The very trip

Dear ones,

Göran's son #2 - August Göranson, later calling himself John Goranson (the Goranson's)

I am so pleased to be able to tell you what happened during the very trip across the ocean for August's wife Kristina and their four kids born to that date. As I told you before, August went first to see if he could make a home for his family. This was in 1888. Many relatives, friends and neighbours had gone on before to settle by White Rock in South Dakota. Having worked as a farmhand for a year August sent a ticket for his wife and four kids to come. My other son Oscar and his oldest son Göran, (changing his name to John in the new country) came along with them on this trip which is vividly described by my beloved great granddaughter Edna Goranson:

"Mama's sister Anna decided to come along to help her with the kids, also Dad's brother Uncle Oscar and his eldest son John, so they were eight in the party to cross the ocean. In those days they packed their own food to take along, I don't know if ships were not equipped with dining rooms as I have heard many old folks speak of their food baskets, they had to have enough for three weeks as that was the extent of their journey.

All went well on this trip until they came to New York, when they left the ship they passed customs in New Castlegar, then on into New York Central station, there they split them up, putting Mama and her kids on one train, while Uncle Oscar, Johan and Anna, were sent to another train standing by. When Uncle Oscar saw what was happening he took Mama's food basket which they had helped to carry, running over to Mama's train, tried to tell the conductor they belonged to her. He could not speak a word of English, but gesticulated wildly with his arms, finally made him understand they were hers. If Uncle hadn't been so stubborn or formidable with the conductor, Mama would have been without food, not able to speak a word of English, with four small children.

The reason for all this mix up was Mama's ticket had been purchased in White Rock, as Dad sent it to her, their tickets were purchased in Sweden. They had been routed on different railroads, nevertheless they both led to Chicago. The first person Mama saw when she changed trains in Chicago was her sister Anna. The joy and unspeakable relief of this unexpected turn of events can only be imagined in our minds.

From Chicago, Uncle Oscar and John, went to Chesterton, Indiana, while Mama and her sister continued on to White Rock, South Dakota. Uncle Oscar and John worked a couple of years at Chesterton, then sent for Aunty and the rest of the family to come...they stayed there a couple of years, then came on to White Rock, S.D: also" (E.G.).

Must add again how wonderfully pleased I am with the possibility to use this almost eyewitnessed story as my own memory has has deteriorated. It is a joy to be able to tell you these details and I thank everybody involved. The ship on the picture above is MS Gripsholm, Swedish American Line. On board in 1964 was another of my beloved grandkids, returning to the land of her origin for a visit. She wrote on the back of the card with the picture of the ship in Swedish, translated into the following:

"The storms are swishing, the waves are rolling, but my life is in the hands of God, so I fear nothing. I have not been sick yet. The ship is fine and everything is to my satisfaction. Hope to be in New York Thursday morning" (Hulda Johnson, 1964).

With much love from your granddad

Göran