EMIGRATION TO AMERICA
(This information was contributed by Joseph V. Leavitt)
WISCONSIN
Single-screw steamship: 3238 tons: 378' x 43' x 32'
Built: 1870 by Palmer's Shipbuilding & Iron Co. at Jarrow-on-Tyne, England
More than eighty-eight hundred Mormons were transported from Liverpool to New York aboard the British steamer Wisconsin. The thirty-three emigrant companies ranged in size from 7 to 976, the first sailing on 31 July 1872 and the last on 11 October 1890. The passages averaged eleven days. During these voyages the following captains commanded the vessel: Thomas W. Freeman, William Forsyth, Edward Bentley, Charles Leonard Rigby, Thomas Dunn, and John P. Morrall.
This three-decked Guion Line steamship's homeport was Liverpool. She was built with an iron hull, two masts, one funnel, and the earliest compound engines used in the transatlantic service. Her tonnage was later increased to 3700. She was the sister ship of the Wyoming. In 1893 the Wisconsin was scrapped.
A picture of Wisconsin is in The Peabody Museum of Salem.During the years between 1840 and 1890 three steamships transported almost one-third of the Latter-day Saint emigrants across the oceans to America. Of these three vessels the Wyoming, Nevada, and Wisconsin. The British steamer Nevada of the Guion Line had the second largest total of 9600 Saints in thirty-five voyages. The first Mormon company aboard the Nevada sailed on 14 September 1870, and the last on 16 November 1889. The size of these companies ranged from 5 to 933 persons.
Ship: Wisconsin
Date of Departure: 23 Oct 1880 Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
LDS Immigrants: 258 Church Leader: John Nicholson
Date of Arrival: 3 Nov 1880 Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Source(s): BMR, Book #1042, pp. 248-257 (FHL #025,693); Customs #1443 (FHL #295,796); MS, 42:47 (Nov. 22, 1880), p. 747"Sat. 23. [Oct. 1880] . . . The steamship Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool, England, with 258 Saints, in charge of John Nicholson. The company arrived at New York Nov. 2nd, and at Salt Lake City Nov. 11th."
<CC, p.107>Passengers with the surname of Bowler showing on the passenger list:
BOWLER, Matilda <1841> Age: 39 Origin: Nottingham
BOWLER, James S. R. <1845> Age: 35 Origin: Nottingham Note:BMR, p.250; "Steward" (BMR).
BOWLER, Harry H. <1865> Age: 15 Origin: Nottingham Note:BMR, p.250; "Steward" (BMR).
BOWLER, Ann Elizabeth <1869> Age: 11 Origin: Nottingham
BOWLER, John Henry <1871> Age: 9 Origin: Nottingham Note:BMR, p.250; "Steward" (BMR).
BOWLER, Kate <1873> Age: 7 Origin: Nottingham
BOWLER, Mary Ann <1874> Age: 6 Origin: Nottingham
BOWLER, Florence M. <1875> Age: 5 Origin: Nottingham Note: Age:"4 1/2" (BMR).
BOWLER, Walter W. <1877> Age: 3 Origin: Nottingham
BOWLER, Francis Jos. <1880> Age: infant Origin: Nottingham Note: "Infant" (BMR).
Wisconsin (October 1880)
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
Autobiography of James Samuel Page Bowler
Letter from John Nicholson - November 2, 1880
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes"At a little before one o'clock on Saturday, October 23rd, a company of Saints, 258 in number, left for New York on the S.S. Wisconsin, of the Guion line. They were composed of 188 English, Scotch and Welsh; 23 Swiss and German; 22 Scandinavians; 10 Italians; 2 Dutch (Netherlands); returning elders, 12; visitor, 1.
About half-past ten o'clock President Budge, accompanied by other Utah elders, went on board in a tender and effected the following organization: president of the company, John Nicholson; first counselor, George Crane; second counselor, Andrew Ferguson; chaplain, Hyrum Bennion; captain of the guard, William H. Haigh; clerk, Edward E. Brain.
