Kaptens

[syrene]

Gösta Svenfelt is searching for information on his father's brother who travelled to Shelton Wa, Camp 7, in 1907 on SS Adriatica from Liverpool. All contact was lost after one final letter in 1931 from Oregon around Portland. Please send information to Gösta at <gosta.svenfelt%40kronoby.fi>
Thanks,
Syrene

[kpaavola]

Hi Syrene,
What is the name of the person being searched (father's brother)?

[syrene]

Hi,
Thanks Kevin! (I can't believe I didn't get that part in!)
Emil Johan Kapténs left Larsmo, Finland, for Shelton, Washington, Camp 7. Coincidentally, my father's father was working about then in Camp 6 as a loader. I'll bet it was for the same logging company, Polson's, near Hoquiam - Aberdeen. He evidently logged in Oregon as well. They wonder if he ever married, and where he might have died. I've looked in Merle Reinikka's excellent death certificate listing for one county in Oregon, but haven't found the Portland area yet.
Thanks,
Syrene

[kpaavola]

Sometimes the ones that appear to be easy end up being very frustrating while those that seem hard are found very quickly.

Searching the census (soundex) turns up nothing that appears even possible or obvious. I checked 1920 & 1930, Oregon and Washington.

Do you happen to know the birth year? I could search again just using the age.

[syrene]

Gösta found the following when we searched TALKO:

Håkan Björkström's TALKO listing:

1 NOV 1884 Kaptens
Sex Male
Died ?
Person ID I930

Father Johan Johansson Svenfelt Kaptens, b. 26 AUG 1857, Kaptens
Mother Matilda Andersdotter Finholm, b. 1 NOV 1860
Group Sheet F265

Notes
Till Amerika 1907.

Till Amerika 1907.

I also checked in Census records, and found the relative Anni Kaptens who left earlier for America, but no Emil.
Syrene

[kpaavola]

I did find this:
Name: Emil Johnson
Age: 46
Estimated birth year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Finland
Relation to head-of-house: Roomer
Race: White
Home in 1930: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon
Image source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: 1949; Page: ; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 553.0.

It shows he immigrated in 1907. Maybe?

This must be the same guy in 1920. Again immigrated in 1907. It lists Swedish as his language.

Name: Emil Johnson
Age: 35 years
Estimated birth year: 1884
Birthplace: Finland
Race: White
Home in 1920: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon
Roll: T625_1499
Page: 5B
ED: 28
Image: 0479

Maybe Johan should be a patronymic rather than just a secondary name? In any case, if this is his relative, it appears he wasn't married as both census show he's single.

hth,

[syrene]

Excellent thought! This could be exactly why they can't trace him. I'll pass it on to Gösta.
Thanks!
Syrene