Johan Träskelin was born April 27, 1856 in Ylistaro, Finland; he was one of three children born out of wedlock to Maria Johansdr Uitto.   Johan's mother died April 27, 1863 and his brother and sister died in childhood.  Johan was boarded out.  He married to Anna Maria Kruuva on June 22, 1877.  They had six children.  Johan arrived in New York City in 1893 aboard the Suevia.

The Suevia was sailed from 1874 to 1894 and was run by the Hamburg-American shipping line.  She was a 3,624 ton ship.  Johan traveled from Finland to Hamburg and then aboard the Suevia from Hamburg to New York City, departing on April 16, 1893.  He is found on the German manifest of the ship from that voyage where is listed as being 37 years old, from Finland and employed as an “Arbeiter,” or laborer.

The Sueva

The Saxonia

Anna and her daughters immigrated in 1902 aboard the Saxonia. 

The Saxonia was  in service from 1900 to 1926.  She was a 14,197 ton ship that carried 160 first class, 200 second class and 1600 third class passengers.  She made her maiden voyage from Liverpool, England to Boston, Massachusetts on May 22, 1900.  Anna and her daughters embarked for America aboard the Saxonia on March 22 and arrived on April 14, 1902.   The Saxonia was taken out of service in 1926.

Johan and Maria settled in Quincy, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston.  There Johan worked in the shipyards.  Johan and Maria returned to America aboard the Carpathia in 1913 following a trip to Finland.

The Carpathia was a 13,603 ton ship and was in service from 1903 to 1918.  She was built by Swan & Hunter in Newcastle, England.  She carried 204 first class passengers and 1500 third class passengers.  Her maiden voyage was on May 4, 1903 from Liverpool, England to Boston, Massachusetts.  On April 14, 1912, Carpathia answered the SOS call from the Titanic and was able to rescue a large number of survivors.  Johan and Maria traveled aboard the ship on March 7, 1913 on the Liverpool to Boston route.  The Carpathia was sunk by three torpedoes during World War I on July 17, 1918. 

Anna Maria died in Quincy, Massachusetts on January 6, 1935 and Johan died April 14, 1937.  Both were married in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy

The Carpathia