Coming To The United States

My next steps will be to find the dates of departure/arrival, and with those, hopefully I can divine some of the conditions and circumstances of the journeys.

Returning to Gustave Hilmer Backman and his journal, we know that he with John Peter traveled together.

He says of this, “father’s brother John P. Backman, who was then a sailor between Gotenborg [sic] and Liverpool, was making his last voyage. Intending to leave the service upon reaching Liverpool, and then continue to Utah; arrangement was made that I go with him and we left Gotenborg [sic] on the 12^th of May, 1877, and arrived in Liverpool on my birthday, May 18, 1877.”

Prior to leaving Europe nephew and uncle stayed in Liverpool with the latter’s sister, Charlotte and her husband John Anderson. They sailed on the ship Wyoming. I have learned from a file from https://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu that they did travel with an organized company of 188, headed by David K. Udall. This file carries additional sources.

Gustave tells us later that his younger brother, William traveled in the fall of the same year, making the trip with Mormon Elders returning to Utah.

In July 1878, Gustave’s parents came to Utah, bringing his brother George, sisters Annie and Bertha. They traveled aboard the steamship Nevada, departing Liverpool June 29, arriving New York on July 10. There were 577 passengers in their company under John Cook.

I have found the record of Inger coming in 1880 in another source, this source tells us she traveled on the steamship Wisconsin, leaving Liverpool July 10 and arriving in New York July 21. Inger was part of a company of 710, their church leader being Neils P. Rassmusen. I believe I see Carolina Maria Neilsson on that voyage, as well. Anders (Andrew, Samuel’s son)) came the same year, in September, leaving Liverpool on the 4^th and arriving on the 16^th. His ship was Nevada, traveling with John Rider’s company. I have not yet discovered other family members with these two, but both scenarios are possible, that they traveled alone but for the fellow migrants.

Family researchers have found that Axel – known as Charlie – came in through the port of New Orleans and Johan Auguste through Canada, neither knowing this of the other at the time. Charlie happened upon Lena – Carolina -  while on the street in Salt Lake City. I have found a reference in the census that Lena’s husband came in 1881, this is also the year that their first child was born in Idaho.

An interesting note – because I enjoy them – Axel’s wife was in the company with Gustave and John Peter as they crossed the country, having been in New York the year previous, to earn money to come to Utah. I don’t know if the marriage to come was already in the works, or not.

Charlotta and John Anderson, who had opened their home in Liverpool also came to America. Census records show1879 and 1880, but again I have not located the ship or company if they did travel with such.

I have made some fairly obvious errors in family history, I am old enough to accept that. For a long time, I was certain Inger Sophia had come to America, stating it quite assuredly when we met in Midway, Utah to form a Backman Family Organization. I was so sure, that it was only in my study and research for this blog that I have found records showing I was wrong. If you take anything from my writing, take this: you will find errors in family history research. At least, try not to make them. 

A correct record is a great endeavor.