The Rest of the Story

by Cassie Chronic Like many that immigrated to the U. S., Hugo was an industrious Swede-Finn. From the time of his arrival, he leveraged his connections with family and friends to work at many different jobs in and around New York City. He often worked six and seven days a week; on occasion he worked nights. He spent ten hours a day on the job earning eight dollars per week. On one job he earned three dollars a day for a nine hour shift. He worked construction building docks, trestles, etc. He worked in a motor shop, and an icebox factory. He wrote to family and acquaintances in Rochester, Washington and San Francisco looking for more opportunities. In June 1911, eight months after Hugo’s arrival, he travelled west with his brother Albert who stopped and stayed in Rochester, Washington. Hugo traveled on to Astoria, Oregon where he began work in the Troy Steam Laundry. He celebrated the first anniversary of his arrival in the U.S. and his twenty-first birthday working at the laundry while residing at the Suomi Hotel, 405 Duane Street, and 9th Street in Astoria. In another seven months Hugo relocated to Rocklin, California where he met his brother Albert, and they began work in different stone quarries. He joined the union, five dollars, and paid sixty cents a month in dues. In March 1913, he returned to New York where he continued quarry work. However, Hugo missed Finland and thought of “home” often. Three years after his arrival in the U. S. he left New York City on the steamer Cedric, White Star Line, to Liverpool and then on to Hull to board the smaller Astraea which delivered its passengers to Åbo, Finland. He arrived back home in Terjärv on October 11,

1913. Hugo had missed his family, he was a young man ready to find a life’s partner, he was seeking. While Hugo worked on the family farm, wartime broke out. From August 1914 to March 1915, he wrestled with the idea of returning to the U.S. He invited his sister Jenny to accompany him, but she decided to stay behind. Although sad to leave family and friends, Hugo’s decision was made. He left Gamlakarleby, Finland for New York, a cost of 385 FM without food and hotels. Russian guards patrolled the Tornio River with guns on their shoulders. Further evidence of the war occurred when an English war cruiser stopped their steamer. Seas were high and Hugo was grateful to know that God alone was in charge. Back in New York he moved from job to job looking for greater opportunities. “I am now on my second trip in America and alone yet on this life’s journey…” Hugo wished to find a life’s partner and he was active in church activities where young people gathered. On January 28, 1917, Hildur Alquist was the organist at his church for the first time. From then on, Hildur is frequently mentioned in his journal. During the following eight months they spent happy time together. However, their budding romance was interrupted when Hugo, an immigrant, received an October notice from the Local Board to prepare to leave to serve in the U. S. Army.

Above: Hugo and Hildur wedding in 1919. Top left: The Nelson Family in 1925 Top right: Hugo Bottom right: Hildur and Hugo mugging for the camera in 1960. Photos: Nelson Family Collection The couple announced their betrothal Christmas Day 1917, the same day Hugo suffered a bout of gastric ulcer and chronic appendix which delayed the start of his military service. When he was well enough, he joined up with the U. S. Army, 35th Engineers and left for France. During his military service he continued to suffer with his appendix resulting, finally, with surgery on December 26, 1918. With the war over, Hugo returned to the U.S. in spring of 1919 and received his U.S. citizenship June 3, 1919. Hugo and Hildur wed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 605 East 141st Street at Willis Avenue in the Bronx, New York on September 28, 1919. He was twenty-nine and she was eighteen. Their family expanded by four: Robert, George, Mildred, and Kenneth. In the ensuing years Hugo and Hildur built a vacation bungalow on land they acquired from Chauncey Craft, near the town of Carmel, New York. As years passed, the family worked and played together on the Crafts' property enjoying vacations and making memories. Hugo retired November 1, 1958, after thirty-three years employment by the Department of Correction for New York City. Hugo and Hildur returned to Finland for an extended visit, reconnecting with family and friends before returning home to New York. Hugo and Hildur met at church and throughout their lives faith and involvement with their congregation remained a constant; both held numerous positions and Hugo served as a trustee for Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran for decades. Hugo faithfully chronicled the joys, the blessings, and the sorrows of his own life and that of his extended family in the U.S. and those who remained behind in Finland over decades. His narrative is rich with traditions that connected his life in a new land to that of his origin. SFHS would like to thank Kristin Nelson and her family for allowing a glimpse into their family’s story providing wonderful insights to those of us seeking to understand the immigration story of our own family.