Genealogy Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-01-22

My Swedish Emigrants to the

USA

Johan Efraim Söderholm, born 1873-09-23 in Graninge (Y), Sweden

Johan Efraim Söderholm was born on 1873-09-23 in Vik, Graninge, Västernorrland län (Y), died on 1957-02-19 in San Diego, CA, USA. He is a first cousin to my paternal grandmother Gerda Högman (née Nordlander). Gerda's mother Anna Erika Söderholm (1855 - 1951) was a sister to Johan Efraim's father, Isak Söderholm. Johan Efraim's parents were Isak johan Söderholm, born on 1852-02-15 in Vik, Graninge, died on 1919-11-09 i Vik, Graninge and Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt, born on 1851-07-17 in Graninge, died on 1928-07-05 in Vik, Graninge. Johan Efraim was their first child, however, the couple didn't get married until 1875-09-24 so Johan Efraim has the notation "illegitimate child" in the birth record. The couple got 11 children and the first one was: Johan Efraim 1873 - 1957 In the parish book (församlingsboken) for Graninge AIIa:1 (1895-1908) Image 1720 / page 163 (ArkivDigital) Johan Efraim has the notation "N. Amerika" and the date June 1, 1901. There is in the Swedish emigration CD Emigranten Populär 2006 a Johan Söderholm from Graninge (Y), age 25, born 1875/1876. He emigrated from Sweden to the USA with Göteborg as the port of departure on 1901-06-14 with the destination Wesley, Iowa, USA. According to the database, he traveled alone. The year of birth is not quite correct in the database. He was born in 1873.
Above is Johan Efraim's birth note in the birth record for Graninge C:3 (1862-1892) Image 58 / page 50 for 1873. He was born on September 23, 1873. His mother is the maid (pig. - pigan) Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt. Johan has the remark "oäkta" (illegitimate child) in his birth record.
Above is Johan Efraim with parents in the household examination roll (HFL) for Graninge AI:9 (1885-1894) Image 206 / page 198. Johan Efraim's parents are tenant farmer (torpare - crofter) Isak johan Söderholm and Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt. Johan was born in 1873 while his parents didn't marry until 1875.
Above, Johan Efraim's notation in the household examination roll (Församlingsbok) for Graninge AIIa:1 (1895-1908) Image 1720 / page 163 about his emigration to "N. Amerika" (North America) on June 1, 1901. The numeric code to the left is his military conscription number which shows that he did his military service in 1894.
Above, The header to the Boston Passenger and Crew Lists June 1901 (see below) with the ship's name, Iverina.
Above is an excerpt from Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943 records where we find Johan Söderlund as number three from the bottom.
This is the entry in the California, Death Index 1940 - 1997 for John Efraaim Saderholm at familysearch.org.
Johan arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, USA according to the Boston passenger list above. Port of departure was Göteborg (Gothenburg). His journey to the USA went via England and from Liverpool, he sailed on The Iverina which went via Queenstown on Ireland to Boston, USA, where he arrived on June 18, 1901. He was then 27 years old which matches his year of birth, 1873. Occupation is according to the list "Lab." which is an abbreviation of "Laborer". The destination is "Minn" which is the old 4 letter abbreviation for Minnesota. I have found a "John Efraaim Saderholm" at familysearch.org. This person was born on 1873-09-23 which matches my Johan Efraim. Place of birth is not noted, just "other country". This person died in San Diego, California, USA 1957-02-10 according to "California, Death Index, 1940-1997". "Saderholm" probably is an indexing error when they digitalized the records.

