkiv Digital AI:6 1881-1890 page 195) and
Moving records  B:1 1861-1899 1889 no 3).
 
IN the CD Emigranten Populär he is found as Axel Johanson.
Source code: 38:231:25065
Dep from: Gothenburg
Depdate:  16 March 1889
Destination: Youngstown
 
From this he is found on ship Orlando with destination Hull.
His surname now spelled Johansson. He is travelling with 3 other persons from same parish.
Destination says Youngstown Ohio. (But as usual - nothing of the trip from England to US port of dest).
 
Source is Ancestry - Passenger list for S/S Orlando Gothenburg-Hull March 1889 picture 19 contract no 25065.
 
.

[Olle Kandell]

On the ship Aurania arriving from Liverpool in NY on 1 Apr 1889, are two persons
named Axel Johanson. One of them has a note of destination Ohio.  
This fits pretty well previous data of arriving in England and transfer Hull-Liverpool.
 
Source is passengerlist found on Ancestry.com for Year: 1889; Arrivals New York; Microfilmserial: M237; Roll: M237_531; Line: 36; Listno: 366.
 
Have you got any US info connecting him (or your grandfather) to Youngstown, Ohio ?
Anything from US Census 1900 ?

[Katie West]

Thank you so much for this information! Yes, Youngstown Ohio is where my Aunt Tekla lived (Axel's daughter..my grandmother's sister)  
There are two different years of Immigration 1882 and 1889..so the 1889 year matches. This is the first time that I have learned where my Great Grand father is from.  
His wife Bertha was born in Pennsylvania, but her parents were from Sweden as well. August Anderson born in Sweden 1843 and his wife Christine Lawson Anderson born 1848 in Sweden. I remember going to Jamestown NY for family reunions.
Once again I thank you!
Katie West

[Katie West]

Yes, my great grandfather lived in Cleveland ohio when my grandmother was born. Then the lived in Ashtabula Ohio. My grandmothers sister and my Axel's wifes Swedish family - the Andersons lived in Youngstown!
Thanks for this amazing information.
Katie West

[Olle Kandell]

By pure curiosity I went on for some more digging in this case and can give you some additional info.
Axel's mother died 4 May 1914 and his father 21 Feb 1915 (Source is Valbo-Ryr parish Death-Book).
 
As a total Axel had 6 siblings. Of these one sister died at early age (only 3 months). Of the others, four stayed in Sweden (died period 1928-1948), but what's maybe interesting is that Axel's youngest sister also seems to have emigrated. Her name was Tekla Johanson born 29 Apr 1880. She arrived in NY 12 July 1901 and in the passengermanifest her destination is registered as going to brother Axel Johnson Cleveland Ohio !
 
Also a daughter of Axel's eldest sister Laura emigrated. Her name was Gerda Victoria Bergstrom (b. 28 Jan 1886).
She arrived in NY 16 Nov 1904 - also with a destination Cleveland.
 
I have not been able to check if they returned or stayed in US. You might have any indication of those two in your records?
 
At least two of Axel's sisters had pretty large families - at least 6-8 children, which might give an indication that you might have distant cousins, still living in Sweden. But thats a different story ...

[Olle Kandell]

Think we need to ad another emigrant to the list above ...
After some further search I found that another sister of Gerda Victoria, also emigrated!
Amanda, one of a twin couple, born 1889, left Gothenburg end of June 1909 on S/S Calypso for Hull, with final port of destination NY.
So far I have not found her arrival in NY.
(Sources are records of Foss parish AIIa:3 and passenger list for S/S Calypso 25 June 1909 - All on Ancestry.)

[Katie West]

thank you so much! This must be the Axel I am looking for! I never knew of his younger sister Tekla, just my great-aunt. i do remember a relative from Sweden named Karin. She came to visit my grandmother back in the early 70's. I am wondering if she was related to my great-grandfather.
Once again, thank you so much for all of your digging.
Katie

[Mats Ahlgren]

This is the arrival of Amanda, going to aunt Tekla ?? in Wellboughly (?) in Ohio
 
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957  
about Amanda Bergstrom  
Name: Amanda Bergstrom  
Arrival Date: 8 Jul 1909  
Birth Year: abt 1890  
Birth Location: Sweden  
Birth Location Other: valborgs  
Age: 19  
Gender: Female  
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Scandinavian  
Port of Departure: Southampton  
Port of Arrival: New York, New York  
Ship Name: Teutonic

[Mats Ahlgren]

More siblings, to Amanda and Gerda Victoria, left Sweden.
Frans Gustaf Bergstrom, born 1906 left 1926. Lived in Chicago and died in Medina Ohio
Hedvig Alma Bergström, born 1898 left 1921. lived and died in Illinois. Married name Hedstrom.
Ester Elisabeth Bergström, born 1895 left 1912 and lived in Illinois
 
Information from a tree on Ancestry, interested in contact?

[Olle Kandell]

I had already observed five trees on Ancestry, with different parts of info connected to the children of Axel's sister Laura, but nothing new according to Axel himself. I had also made requests to three of the tree-owners (in US) of their interest of sharing info, but have not so far got any reply. At least one of the mentioned trees seems to have good references to original sources, but other ones just cross-refer to other trees (not primary sources), which in my opinion is too common on Ancestry. So even if info is available - it's neccessary to re-check it.
 
Sinc/ Olle

[Mats Ahlgren]

I have been contacted by tree owner. Connected Katie and the tree owner (via mail).  
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av mats 2012-01-08 17:30)