After organizing, President Budge gave the necessary instructions preparatory to the voyage, and expressed his approval of the labors and spirit of the Utah elders who were released to return on this vessel. Some were going sooner than others had done, owing to ill health, but he had considered it would not have been right to retain them in this land at the sacrifice of their health, and he desired it understood that they, as well as those who had stayed the full time, were honorably released, and were entitled to credit for their zealous labors during the time they had stayed in the field.
Elder Charles W. Stayner followed in a few brief remarks, by way of encouragement ot those undertaking the journey to Zion, and closed by blessing the elders, the company and the vessel on which they sailed, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Elder John Nicholson also made a few remarks expressive of his gratification in laboring in England and in the society of President Budge. He urged a general regard of the instructions imparted, so that the labor of those in charge might be rendered as light as possible.
The names of the Utah elders returning on this vessel, besides those already mentioned, are William Robertson, Jacob Rivoir, Charles W. Hulse, E. B. Snow, H. A. Dixon, and Jesse West. The last four were released on account of ill health. Brother Rivoir was accompanied by his wife, who has been visiting Italy, her native land, where Brother Rivoir has been laboring assiduously, notwithstanding the obstacles existing in that land.
The vessel was in good trim and the weather remarkably fine, the Saints seemed cheerful, and, under the blessings of God and the counsels of the elders, the last company of the season will doubtless compete favorably with its predecessors, and in due time be announced at its destination in safety."
<MS, 42:43 (Oct. 25, 1880), p.682>
"Sat. 23. [Oct. 1880] . . . The steamship Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool, England, with 258 Saints, in charge of John Nicholson. The company arrived at New York Nov. 2nd, and at Salt Lake City Nov. 11th."
<CC, p.107>
". . . A small company of 22 emigrants bound for Utah sailed from Copenhagen Oct. 15, 1880, per steamer 'Cato' for Hull, England. Thence they traveled by rail to Liverpool, which city they reached in time to go on board the steamer 'Wisconsin,' which sailed from that port Oct. 23rd with a large company of British, German, Swiss, Italian and Dutch Saints. Elder John Nicholson was appointed leader. The company arrived in New York Nov. 2nd, and in Salt Lake City, Nov. 11, 1880. . . ."
<HSM, p.245>
From the Autobiography of James Samuel Page Bowler
. . . My reception at the Liverpool office was certainly a surprise to me. When my name was mentioned, there came forth a corps of elders to greet me and wish me God speed with that spark of brotherly love that only true servants of God can enjoy. I ordered our outfit but in the hurry I neglected to sign as steward of our company, a position President John Nicholson had asked me to occupy in our company across the ocean. At midnight Brother and Sister Stayner [Stainer] brought my family to the vessel and saw them safe on board, a kindness I shall never forget, and when President [John] Nicholson called over the names of those having outfits for the voyage, my name was called twice. I asked him if there were any who had no outfit and when he said there were I told him to give the other one to any who needed it, but said this one is more costly than the one you ordered and was sent from the elders at the office. So thankful I was for the many acts of kindness received that I refused to take more.But little sleep was enjoyed that night by our company, that numbered three hundred fifty eight souls, but the spirit of fond anticipation was manifest in the greetings of people who had never met before. There were also a number of returning missionaries with us to join in thanks in praise to our Heavenly Father that they were now returning to their home and loved ones in the land of Zion after devoting more than two years in the cause of truth. I tried to be as helpful to President Nicholson as possible in caring for so large a body of people with ways strange to each other and tons of baggage to be taken care of and when all was arranged in order the, signal was given and we weighed anchor at 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 1880.