World War I

There is a World War I Draft Registration Card (at Ancestry) from 1918 for a John Efraim Soderholm, Sargent County, North Dakota, born on September 23, 1873. As next-of-kin he states an Isak Soderholm, Vik, Graning, Sweden. According to the record, his eyes are blue and brown hair. He is a farm laborer at Victor Youngdahl. Johan Efraim is rather old to be drafted, 45 years of age at the time. However, Johan Efraim had done military service as a conscript (infantry) in Sweden in 1894, prior to his emigration in 1901. So, he was already military-trained when he was drafted in 1918. Since both his date of birth, September 23, 1873, as well as the name of his father, Isak Söderholm, including the name of the place where his father lives Vik, Graninge is correct this must be "my" Johan Efraim Söderholm. However, he has been indexed as "Saderhalm" in the database, but this must be a misreading/typo from the record. Below we have Johan Efraim's World War I Draft Registration Card:
Johan Efraim was employed by Victor Youngdahl as a farm laborer according to the draft record. Youngdahl sounds like an Americanization of a Swedish name. Maybe Victor was a Swede or a Swedish descendant that in Sweden had a surname like Ljungdahl? So Victor Youngdahl might have been Viktor Ljungdahl in Swedish and it is not impossible since the immigrants gladly took employment by a countryman. The registration was held, according to the registration card above, in Forman town, Sargent County, ND. Forman is located in the southeastern corner of North Dakota, not far from the Minnesota border. Otherwise, Johan Efraim doesn't seem to have left many imprints in the US records.
San Diego is located in southern California close to the Mexican border.

Johan Efraim Söderholm was a relative to Emil Söderlund

Johan Efraim Söderholm was related to Emil Söderlund, see below. Emil’s mother Helena Söderlund (née Nordlander and a sister to my paternal grandmother) was a first cousin to Johan Efraim Söderholm. This ought to mean that when Emil emigrated from Sweden in 1927 he knew that his mother's cousin already lived in the USA. Furthermore, both Johan Efraim and Emil lived in California.

Emil Söderlund, born 1906-11-14 in Viksjö (Y), Sweden

Emil's mother Helena Söderlund, maiden name Nordlander, was a sister to my paternal grandmother Gerda Högman (née Nordlander). Helena Söderlund emigrated from Sweden with her husband and children to Argentina in July 1927. Kristina Helena Nordlander, born on June 15, 1883, in Graninge, Västernorrland län (Y), died on December 9, 1970, in Oberá, Misiones, Argentina. She was married on June 23, 1904, to Erik Söderlund, born on October 14, 1879, in Viksjö (Y), died on November 5, 1955, in Oberá, Misiones, Argentina. After the marriage in 1904, Helena moved from Graninge to Viksjö (Y) to her husband. They had three children: 1. Erik (1905–1986) 2. Emil (1906-1996) 3. Sylvia Helena (1917-2004 ) All of the children were born in Viksjö (Y). Helena and her husband Erik emigrated from Sweden with two of the children, Erik and Sylvia, to Argentina in 1927. The image shows Emil's parents Helena and Erik Söderlund and his brother Erik and his wife Sally. Emil Söderlund was born on 1906-11-14 in Nordanå, Viksjö (Y). Died on 1996- 02-02 in Butte County, CA, USA. Butte County is located in northern California.
Above is Emil’s birth note in the birth records for Viksjö C:6 (1895-1930) Image 760 / page 70 for 1906. He was born on November 14, 1906. His parents are forest ranger (skogvaktaren) Erik Söderlund and Kristina Helena Nordlander.
Above we find Emil with his parents in the household examination roll (Församlingsbok) for Viksjö AIIa:1 (1896-1914) Image 2060 / page 193. We also find Emil's older brother Erik in the image.

