The Crofter's Son

The rapid railroad expansion to East Texas during the Reconstruction years, following the Civil War, along with the abundance of Southeast Texas timber brought speculators including Henry Jacob Lutcher and G Bedell Moore of Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast area, later called Orange Texas. Soon after their arrival in 1877, brought a flow of Dutch, Scandanavian, and Finnish workers lured by agressive promotion of greater opportunities near the Gulf of Mexico. A small group of Finns migrated from the north Great Lakes area and a small number came from Finland. Most of them seeking an opportunity for prosperity, with hopes of returning home. Passports for most who came, indicated only 5 years. They endured long arduous journeys to the land of aligators, swamp creatures, and breathtaking views.    Among them, came the crofter's son, Nicolai Wuorensyrjä from Kauhava and Lapua Parish, Finland.  He left his homeland to begin his journey to America on 14 October 1899, on the SS Arturus of the Finnish Steamship Company from Hanko, Finland.  According to the Alien Passenger Manifest of the SS Campania, Cunard Line, he  sailed from Liverpool on 21 Oct 1899 and arrived in the Port of New York 28 Oct 1899 with 30 other Finnish passengers.    At age 26, he was about to embark on marvelous adventure in a place very different than his homeland. He came to Orange, Texas to join a cousin Endy (Yyla or Yrjla, I was unable to transcribe from the handwritten document), to work in the booming lumber industry.    Orange Texas was an unusual destination for emmigrating Finns, only a very few listed their final destination in America as areas along the Gulf Coast. One other passenger traveling with Nicolai shared this unusual destination. His name was Winus Salo, age 21 from Kauhava (transcribed from passenger list as Varus Salo from Kantava).    Nicolai left his wife Maria Kaisa in Finland and she joined him in 1902. Maria Kaisa Wuorensyrjä sailed on the SS Arcturu from Hanko Finland to Hull Eng on 02.08.1902 and left Southhampton, SouthHamptonshire, England on the St Louis, American Line.  She arrived at the Port of New York, Ellis Island 17.08.1902 with a destination of Orange, TX "to join husband Nicolai Ericson".    Maria's Finnish passport indicated she was "the wife of the crofter's son".   HOME

"An Invitation" ...come to Southeast Texas whree roses bloom and grass is green throughout the year, where the garden furnishes fresh fruits and vegetables every month.  Where all kinds of crops grow quickly, bear heavily, and bring top prices.  Where the summers are pleasant and the winters ideal.  Where the soil is fertile, the water excellent, the rainfall ample and where the Farmer or Investor can treble his money quicker than anywhere else in the world."  The Provident Land Co.  ( A  penny postcard sent to promote Port Arthur, TX ; Illus. pg 512  Port Arthur Centennial History Vol. II; PTA Historical Society

Links:

Sukututkimus

Genealogical Society of Finland

Visit Vuorensyrjä Finnish Ancestry at MyFamily.com

The Road to East Texas

Yahoo!

The Ships List

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Name:

Debra Buster

Email:

dlbusteriii@worldnet.att.net