When we arrived at Queenstown, [p.35] Ireland, quite a number of immigrants were taken on board in the forepart of the vessel and it was then discovered that I had not signed as a steward of our company. President [John] Nicholson came hurriedly and told me that the captain sent for me at once. This is what he said, "What is your name?" I told him and he gruffly stated, "Your name is not in our book, the ship's register and we must put you off at once." This is when President Nicholson explained the matter satisfactorily to him, that I did not understand the rules but that I should act as steward of our company under his direction. Again the gruff voice asked me if I had been to sea before and almost before I could answer he dismissed me by saying, "Go to work" and the ship glided away as usual. When I informed my family of the circumstance and we realized the situation more fully, we praised God from whom all blessings flow and all went well with us until in mid-ocean when a terrible storm commenced to rage which continued three days. Every member of our company were seasick excepting Elder Nixon and myself and instead of our usual evening meeting of singing and prayer, could be heard moaning in all the berths.
On Sunday at midnight as I sat with one arm holding on to the pillar and the other holding our little Francis Joseph on my knee, the head steward came and told me in no uncertain terms to put that kid in bed and come to business, which I did and he told me then that the ship was taking in three feet an hour and that unless the break could be mended we should have to lower the boats. How long we sat waiting I cannot tell but I know that if I ever prayed in earnest it was at that time and if ever I thanked my Heavenly Father for his mercies was when we heard the pump commence to work again.
Now my readers, please take note on Monday morning it seemed as though I must heave up Jonah, and I got the bucket for that purpose but at that very moment a power unseen took me into the middle of the floor and the seat I had [p.36] occupied a moment before and the matchward bucket too, tons of trunks and baggage lay there in a heap that had broken loose during the heavy storm but not the slightest warning had been given to any one except me, as here stated. I was not seasick. We learned on arriving at New York that a ship right behind us went down with all on board but all were well with us, and our prayers ascended to the throne of grace for our safe arrival on land.
Upon reaching Castle Garden some changes were made especially the changing of money into American dollars and cents which but few understood even after the change was made but we had plenty of time to talk matters over as we stayed there all day that day. “What are we waiting for?” was a question asked many times but no one seemed to know and we rather enjoyed the change of scenery until evening when Brother Emanual [Immanuel] Wooly [Wooley] suggested trying to get outside and have a look at New York City. Without consulting our people we did go and purchased a few things that we thought would be necessary, but was gone longer than we intended and when we returned there was not a soul to be seen. "Now what shall we do?" said Brother Wooley, "My wife has my ticket," and I had all our tickets and there we were not knowing where our company had gone. We were not long in doubt, however, as Brother George Crane appeared and motioned for us to hurry that way which we did to find that the boat had arrived to the port to take us across the river to Pennsylvania Railroad. Again we had the pleasure of witnessing the fatherly consideration of President John Nicholson when he said, "Brother Bowler, you and your family will occupy the car with the returning missionaries and no matter where we change, night or day, you may need no further advice as I shall be busy all the way through." That surely was an act to feel grateful for with a family of ten in a strange country and so late in the season. And as a further consideration Sister Grey was to accompany us as midwife, in case [p.37] my wife should need her services on the journey. Was that not brotherly love in very deed?
With our well-trained voices we accompanied each other and endeavored to reciprocate by singing the songs of Zion in which the elders heartily joined. "We’ll make the air with music ring, shout praises to our God and King." That had so often been sung while in Nottingham was no realized more fully as we journey westward to the land of our choice and the home of the Saints.
The horseshoe bend at Pittsburgh was an object of curiosity where one end of our train appeared to be nearly opposite the other and that abyss with smoke reminded one of the lower regions the ministers used to talk to us about when I was a boy. It might have appeared rather amusing to a casual observe, the way my wife took track of our children with her count of 2, 4, 6, 8 at every change.