Emigration from Sweden to the USA in 1927

Emil emigrated from Sweden to the USA in February 1927, then only 21 years old, and finally settles down in California. He left Göteborg, Sweden, on February 11, 1927. According to the Swedish emigration database, Emihamn was his destination Madison, Wisconsin. Emil was, according to the ship manifest, going to a friend in Madison, WI, Erik Sjöström. Emil’s surname was spelled "Soderlund" in the USA. His voyage begins on February 11, 1927, with the Swedish American Line's ship SS Stockholm from Göteborg to New York. He is noted as a "farm laborer" in the passenger list. His home address in Sweden is listed as Viksjö. The image to the right shows the Swedish American Line's passenger ship SS Stockholm. After 1924 immigrants to the USA needed a Visa. So, Emil didn’t process thru Ellis Island since he pre-processed with a Visa issued in Stockholm. Below is an excerpt from the passenger list for SS Stockholm with departure from Göteborg on February 11, 1927:
The third column from the right, on the image above, shows Emil's Visa number. The column thereafter shows that the Visa was issued in Stockholm and the last column the date of issue. Farm laborer: In the USA Emil worked as a farm laborer most of his life but he did not settle in one place. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, he was working in Norman County, Minnesota in 1935. In 1940 he was living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. From there he moved to San Joaquin, California, which is California's top agricultural area. According to the 1940 Census, Emil by then had filed his Declaration of Intention. Emil's Social Security Number was 361-07-nnnn which means it was issued between 1936 and 1950 in the State of Illinois. He has, in other words, been living in Illinois for some time during this period. World War II: According to “The United States, World War II Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946" (familysearch.org) Emil was drafted during World War II. In 1943 he went to Sacramento, CA, where he enlisted in the Army on July 9, 1943. He was discharged the following year on March 30, 1944, as a casualty of war, which means he was seriously injured in a battle somewhere. His marital (civil) status in the enlistment records is “Single, without dependents”. Occupation: farm laborer. His "citizenship status" is American citizen, so he evidently had become a citizen before 1943. "Grammar school" is noted as education. Grammar school is an old term that has gradually disappeared from use in the USA. During Emil Soderlund's time, grammar school would have been a school that taught kids up to age 14. In other words, it was roughly equivalent to what we today call "middle school". Grammar school is most likely what in Sweden was called “Folkskola” at the time. He must have moved to Oroville, CA sometime after the war but before 1954 when he visited Argentina.
To the left is the image of Emil Soderlund's World War II Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946 at familysearch.org .
A visit to Argentina: In 1954 Emil visits Argentina to see his parents and his siblings. He returns to New York aboard SS Argentina. He departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 19, 1954, and arrived in New York on March 8, 1954. On the journey back he is accompanied by his niece Sylvia Maj-Britt Söderlund. Maj-Britt is the oldest daughter of his brother Erik. Emil's home address according to the passenger list is Box 63, Oroville, Butte County, CA, USA which also is noted for Maj-Britt. In the passenger list, Maj-Britt is listed by her first name among her given names (Sylvia) but she is called Maj-Britt. Her age is noted as 16 years of age which is correct since she was born in 1937. Below we will find an excerpt from the passenger list for SS Argentina with departure from Buenos Aires on February 19, 1954:
Emil’s address in Oroville, USA: 119 Inglewood Drive, Oroville, Butte County, CA, USA. According to both ”United States, Social Security Death Index” and “California, Death Index, 1940-1997” (both are available at familysearch.org) Emil died in Butte, California, USA, on 1996-02-02. He was then nearly 90 years old. Emil was unmarried.
To the left is the image of Emil Soderlund's Social Security Death Index at familysearch.org
To the left, we have a map showing that Oroville, Butte County (see the red "A" in the top right corner) is located northeast of San Francisco, California.

Facts about passenger ship The SS Stockholm

The SS Potsdam was built for the Dutch American Line and launched in 1899. The ship was first in use in May 1900. In 1915 the ship was sold to the newly-founded Swedish American Line (SAL) and renamed The SS Stockholm to be used as an ocean liner from Gothenburg to North America. The ship was a steamship but converted to be powered by oil in 1922. In 1929 she was sold to Norwegian interests and converted to a whale factory ship and renamed SS Solglimt. During World War II she fell into German hands (SS Sondenburg) and was bombed by the British in Cherbourg, France in 1942. The ship was finally scrapped in 1946/47. Data about the ship: Length 174.5 m (572,5 feet) Width 19 m (62 feet) Tonnage 12.606 ton (Dwt) Speed 15 knot Passengers 1,120 passengers and 200 men in the crew

Source Reference

Wikipedia Swedish church books familysearch.org

Related Links

Descendant chart for Nils Nordlander Ancestor chart to Gerda Högman and her sister Helena Söderlund (b. Nordlander) Emil Soderlund’s family in Argentina Top of page
xxxxx Swegen xxxxxxxxxxx

