OCONTO COUNTY Wisconsin FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES BRÄNNLUND - BRANNLUND - BRANLUND Contributed by Family Researcher and Descendant:  Bruce Branlund

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Please click on the images for a larger view Hilda Brannlund and August Grafstrom Marriage  July 25, 1898 Riverside, Oconto County, Wisconsin The Grafstrom couple remained in Little River, Oconto County, Wisconsin, where they raised 6 children on their farm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please click on the images for a larger view 1912 Charles Albin Brunland Family left to right Standing: Mother Mollie (Malena Nilssen) Nelson Branlund,  Verner, Ruth Seated: Juanita, Father Albin (Charles Albin Branlund), Amy   Ruth died shortly after this photograph was taken. None of the children lived to marry, all 5 children passting away before age 25. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tuscania - Ship torpedoed with Verner Branlund aboard. (Below) Funeral Services in February 1918 with the survivors at Isle of Islay, Scotland, 7 Atlantic Ocean miles from the sinking. A total of 166 soldiers and seamen lost their lives in the sinking of the Tuscania. For the survivors who sought warmth and comfort after their experience in freezing February waters, the islanders of Islay, Scottland, were more than generous with their help, especially the people of Port Ellen whose two principal hotels were made available to them. The local people also took tender care of the bodies that were recovered, one of which was Verner Branlund. Verner Branlund       1894 - 1918 Verner Branlund  went down with the Ship Tuscania (left) in World War I that was sunk by the German submarine  UB-77. On board were 2,235 soldiers consisting of companies 'D', 'E' and 'F' of the 6th Battalion, 20th VS Engineers, members of the 32nd Division, the 100th and 103rd Aero Squadrons and a British crew. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elmer Edward Brandlund World War I 1897 - 1955

The Trip to America The Brannlund Family immigrated directly from their home in Umea, Sweden, from the Port of Göteborg to Oconto County, Wisconsin in 1882. The ship that left Sweden was named Romeo. On the way, the family had a brief stop at the old port of Hull, England, a busy international passenger and English immigration center. Carl (Karl/Charles) Erick Brannlund at age 41 years, his wife, Maria Louisa Granstrom, and five of their children then traveled across the Atlantic to a new start in North America. They were Charles Albin age 17, Per Hjalma age 9, Johan Ernfrid age 7, Signe Marie age 4 and Hilda Augusta age 2.   From Sweden to England The S. S. Romeo Wilson Line steamship built 1881 at Hull, England by Earle's Shipbuilding Engineering Co. Rigging: iron construction, single screw, 2 masts steam Schooner, 2 decks, one of iron, 3 bulkheads and 2 partial bulkheads, one funnel. Propulsion: compound engine with 2 inverted cylinders of 38 & 76 in. boiler 80lb per sq.in. diameter respectively, stroke 48 inches, 350 nominal horsepower giving a speed of 12,5 knots. The engine was built by the same company as the hull. She had first class accommodation for 38 passengers in staterooms on either side of the ship abaft a large well-fitted saloon, see the image below. Aft in the poop there was accommodation for 18 second class passengers. She could accommodate 780 steerage passengers in three different compartments, two aft, the other forward. 1. Each of the Compartments had wooden decks, and were well lighted and ventilated. They were entered by ladders coming down the hatchways abreast of each other at an easy angle, lined at the backs, and fitted with hand-rails, and the entrances protected by substantial booby hatches. Compartment 2 was set aside for the accommodation of single women. The water-closet arrangements of the vessel for Compartments 1 and 2 were at the after end of Compartment 1, males and females on opposite sides of the deck. There was a constant supply of water flowing through them, they were fairly ventilated and lighted, and fully protected from the weather. Forward the water-closets were under the topgallant forecastle, and were the same as those aft, but not so well protected from the weather. The decks were sprinkled with disinfectants and covered with sawdust, and were swept up after meals.   The Romeo was mainly trafficking the route between Gothenburg and Hull, a voyage that normally would take 42 hours. The Wilson line did not only offer conveyance of emigrants from Scandinavian countries to England. During the passenger season they also offered accommodation for the comfort of tourists, and arranged holiday tours to different parts of Norway and Sweden. The accommodation was strictly first class in saloons and stateroom amidships, much different from that was offered to the comfort of the emigrants traveling steerage between decks. Photographs and information courtesy of:  Norwary Heritage S.S. Romeo Ship Manifest Image by Bruce Branlund From England to the USA S.S. Britannic Britannic sailed for nearly thirty years, primarily carrying immigrant passengers on the highly trafficked Liverpool to New York route. In 1876 it received the Blue Riband, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots (30 km/h). Her trips took between 8 and 10 days. The Britannic and her sister Germanic were both built to carry 266 Saloon Class Passengers (Title of First Class at that time) and 1,500 steerage passengers. Ship's Manifest for Carl Brunnland (also his wife and 5 children) Arrival Date: 10 Jul 1882 Age: 42 Gender: Male Port of Departure:  Ship route: Liverpool, England - Liverpool-Queenstown-NY Port of Arrival: New York, United States Ship Name: Britannic Ship built: 1874 Shipping line: White Star Line Ship tonnage: 5,004 tons; 455' x 45' Ship description: 4 masts, 2 funnels

