Emigrants from
Karl Gustaf Parish 1865-1880
by Sture Torikka © copyright 2002 all rights reserved
I have created a list of the earliest emigrants who
left for North America from Tornio valley, those who did go “directly” from
home over the Atlantic to their new homeland. With “directly” I mean those
emigrants who were not settled in North Norway for any time. Otherwise this was
quite common that “Finnish” people from Tornio valley (both from Sweden and
Finland) once moved up to Norway to find livelihood. While there, it was easy
to get on a boat (from Vadsö) to Trondheim, and then the Atlantic was open for
North America.
The people from Tornio valley had been walking and
skiing up to Norway for hundreds of years before the emigration to America
started from there (Norway) during the 1850s. The Gulf Stream didn’t freeze so
up there they could always get some work on the sea or in the fish business.
There were also the mines in the area (especially Kåfjord). The miners started
their emigration after 1864, maybe already 1863? (enlistment campaign from
Quincy Mine, MI).
From Karl Gustaf Parish we can see this very clearly
around 1865. The rumors from Norway about the (new) Promised Land named
America, had come down to the valley. The church records show many people who
did go up to Norway at this time, but the same sources tell that the real
reason was North America.
Some researching problems arise in the fact that some
of the travelling people had requested official certificate of change of
address (exit permit) - both for Norway and America - but they didn’t go away
at all. We also find some who were intended for America, but they arrived
somewhere completely different. Sometimes they had not left the country at all.
There were also those who did emigrate without telling anyone at home,
especially not the local vicar. They are hard to find.
The first set of Tornedalians heading for North
America, did travel from North Norway during the spring and summer of 1864.
These people had already been in Norway for at least a couple of years, and
were now ripened for the Atlantic crossing.
These emigrants were native of both sides of the
Borderline which represents the Swedish parishes Nedertorneå, Karl Gustaf,
Hietaniemi and Övertorneå, also from Karunki and Alkkula parishes on the
Finnish side.
Nikkala-born (Nedertorneå Parish) Petter Lahti (b. 1834, d. 1911 in Franklin,
Minnesota, USA) did travel to North America from Norway 1864. While there in
the States he functioned as a united and mediated link for the Finnish talking
immigrants in The United States of America. It has been told that he
participated in the Civil War 1864-1865, but this has not been confirmed to me
yet.
The following people fulfill the criterions for
requested certificates for emigration to North America. Most of them did also
get away over the Atlantic, but – anyhow – some did return back home again from
Norway. For some unknown reasons they never come on board.
Karl Gustaf’s first
emigrants to America did travel away from home during springtime 1865:
1865 :
1.
Former farmer in Lappträsk village
Erik Magnus
Jakobsson b. 1831
Wife
Florentina
Sandberg b. 1830
Children
Emma
Karolina b. 1855
Anna
Henrika b. 1857
Maria
Charlotta b. 1858
Josefina
Vilhelmina b. 1864
Swedish speaking family
Certificate
from the local vicar for emigration to Norway and America requested 8.4.1865.
They never left
for N. America and returned back home from Norway 1.12.1865. That was the
initial thoughts, and that is really interesting. This is the first planned
emigration to America directly from the Tornio River Valley (but first they
should go up to Norway, and then for the Atlantic crossing). What was happened
in North Norway, we don’t know. The returned back home to Lappträsk village
instead, together with a fifth child Johan Fredrik, b. 4.9.1865 in Hammerfest,
Norway
2. Farmer in Lappträsk village
Lars Olof
Bergström b. 1826
Wife
Lisa
Greta b. 1832
Children
Kristina
Matilda b. 1854
Johan
August b. 1855
Nils Olof b. 1858
Lisa
Maria b. 1862
Swedish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to Norway and America requested 22.4.1865
3.
Farmer in Lappträsk village
Henrik
Wilhelm Lithner b. 1830
Wife
Greta
Lena Andersdotter b. 1822
Children
Greta
Lovisa b. 1859
Johan
Henrik b. 1861
Maria b. 1863
Swedish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to Vadsö, Norway and America requested 22.4.1865
4.
