Emigrant's Info in New Country
Emigrant's First Name
Alexander
Emigrant's Last Name
Smedjebacka
Country of Emigration
United States
Primary City of Residence
County of Residence
State, Province, or Area of Residence
Oregon
Emigrant's Marital Status
Single
Emigrant's Spouse's Name
N/A
Emigrant's Children's Names
No children
Household Members from Census Record
1950 US Census - Douglas County, Oregon; William Wheeler - head of household age 60; Alec Nygard - lodger age 64 - was a bucker at logging operation; Peter Odegard - lodger age 56; Alex Stewell - lodger age 56; Harvey Wayne - lodger age 46
Primary Occupation
Logger
Emigrant's Date of Death
1956.12.06
Emigrant's Location of Death
Douglas, Oregon - death resulting from foot injury that was infected with gangrene.
Emigrant's Info in Finland
Emigrant's Country of Birth
Finland
Emigrant's Date of Birth
1885.12.23
Village and Parish of Birth
Nedervetil
Surname or Farm Name
Smedjebacka
Patronym
Leandersson
Given Names
Alexander
Primary Language
Swedish
Father's Name and Date of Birth
Leander Johannsson Backanda Smejebacka, Finland, 1854
Mother's Name and Date of Birth
Matilda Katarina Johansdotter, Hästbacka, Finland, 1854
Year of Emigration
1906
Emigrant Info
Passport Date and Issuer
1906.01.18; issued in Vasa
DEE Collection
Submitted in 2023
Port of Origin
Hanko
Port of Destination
NY City, NY
Steamer Line and Ship Name
American Line
Other Information
Family lore says brothers Karl and Alex Smedjebacka, hid in the woods in Finland around 1905, to escape being conscripted into the Russian Army. Family didn't hear from them for a few years.  Karl and his younger brother, Alex actually departed Hanko, Finland on 1906.01.24 on the ship 'Arcturus'. They left England on 1906.02.03 on the 'S.S. Philadelphia' to NY City, arriving 1906.02.10.  However, according to the 'Arriving Passenger List' they were 'DEPORTED". According to family lore Karl was asked by officials at Ellis Island "Why are you coming to America?" and he replied, "to make money".  And for that reason they were deported.  Family lore also says that from there they jumped onto a ship heading to Canada and later crossed into the US.  According to the 'US Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports', Karl and Alex came through St. Albans, Vermont sometime in 1906. Not until after Karl and Alex had arrived and were working at a logging camp in Olympia, Washington did they send a letter to their family telling them where they were.
Contact in Country of Emigration
Friend, Anders Toroberg, Camp 4, Bordeax, Wshington
Area Where Descendants Reside
No descendants
Emigrant Record Number
105725
Sources
Submitted By
Nancy Nygard
Email Address
Sources
Institute of Migration - Finland; Arriving Passenger List of the SS Philadelphia from Southampton, England arriving in NY on Feb 10, 1906; US Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports, 1904 - 1944 searching on Alex Smedjebacka; Nygard Family Tree