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Genealogy Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-01-22

My Swedish

Emigrants to the

USA

Johan Efraim Söderholm, born

1873-09-23 in Graninge (Y),

Sweden

Johan Efraim Söderholm was born on 1873-09-23 in Vik, Graninge, Västernorrland län (Y), died on 1957-02-19 in San Diego, CA, USA. He is a first cousin to my paternal grandmother Gerda Högman (née Nordlander). Gerda's mother Anna Erika Söderholm (1855 - 1951) was a sister to Johan Efraim's father, Isak Söderholm. Johan Efraim's parents were Isak johan Söderholm, born on 1852-02-15 in Vik, Graninge, died on 1919- 11-09 i Vik, Graninge and Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt, born on 1851-07-17 in Graninge, died on 1928-07-05 in Vik, Graninge. Johan Efraim was their first child, however, the couple didn't get married until 1875-09-24 so Johan Efraim has the notation "illegitimate child" in the birth record. The couple got 11 children and the first one was: Johan Efraim 1873 - 1957 In the parish book (församlingsboken) for Graninge AIIa:1 (1895-1908) Image 1720 / page 163 (ArkivDigital) Johan Efraim has the notation "N. Amerika" and the date June 1, 1901. There is in the Swedish emigration CD Emigranten Populär 2006 a Johan Söderholm from Graninge (Y), age 25, born 1875/1876. He emigrated from Sweden to the USA with Göteborg as the port of departure on 1901-06-14 with the destination Wesley, Iowa, USA. According to the database, he traveled alone. The year of birth is not quite correct in the database. He was born in 1873.
Above is Johan Efraim's birth note in the birth record for Graninge C:3 (1862-1892) Image 58 / page 50 for 1873. He was born on September 23, 1873. His mother is the maid (pig. - pigan) Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt. Johan has the remark "oäkta" (illegitimate child) in his birth record.
Above is Johan Efraim with parents in the household examination roll (HFL) for Graninge AI:9 (1885-1894) Image 206 / page 198. Johan Efraim's parents are tenant farmer (torpare - crofter) Isak johan Söderholm and Katharina Charlotta Degerstedt. Johan was born in 1873 while his parents didn't marry until 1875.
Above, Johan Efraim's notation in the household examination roll (Församlingsbok) for Graninge AIIa:1 (1895-1908) Image 1720 / page 163 about his emigration to "N. Amerika" (North America) on June 1, 1901. The numeric code to the left is his military conscription number which shows that he did his military service in 1894.
Above, The header to the Boston Passenger and Crew Lists June 1901 (see below) with the ship's name, Iverina.
Above is an excerpt from Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943 records where we find Johan Söderlund as number three from the bottom.
This is the entry in the California, Death Index 1940 - 1997 for John Efraaim Saderholm at familysearch.org.
World War I There is a World War I Draft Registration Card (at Ancestry) from 1918 for a John Efraim Soderholm, Sargent County, North Dakota, born on September 23, 1873. As next-of-kin he states an Isak Soderholm, Vik, Graning, Sweden. According to the record, his eyes are blue and brown hair. He is a farm laborer at Victor Youngdahl. Johan Efraim is rather old to be drafted, 45 years of age at the time. However, Johan Efraim had done military service as a conscript (infantry) in Sweden in 1894, prior to his emigration in 1901. So, he was already military-trained when he was drafted in 1918. Since both his date of birth, September 23, 1873, as well as the name of his father, Isak Söderholm, including the name of the place where his father lives Vik, Graninge is correct this must be "my" Johan Efraim Söderholm. However, he has been indexed as "Saderhalm" in the database, but this must be a misreading/typo from the record.  Below we have Johan Efraim's World War I Draft Registration Card:
Johan Efraim was employed by Victor Youngdahl as a farm laborer according to the draft record. Youngdahl sounds like an Americanization of a Swedish name. Maybe Victor was a Swede or a Swedish descendant that in Sweden had a surname like Ljungdahl? So Victor Youngdahl might have been Viktor Ljungdahl in Swedish and it is not impossible since the immigrants gladly took employment by a countryman. The registration was held, according to the registration card above, in Forman town, Sargent County, ND. Forman is located in the southeastern corner of North Dakota, not far from the Minnesota border. Otherwise, Johan Efraim doesn't seem to have left many imprints in the US records.
San Diego is located in southern California close to the Mexican border.

