Friday, June 16, 2017

Moving: Flyttade, 2, Johan August


Johan August:

Johan August was born the 25th of May, 1837 in Restenas, Resteröd Parish, Gotebörg och Bohus län county, Sweden. He was at home, under his parents until 1857 according to the household records at Grinneröd 1851-1861. He became a mariner; perhaps, as his father died in 1853, this was one way to help support his mother and his younger siblings.

I have had the impression that the entire family joined the LDS faith in Sweden, and remained, at least nominally, associated with that organization. The memories posted in the FamilySearch profiles tell us that August and Charlie (Axel Emanuel) left their sea lives independently, the elder in Canada, the younger in New Orleans, and then, just as unaware of the other’s decisions, both found themselves in Utah.

We read that August was “re-baptized” in the Sixteenth Ward in 1877. This appears to have been a matter of course for many immigrants, at least no explanation was given otherwise. Carolina - Lena – had the same ordinance performed in that record, at the same time.

John August did not marry until he came to Utah. When or how he met Sarah Elizabeth Duncan I have not learned, on the 1880 U.S. Federal census they are married, living in Centerville, Davis County. I do see that her father had the neighboring farm.

Inger lived with August and Sarah when she arrived in 1880, making something of a rough ride for the young bride. An immigrant from Scotland, and several years younger than her husband, her mother-in-law may have seen her as a child (at seventeen, perhaps she was), or at least needing direction. Under August’s FamilySearch profile a short look into this dilemma is recounted by one of their great-granddaughters.

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