Sweden in 1882

Sweden of 1882 had a surplus population which had double in size between 1750 and 1850 and continued to expand rapidly due to introduction of Small Pox vaccination, that saved many from a history of deadly epidemics, and increased emphasis on physical health and conditioning in rugged, outdoor activities that were both work and recreational. This had lead to a reduction in infant and adult male deaths. It also heightened and greatly strengthened the "Swedish National Identity."

However, Sweden remain primarily agricultural, with logging, fishing and singular craftsmanship as means of support. The country had not begun to industrialized as neighboring Denmark and Western Europe. The economy was growing increasingly poor, jobs were more difficult to find, land for agriculture was already taken and the people knew that it was only a matter of time before another naturally occurring famine would occur, such as the one between 1866 and 1868 that took 15% of the population.  This lead to the migration of over 1% of the population each year to America in the 1880s. Between 1850 and 1910 more than a million Swedes are estimated to have emigrated to the United States, mostly to the midwest states.

The government of Sweden also feared rebellion and did not impede the outflow. However, Sweden's newspapers and clergy, both of which had strong power of communication with families, took a very different, harsh stand on those choosing to emigrate. There were continual accusations made, about those who were leaving, of being unpatiotic, irresponsible, lazy, being weak willed, having a criminal or emotionally unbalanced mindset or having inferior intellect. Families were lectured from the papers and pulpits to disown members who left Sweden. Many did. 

Today's descendants in Sweden have found pleading letters over 100 years old, from emigrant Swedes which were never answered. These letter send photographs, news and love from the "new country" and repeatly ask why there is no news sent from "home." This is one reason why new Swedish communities created strong bonds and their own feeling of extended family between themselves. 

Even those in Sweden who stayed in touch often did so very quietly, fearing the damaging ridicule of family and neighbors. Often they did not pass information on about family that had left Sweden. The family members rarely saw each other again in the early years of travel.

The Brannlunds in Oconto County, Wisconsin

The Swedes in Oconto County had their own settlement, unofficial called Swedetown. They had each bought the land from the same realtor who had done some heavy promotion in Sweden. Once here, they spoke their native language and were hard workers, helping each other. Lumbering, farming, fishing and milling were primary incomes. The were a close-knit, self reliant community.  Most married other Swedes in the early years after emigration from Sweden and subsequent generations tended to migrate with the logging/lumbering business westward, first to Minnesota, then to Northern California, Oregon and Washington states.

Maria Brannlund gave birth to 8 infants. We know that 3 children did not make the trip from Sweden with their parents. Anna Enfrida Brannlund, Helen Maria Brannlund and Anna Louisa Brannlund, had lived and died in Umeå, Vasterbotten, Sweden.

Generation 1

Olof Brannlund
    Birth 1768 in Sweden
    Death 13 Oct 1850 in Umea Stad, Vasterbotten Lan, Sweden
+ Marta Helena Westermark - wife of Olof Brannlund 
    Birth 1764
    Death 1 Nov 1836 in Umea Stad, Vasterbotten Lan, Sweden
    Chidren of Olof and Marta:

Generation  2

Nils Johan Brannlund
    Birth 8 Nov 1803 in Umeå, Vasterbotten, Sweden
    Death 30 Nov 1863 in Umeå, Vasterbotten, Sweden

Brita Magraretha Larsdotter - wife of Nils Brannlund
    Birth 2 Jan 1806
    Death 27 May 1818

   Children of Nils and Brita:

Anna Helena Brannlund
    1830 –
Johanna Agatha Brannlund
    1833 –
Louisa Carolina Brannlund
    1835 –
Johan Albert Brannlund
    1838 –
Carl Erik Brannlund
    1841 – 1895
Maria Mathilda Brannlund
1847 –  

Mollie Nelson (Malena Nilsson) Charles A. Branlund - Find a Grave

John Ernfred Branlund  Find-A-Grave

Elsa Branlund Hardy - Find-A-Grave

San Diego Union Newspaper,  Friday January 7, 1955 Find-A-Grave

Oconto County Reporter, Oconto, Wisconsin, 
Feb 5 1904

Mrs. Maria Branlund left for Wagner last week where she will spend the win­ter with her daughtrer

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Naturalization:

Naturalization Petition: C. E. Brannlund - November 1, 1884

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