Johan Efraim Söderholm was a relative to

Emil Söderlund

Johan Efraim Söderholm was related to Emil Söderlund, see below. Emil’s mother Helena Söderlund (née Nordlander and a sister to my paternal grandmother) was a first cousin to Johan Efraim Söderholm. This ought to mean that when Emil emigrated from Sweden in 1927 he knew that his mother's cousin already lived in the USA. Furthermore, both Johan Efraim and Emil lived in California.

Emil Söderlund, born 1906-11-14

in Viksjö (Y), Sweden

Emil's mother Helena Söderlund, maiden name Nordlander, was a sister to my paternal grandmother Gerda Högman (née Nordlander). Helena Söderlund emigrated from Sweden with her husband and children to Argentina in July 1927. Kristina Helena Nordlander, born on June 15, 1883, in Graninge, Västernorrland län (Y), died on December 9, 1970, in Oberá, Misiones, Argentina. She was married on June 23, 1904, to Erik Söderlund, born on October 14, 1879, in Viksjö (Y), died on November 5, 1955, in Oberá, Misiones, Argentina. After the marriage in 1904, Helena moved from Graninge to Viksjö (Y) to her husband. They had three children: 1. Erik (1905–1986) 2. Emil (1906-1996) 3. Sylvia Helena (1917-2004 ) All of the children were born in Viksjö (Y). Helena and her husband Erik emigrated from Sweden with two of the children, Erik and Sylvia, to Argentina in 1927. The image shows Emil's parents Helena and Erik Söderlund and his brother Erik and his wife Sally. Emil Söderlund was born on 1906-11-14 in Nordanå, Viksjö (Y). Died on 1996-02-02 in Butte County, CA, USA. Butte County is located in northern California.
Above is Emil’s birth note in the birth records for Viksjö C:6 (1895-1930) Image 760 / page 70 for 1906. He was born on November 14, 1906. His parents are forest ranger (skogvaktaren) Erik Söderlund and Kristina Helena Nordlander.
Above we find Emil with his parents in the household examination roll (Församlingsbok) for Viksjö AIIa:1 (1896-1914) Image 2060 / page 193. We also find Emil's older brother Erik in the image.

