On May 21st, 1903 the Anders Alfred and Brita Kristina 'Christine' (Olofsdotter Andersson Olson) Ersson Eriksson Erickson family arrived in New York City. It had been quite the journey from Sweden, one long anticipated and finally almost complete with their arrival in New York City.

After nine days at sea, the S.S. Aurania ported at Ellis Island. The family had traveled from Sundsvall to Malmo, Sweden, then to Copenhagen, Denmark and finally the long trek to Liverpool, England. On May 12th, they had left Liverpool, England and sailed west over the Atlantic to America.

Arriving at Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, was daunting and they filed into the lines directed and waited. Ellis Island was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to America for over 60 years from 1892, until it closed in 1954.

The Erickson's passed through immigration, and within days headed to downtown New York City and arrived at 42nd Street and Grand Central Station. They began the long train ride to North Dakota. The Spring was in full bloom, so the train ride was pleasant and after over a week of traveling through a dozen states or more, they were told they were in North Dakota, their new homeland. Within hours, the Erickson's, carrying all their earthly belongings, walked onto the train station platform in Bismarck. Anders brother, Fredrick, greeted them warmly, and the tired group headed to Fredrick's family farm in Slaughter, near Wilton, ND.

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 (it is unclear on the list how much the family had). Most important to the government, was where the passenger intended to go and who they knew or were related to there. The Ericksons were set, they knew their family was there, and they would be greeted warmly. Knowing that made the last leg of his long travels easier. The Erickson's were heading to their new home, and what laid in store was anticipated with optimism.

Highlighted in blue on the S.S. Aurania ship manifest from May 21st, 1903 are the names of my Great Grandparents Anders Alfred & Brita Kristina 'Christine' Erickson (Eriksson) along with their six children: My Grandfather Frans (Frank), Uncle Ernst (Ernest), Uncle Anders (Andrew), Uncle Erick Olof (Helmer) and Aunt Ebba (Abbie) and Aunt Elda (Vera).

Anders Alfred Ersson Eriksson Erickson
Born on May 21st, 1861 - Age: 42 on arrival to New York City

Brita Kristina 'Christine' (Olofsdotter Andersson Olson) Ersson Eriksson Erickson
Born on December 28th, 1864 - Age: 39 on arrival to New York City

Ethnicity/ Nationality: Scandinavian
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England May 12th, 1903
Port of Arrival: New York, New York May 21st, 1903
Ship Name: S.S. Aurania

The Eriksson Family used the spelling of Erickson soon after their arrival in North Dakota. The family's individual ages at the time of the arrival in New York City is stated below.

Anders Alfred Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1861 - 42 years old
Brita Kristina 'Christine' Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1864 - 39 years old
Erick Olof Helmer Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1886 - 17 years old
Ernst (Ernest) Alfred Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1890 - 13 years old
Frans (Frank) Gustaf Severin Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1892 - 10 years old
Anders (Andrew) 'Andy' Sebran Filimon Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1897 -
6 years old
Ebba (Abbie) Angnis Kristina Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1899 - 4 years old
Edla (Vera) Alfrid Elvira Eriksson Erickson - Born: 1902 - 1 year old

In 1905 in North Dakota, a seventh child would be born and he was named Alphons 'Al' Fredrick Alkassar Erickson.

In a classic 1910 photograph taken by Helmer Erick Olof Erickson at his 'Erickson Studio' in Wilton, North Dakota are his parents, and here I will use their new Americanized names Christine and Anders Erickson's Family.

They had arrived in the Dakotas in 1903 from Sundsvall, Sweden only seven years before.The family lived and worked on a farm in Regan, North Dakota. The four (top row) brothers and two (middle row) sisters were born in Sweden. Alphons 'Al' Erickson (bottom row middle) was born in Bismarck.

left to right - top row: Uncle Ernest Julius Alfred, Uncle Andrew 'Andy' Anders Sebran Filimon, my Grandfather Frank Gustaf Severin and Uncle Helmer Erick Olof Erickson.

left to right - middle row: Aunt Vera Edla Alfrid Elivira (Gallagher) Erickson and Aunt Abbie Ebba Angnis Kristina (Lincoln) Erickson.

left to right - bottom row: Great Grandmother Christine Brita Kristina (Olofsdotter Andersson Olson), Uncle Alphons 'Al' Fredrick 'Fred' Alkassar and Great Grandfather Anders Alfred Erickson.