Farmer in Lappträsk village
Johan
Bäckström b. 1824
Wife
Johanna
Larsdotter b. 1830
Children
Karolina b. 1856
Maria Greta b. 1857
Anna Amanda b. 1858
Matilda b. 1860 d. 25.4.1865, buried in Nederkalix Parish 30.4.1865
Emma b. 1863
Swedish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to Vadsö, Norway and America requested 22.4.1865 (What way did
they really take? – their daughter was buried in the Swedish speaking neighbor
parish Nederkalix eight days after their request for the certificate!)
5.
Dependent tenant in
Lappträsk village
Anders
August Sundkvist b. 1837
Swedish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to America, unknown place, requested 15.6.1865, but he returned the
certificate to the local vicar 7.7.1865
6.
Farmer in Lappträsk village
Johan
Persson (Välimaa or) Kauppila b.
1832
Wife
Eva
Eriksdotter b. 1829
Children
Maria b. 1857
Karl b. 1861
Vilhelmina b. 1862
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 5.7.1865. This is – according to my own
knowledge – the first only Finnish speaking family from the Tornio River valley
who’s Emigrating directly to N. America. I just have to know where they
settled!
7.
Farmer in Lappträsk village
Johan
Henrik Matsson Perttu (or Mäkiperttu) b.
1822
Wife
Elisabet
Nilsdotter b. 1817
Children
Petter b. 1851
Maria
Johanna b. 1854
Eva Henrika b. 1857
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to America requested 12.7.1865, but returned the certificate
7.8.1865. Eight months later they emigrated again, this time to Vadsö, Norway,
11.3.1866. They probably ended up in the States anyhow
8.
Farmer in Korpikylä village
Isak
Isaksson Rova b. 1835 d. about 1869
Wife
Greta
Isaksdotter Toljus b. 1838 d. 1884
Children
Johan b. 1858 d. 1872
Brita
Katarina b. 1859 d. 1879
Isak b. 1861 d. 1906
Petter b. 1864 d. about 1868
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 18.7.1865. This is the second only
Finnish speaking family from the Tornio River valley who’s Emigrating directly
to N. America. But it is maybe the first family who put their feet on the Earth
of North America?
The
head, Isak Rova, was saying in his first letter home (dated Chicago, Illinois,
October 22nd, 1865), that they arrived at New York only “1 month and
2 days” after they left their home in Korpikylä. It seems that they landed
already about late of August 1865.
Then
– he tells – they have to stay for three weeks in New York because they were
robbed on the travelling funds (everything?), which they had in gold coins.
Later in September they did travel west, and landed in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
And there they stayed, however they intended to Minnesota (as he says in the
first letter home).
Unhappy
fates:
The
father Isaac
Rova dies in pneumonia already before 1870. The mother Margaret
dies of cancer in 1884. The oldest son John – who was the new family head in the
census of July 1870, only aged 11 – dies 1872. Only daughter, Katie,
dies of tuberculosis 1879, aged 19, while the youngest son, Peter,
also was dead before 1870.
Left
is only son Isaac Rova. He stays in the city of Chicago and is mostly
working as a machinist, late foreman, until 1905, when he is placed at the
Insane Hospital of Kankakee County, Illinois, where he dies in 1906, aged 44.
He had children of his own so there are probably still descendants
9.
Farmer in Lappträsk village
Johan
Henrik Ekman b. 1827
Wife
Brita
Kaisa Sundbäck b. 1825
Children
Albert b. 1850
Karl Johan b. 1853
Maria
Henrika b. 1856
Johanna b. 1858
Karolina b. 1862
Swedish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to America requested 21.7.1865, but returned the certificate
7.8.1865. Yet the head did make this trip later 3.9.1869 (to Chicago,
Illinois, USA), returned back home about 1872
10.
Former farmer in Lappträsk
village
Nils Petter
Rönnkvist b. 1804
Swedish
speaking. Widower
Certificate
for emigration N. America requested 1.8.1865
When we are studying
the Emigrant year of Karl Gustaf parish 1865, 73 people (both grown ups and
children) have told the vicar that they should travel up to Norway. This caused
the vicar Grape to write down following note:
“Remark 2. Many of
those who are going to Finnmark in Norway, have said that they are – from there
– emigrating to America”
("Anm. 2.
Flere af de till Finnmarken i Norrge utflyttade hafva uppgifvit sig skola
derifrån emigrera till Amerika")
1866 :
11.
Former farmer in Keräsjoki
village
Johan Jakob
Henriksson Haara b. 1822 d. 1897 (?)