Emigration from Sweden to the USA in 1927

Emil emigrated from Sweden to the USA in February 1927, then only 21 years old, and finally settles down in California. He left Göteborg, Sweden, on February 11, 1927. According to the Swedish emigration database, Emihamn was his destination Madison, Wisconsin. Emil was, according to the ship manifest, going to a friend in Madison, WI, Erik Sjöström. Emil’s surname was spelled "Soderlund" in the USA. His voyage begins on February 11, 1927, with the Swedish American Line's ship SS Stockholm from Göteborg to New York. He is noted as a "farm laborer" in the passenger list. His home address in Sweden is listed as Viksjö. The image to the right shows the Swedish American Line's passenger ship SS Stockholm. After 1924 immigrants to the USA needed a Visa. So, Emil didn’t process thru Ellis Island since he pre- processed with a Visa issued in Stockholm. Below is an excerpt from the passenger list for SS Stockholm with departure from Göteborg on February 11, 1927:
The third column from the right, on the image above, shows Emil's Visa number. The column thereafter shows that the Visa was issued in Stockholm and the last column the date of issue. Farm laborer: In the USA Emil worked as a farm laborer most of his life but he did not settle in one place. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, he was working in Norman County, Minnesota in 1935. In 1940 he was living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. From there he moved to San Joaquin, California, which is California's top agricultural area. According to the 1940 Census, Emil by then had filed his Declaration of Intention. Emil's Social Security Number was 361-07-nnnn which means it was issued between 1936 and 1950 in the State of Illinois. He has, in other words, been living in Illinois for some time during this period. World War II: According to “The United States, World War II Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946" (familysearch.org) Emil was drafted during World War II. In 1943 he went to Sacramento, CA, where he enlisted in the Army on July 9, 1943. He was discharged the following year on March 30, 1944, as a casualty of war, which means he was seriously injured in a battle somewhere. His marital (civil) status in the enlistment records is Single, without dependents”. Occupation: farm laborer. His "citizenship status" is American citizen, so he evidently had become a citizen before 1943. "Grammar school" is noted as education. Grammar school is an old term that has gradually disappeared from use in the USA. During Emil Soderlund's time, grammar school would have been a school that taught kids up to age 14. In other words, it was roughly equivalent to what we today call "middle school". Grammar school is most likely what in Sweden was called “Folkskola” at the time. He must have moved to Oroville, CA sometime after the war but before 1954 when he visited Argentina.
To the left is the image of Emil Soderlund's World War II Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946 at familysearch.org .
A visit to Argentina: In 1954 Emil visits Argentina to see his parents and his siblings. He returns to New York aboard SS Argentina. He departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 19, 1954, and arrived in New York on March 8, 1954. On the journey back he is accompanied by his niece Sylvia Maj-Britt Söderlund. Maj-Britt is the oldest daughter of his brother Erik. Emil's home address according to the passenger list is Box 63, Oroville, Butte County, CA, USA which also is noted for Maj-Britt. In the passenger list, Maj-Britt is listed by her first name among her given names (Sylvia) but she is called Maj-Britt. Her age is noted as 16 years of age which is correct since she was born in 1937. Below we will find an excerpt from the passenger list for SS Argentina with departure from Buenos Aires on February 19, 1954:
Emil’s address in Oroville, USA: 119 Inglewood Drive, Oroville, Butte County, CA, USA. According to both ”United States, Social Security Death Index” and “California, Death Index, 1940-1997” (both are available at familysearch.org) Emil died in Butte, California, USA, on 1996-02-02. He was then nearly 90 years old. Emil was unmarried.
To the left is the image of Emil Soderlund's Social Security Death Index at familysearch.org
To the left, we have a map showing that Oroville, Butte County (see the red "A" in the top right corner) is located northeast of San Francisco, California.

Facts about passenger ship The SS

Stockholm

The SS Potsdam was built for the Dutch American Line and launched in 1899. The ship was first in use in May 1900. In 1915 the ship was sold to the newly-founded Swedish American Line (SAL) and renamed The SS Stockholm to be used as an ocean liner from Gothenburg to North America. The ship was a steamship but converted to be powered by oil in 1922. In 1929 she was sold to Norwegian interests and converted to a whale factory ship and renamed SS Solglimt. During World War II she fell into German hands (SS Sondenburg) and was bombed by the British in Cherbourg, France in 1942. The ship was finally scrapped in 1946/47. Data about the ship: Length 174.5 m (572,5 feet) Width 19 m (62 feet) Tonnage 12.606 ton (Dwt) Speed 15 knot Passengers 1,120 passengers and 200 men in the crew

Source Reference

Wikipedia Swedish church books familysearch.org

Related Links

Descendant chart for Nils Nordlander Ancestor chart to Gerda Högman and her sister Helena Söderlund (b. Nordlander) Emil Soderlund’s family in Argentina Top of page
Johan arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, USA according to the Boston passenger list above. Port of departure was Göteborg (Gothenburg). His journey to the USA went via England and from Liverpool, he sailed on The Iverina which went via Queenstown on Ireland to Boston, USA, where he arrived on June 18, 1901. He was then 27 years old which matches his year of birth, 1873. Occupation is according to the list "Lab." which is an abbreviation of "Laborer". The destination is "Minn" which is the old 4 letter abbreviation for Minnesota. I have found a "John Efraaim Saderholm" at familysearch.org. This person was born on 1873-09- 23 which matches my Johan Efraim. Place of birth is not noted, just "other country". This person died in San Diego, California, USA 1957-02-10 according to "California, Death Index, 1940-1997". "Saderholm" probably is an indexing error when they digitalized the records.