On September 14th, 1902, my great grandfather, Anders Nelson (Nilsson) arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. It had been quite the adventure and he had seen a lot, since he left Sweden. His plan had succeeded, to get to America. Anders had left his family temporarily behind in Landskrona, Sweden, while he made it to his brother August's home in Painted Woods, North Dakota.

Gerda (Miljander) Nelson (Nilsson) and their four children, Sture Albin, Anton Nick, Albert 'Bob' William and Clara (Klara) Amelia Yunhild Nelson (Nilsson) sailed to the states a year after Anders arrived in the states. Gerda and the children would leave Sweden in October of 1903 bound for the West.

Anders had traveled from Landskrona to Copenhagen and then shipped out from Malmo, Sweden heading to Liverpool, England. On September 4th aboard the S.S. Merion, Anders sailed over the Atlantic to his new homeland.

The Merion ported on September 14th in Boston. Anders passed through immigration, and his first thought was to head to the train station and begin the long haul to his family already settled in North Dakota. A long train ride awaited him, but he felt lucky it was the tail end of the Summer, and he would be long in Dakota territory before the Winter chills would hit. Anders brother, August and his wife Amelia ran a farm in Painted Woods, and he looked forward to the idea of settling down in what would be his home for the rest of his life.

Anders arrived in Bismarck two weeks later, and was met by August and Amelia (Aunt Molly) at the train station. They soon headed out to the farm in Painted Woods. Anders started at work as quickly as he could. He began to save all the money he earned in farm work and at various jobs in-between to accomplish his goals. As Winter began in late 1902, Anders found work in the Dakota mines, and worked there until the Spring of 1903 came. By the Summer, after ten months since he arrived in Dakota, Anders sent funds to Sweden. Within months, Gerda and their children would be joining him in Painted Woods.

My grandmother, Clara (Klara) Amelia Yunhild Nelson (Nilsson), was born on April 25th, 1903 in Landskrona. Clara was named after Gerda and Anders' first daughter Klara, who had passed away when she was only 2 years old in 1896. Clara would be only 6 months old when the family shipped out of Liverpool, for the extended sea adventure to New York City.

The passenger list below shows the procedure of the time. Pen and inked by a clerk with all pertinent information of each passenger listed, line after line: names, ages, how much money they had on them (Anders stated he had $6.). Most important to the government, was where the passenger intended to go and who they knew or were related to there. Anders was set, he knew his family was in Dakota, and they would greet him warmly. Knowing that made the last leg of his long travels easier. He was heading to his new home and he was excited.

Highlighted in blue on the ship registry, is Anders' name and information. He worked hard to make it to America and raise his and Gerda's children here. I am proud of my immigrant family from Sweden, and what they accomplished in the following decades. It was in their sacrifices that made the lives of their children better. All the way down to my father, Ernest Anders and his sister Dian Marcella, and to myself, each life affected by their hard work and the challenges they faced. Minimizing the reasons why an immigrant makes the effort and the hardships that go along with finding a new home, is a futile endeavor. What their true goals were and the new immigrants thoughts continue to be, was to have a good life for their families and to prosper.

left to right - top row:
My uncle Anton Tony Nelson, uncle August Valentine Nelson, uncle Albert 'Bob' William Nelson, my great grandfather Anders Nelson, great uncle who is the brother of Anders: August Nelson, cousin Tom Hanwell who is the husband to Josie Amelia Jr. (Nelson) Hanwell and Uncle Sture Albin Nelson (at the time in the Navy during the First World War).

left to right - sitting:
My grandmother Clara Amelia Yunhild (Erickson) Nelson, cousin Berthe Nelson (holding daughter Mary Jane), my great grandmother Gertrude 'Gerda' (Miljander) Nelson (holding Josie Jr. - daughter of Tom and Josie Amelia Jr. (Nelson) Hanwell, great aunt Amelia (Aunt Molly and wife of great uncle August), cousin Josie Amelia Jr. (Nelson) Hanwell (daughter of Amelia & August Nelson) and cousin Elsie Peterson.