Wife
Maria
Regina Henriksdotter b. 1841
Children
Hilda
Karolina b. 1861
Frans
Oskar b. 1863
Herman b. 1865
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to Tromsö, Norway and America requested 1.2.1866. Eventually
later residing in Holmes City, Minnesota, USA
12.
Farmer’s daughter in
Korpikylä village
Eva
Mickelsdotter Pipping b. 1844 d. 1893
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 20.6.1866. In America married to Henrik
Viinikka
from Kukkola (who’s parents – according to Ilmonen – should have emigrated over
Norway in 1865). Later residing in Cokato, Minnesota, USA
13.
Farmer in Kukkola village
Per Olof
Persson Tapani b. 1841
Wife
Eva
Johanna Mickelsdotter b. 1835
Children
Ida
Maria b. 1863
Johanna
Evelina b. 1865
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 20.6.1866. This family is not found in
the official Swedish Emigrant list, why it could be – maybe - suspected that they never leave?
1867 :
No emigrants to N. America
1868 :
No emigrants “
1869 :
No emigrants to N. America
1870 :
14.
Farmer’s son in Keräsjänkkä
village
Karl Petter
Johansson Haavistomaa b. 1841
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 22.6.1870, but returned the certificate
later the same year; The travel is called off. He was – maybe – later shown up
in Vadsö, Norway?
15.
Farmer’s
son in Karunki village
Per
Henriksson Sakari b. 1843 d. 1878
Wife
Gustafva
Andersdotter Paavo b. 1848
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 30.6.1870. Later residing in Hancock,
Michigan, USA. He died at Quincy 1878 (probably mining accident)
1871 :
16.
Farmer’s
son in Kukkola village
Henrik
Salomonsson Alamaa b.
1840 d. 1886
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 7.3.1871. Later residing in Cokato,
Minnesota, USA
17.
Farmer’s daughter in
Keräsjänkkä village
Stina
Johanna Johansdotter Haavistomaa b.
1843
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 24.6.1871. A note is saying that she
never get away: The travel is called off
18.
Farmer in Keräsjänkkä
village
Johan Erik
Johansson Haavistomaa b. 1836
Wife
Greta
Johanna Aronsdotter b. 1841
Children
Hilda
Karolina b. 1863
Johan
Albert b. 1866
Emma
Vilhelmina b. 1870
Finnish
speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 25.6.1871
19.
Maid in Välikoski village
Eva Greta
Persdotter Markinhuhta b. 1843 d. 1914
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 25.6.1871. Later married a Finn in
Calumet, Michigan, USA
20.
Farmer’s daughter in Kukkola
village
Maria
Johanna Andersdotter Paavo b.
1844
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 26.6.1871. But it seems that she never
did get
away to the States, because she is moving back home from neighbor
parish Nedertorneå 1874
21.
Former farmer in Kukkola
village
Johan
Petter Efraimsson Kerttu b. 1842
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 26.6.1871. Later residing in New York
Mills, Minnesota, USA
22.
Farmer in Tossa village
Erik Gustaf
Henriksson Keskitalo b. 1828 d. 1892
Wife
Sofia
Ersdotter b. 1834
Children
Johan b. 1862
Maria
Vilhelmina b. 1864
Hilda b. 1869
Finnish speaking family
Certificate
for emigration to N. America requested 26.6.1871. Later residing in New York
Mills, Minnesota, USA
23.
Farmer’s son in Tossa
village
Sakarias
Henriksson Keskitalo b. 1845
Finnish
speaking
Certificate
for emigration to America requested 26.6.1871. Later residing in Pendleton,
Oregon, USA
1872 : 6
emigrants to N. America
1873 : 5 emigrants “
1874 : No emigrants “
1875 : No emigrants “
1876 : No emigrants “
1877 : No emigrants “
1878 : 1 emigrant “
1879 :
No emigrants “
1880 :
10 emigrants to N. America
During all these
years (1865-1880) many emigrants from this Parish also moved to Norway and
Finland. Of those who left for Norway, we can be pretty sure that several later
were shown up in America. And then we even do know that some emigrants never
told their local vicar about their plans, they just left
In the 1880s this
direct emigration from Tornio Valley to N. America steadily increased, but
these people above were the pioneers from Karl Gustaf Parish, Sweden
