John Jacob Nyberg

[Essimi]

The above mentioned Jakob Nyberg from Munsala took a one year passport to Africa(!) in the year 1895 according to the finnish Emigrant Register:
https://siirtolaisrekisteri.siirtolaisu ... i/?lang=en

[Ron1]

This is great information -- I'll see if I can get some information from Munsala. The birth date matches up, so its very likely.

Thanks for all the good leads, now I have some research to do.

[Ron1]

What? Africa? There's no family stories about that at all, what a possibility for a great story.

I do have access to SSHY so I can look up records, not sure about Africa though!

[jani]

Looks like this might be a passport record for the Jakob in Munsala... But he says he's going to Africa?

[tuulacu]

It IS possible that Jacob aimed for Africa. I have a genealogist friend whose forefather first went to South Africa and afterwards to US.

K G Olin has written a book https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikafeber - and it says that many of those leaving for Africa where from Munsala area!

Now there should be someone who could take a look at that book. At least in Olin's book on Alaska there is a list of names.

Tuula K

[Ron1]

This family has so many twists and turns, its better than a mystery. Turns out Johan's father Erik (yes this is the correct Johan) after marrying a second time and having two more children and adopting one, emigrates to the US July 1 1906 leaving behind at least four children, an adopted child and a wife 10 years younger. The interesting part is he emigrates to Wallace, Idaho, where Jakob lives BUT not to be with his son, but a friend August West. He's 61 years old and starting a new life where his son lives, but not with his son. At least I've found a great-grandaughter of Erik Eriksson Nyberg so she may be able to help with stories of these adventures.

The Baptists in Munsala so far haven't responded to requests for information about Jakob. I hope they kept as good records as the Lutherans to fill in what happened to the children that were left behind. Sanna Maria, Erik's second wife, apparently dies in 1914 eight years after Erik leaves for the US.