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richmittel
New on board
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 06/03/2012 : 21:40:15
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| My grandfather emigrated from Bergen to southwestern Minnesota in 1885. I am trying to determine if he came via Quebec or New York. I am leaning toward Quebec, because it seems like many of the Norwegians heading to the upper Midwest came that way. Why? Was it shorter or less costly? I understand they didn't have to go through immigration if they came via Canada (at least not until the 1890s). Maybe that was a consideration. Does anyone have any further thoughts on why an immigrant would choose to go through Quebec? |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2012 : 22:53:39
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Well, you have most of the reasons: cheaper fares, no health inspections, freedom from inspections on border between US and Canada. For ship owners, less health regulations to adhere to which meant less costly voyages, etc.
And you could take a look in records here for arrival, particularly if he filed a declaration of intention to become citizen--would probably tell month & year as well as which US port arrival was through. |
Edited by - jkmarler on 06/03/2012 22:56:02 |
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richmittel
New on board
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 22:21:36
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Thanks to lyndal40 and the helpful folks on Norway-L, I was able to navigate through the information on the digitalarkivet and Norway Heritiage websites and found that my grandfather most likely came by way of New York on a Cunard Line ship. And it was 1886 instead of 1885.
I was surprised to find that he came via New York because various sources suggested that well over half of the Norwegian immigrants heading for the upper Midwest came through Canada, including my great-grandparents (in 1866) and a great nephew (in 1905). But evidently during the 1880s the English and German steamship companies had a near monopoly on trans-Atlantic passenger service, and their ships mostly went to New York.
The Cunard Line had agents in Bergen and other Norwegian ports at that time, which no doubt drew many emigrants to use their services (including my grandfather). However, the Cunard trans-Atlantic ships left from England, which required Norwegian passengers to travel to England, mostly on ships of the Wilson line.
And as suggested by jkmarler, I am attempting to track down my grandfather's naturalization papers, which may confirm when and where he arrived in America. |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 23:34:49
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This article; Concerning Emigration?, was posted in the Norwegian "Billed-Magazin" in spring 1869.
It decribes several routes to the west, and how to cross Lake Michigan.
See also this topic.
Jan Peter |
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richmittel
New on board
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 01:51:23
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The two sources lyndal40 posted provide an excellent starting point for anyone wondering how their ancestors got from Quebec to there destination in the Midwest. Concerning Emigration describes travel by water and the second source cited gives a couple of primarily rail options.
The earlier arrivals had to utilize the water route, but as the rail system developed, that became the preferred method of travel because it was much faster and evidently not that expensive.
A note in my great-grandparents' genealogy has caused some puzzlement. They arrived in Quebec in June 1866 and were "naturalized in Pennsylvania 1867. Went to Decorah, Iowa via Lansing, Michigan and Milwaukee Wisconsin."
My question is why would they have stopped in Pennsylvania? I can understand why their eventual destination was Decorah, because it was evidently a sort of hub for Norwegian immigrants. Was there also a Norwegian community in Pennsylvania that made a layover there attractive? Or did my grandfather go there first to earn enough money to continue his journey? Anyone have any ideas? |
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 03:05:03
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| I believe that Ole Bull had some kind of colony or organization in Pennsylvania... |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 04:56:22
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quote:
The two sources lyndal40 posted provide an excellent starting point for anyone wondering how their ancestors got from Quebec to there destination in the Midwest. Concerning Emigration describes travel by water and the second source cited gives a couple of primarily rail options.
Credit goes to Jan Peter. I only posted the link to Emigranter fra Bergen. |
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Kċarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 09:56:32
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quote:
Originally posted by jkmarler
I believe that Ole Bull had some kind of colony or organization in Pennsylvania...
You are right Jackie.
The famous violinist Ole Bull bought lots of land in Pennsylvania in 1852 to give the Norwegian settlers good opportunities in their new homeland called New Norway and founded the settlements Oleana, New Norway, New Bergen and Valhalla where many Norwegian immigrants settled down.
But the land was no good for farming and because of questionable real estate business the project ended in a failure and most of the Norwegian settlers moved to other areas.
The folk song Oleanna refers to Ole Bull´s project, link
Pete Seeger and Norwegian Lillebjĝrn Nilsen sings Oleanna, link
A book in English for sale by Paul Heimel from that area, The Ole Bull colony, was published 2002 in Pennsylvania, link
Kċre |
Edited by - Kċarto on 08/03/2012 13:12:43 |
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Norway to Quebec vs. New York