The awfully grand sight I ever witnessed the prairie fire for although at a distant it seemed as though the whole world was in flames and we were hastening into the conflagration especially so when the night was very dark and the wind blew in an opposite direction. The methodical life in England had nothing in comparison with such scenes as witnessed in the transition from one country to another, to say nothing of the object we had in view in reaching our destination. Many points and objects of interest were pointed out to us by the returning missionaries, and many stories told and incidents recounted of the trials and hardships by those noble pioneers who took their solitary weary march over nearly the same ground we were then gliding over so smoothly and rapidly, but the prairie fire was to me was the all-absorbing object that my mind dwelt upon for a short time and indeed it has appeared in my dreams often since. Occasionally we [p.38] saw a real Indian with garb and feathers something similar to pictures printed in books, but those we saw there were alive and moving along. The wide expansive country and traveling day and night brought to my mind the first trip I made on the railroad in the dog cart journey in the year 1852, only fifteen miles altogether and it took about five hours to make the trip. A wonderful trip and a wonderful change to be sure and let everything to appear to come about quite natural to be sure.
It seemed as though we were never going to find a real stopping place before we reached Chicago and even when we did reach there, there was a very short time to look around and purchase things that we might need on our further journey westward. Our next change was one never to be forgotten by me, at least. No large city there to attract our attention, just the railroad station and a few houses was all that reminded us of civilization when we reached there on Saturday night, but soon discovered that we must stay there indefinitely. There was something wrong about the cars not being ready or not enough of them for our use to proceed further nor did we leave there until Monday morning. I said, "Never to be forgotten" for the reason that during that Sunday we had to stay I never heard so much profanity and abuse as when a few men approached me and stated that they had just returned from Utah. Oh, yes, they knew all about Brigham Young and the whole clique of Mormons and in fact, what they did not know I don't want anyone to try to find out. They tried to persuade to try and turn my face homeward as they said while I had a chance for if we went any further it was all up with us. Not very encouraging to be sure, but was it? I did not seek their company or advice but as I walked around, they followed me, and as before stated, I never heard such blasphemy in all my life, and I certainly had heard many rash speeches concerning the people commonly called Mormons, nearly all my days. I reasoned this way, had I not associated with this people from [p.39] childhood, my parents and grandparents before me, do I not know that their character in general has been grossly, and I may say cruelly, misrepresented and here when I supposed I was free from slanderous reports, I am assailed more shamefully than ever. If ever I realize that the two influences were operating, it was then that I needed to be on my guard constantly and take warning by what I might meet with from such people as had once been friendly to those who they now spoke so much evil about. Again, "constancy, thou art a jewel" and man is man's worst enemy. The gospel of light and truth is the only means of salvation to the human family. Help me to say as did our Savior, get thee behind me. I assure my readers that I kept pretty close to my family during the remainder of that day and until we left that spot.
We crossed the river early on Monday morning and stopped a short time at Omaha and there purchased some provisions and then proceeded on our way toward the Rocky Mountains, the place we had heard, read, and sung so much about while in our native land; where the Saints of God have met and where we fondly anticipated meeting them.
One sad incident occurred on the way in the death of an infant whose father was in Denver and where the fond mother was hastening to meet him. Here again President [John] Nicholson showed a fatherly care and consideration by having a coffin made so that the child might be taken to Father. Are acts like these not worthy of note? Is it not a denial to the lives above reported? That poor mother could not speak or understand the American language but was cared for as well as she could have been in her own home and country and she met her husband in Denver with the best of care and the sympathy of every soul in the company.
The scenery from Denver changed considerably surpassing all imagination and so we speeded from the state of Colorado, Wyoming, and into Utah. Mountains everywhere, so strange and yet so enchanting that we sang "Oh Ye Mountains High" as we had imagined [p.40] it while singing that favorite hymn in other countries. Thus we speeded on to Ogden, Utah where we arrived on Friday afternoon and were met at the station by our old time president, Joseph Morley and his good wife who took us to their home for entertainment and a happy meeting that was to be sure during the short stay before our train proceeded on to Salt Lake City, that night.
I have never returned to Ogden but the memory of those good people will always be green in my mind. Our train stopped at a small station and a lady came in and introduced herself as Mrs. Bowler formerly from England and urged us to stop and make our home there, which in justice to others and to keep my word with them I could not do, but I promised to write to her when we were settled. She left the car with tears in her eyes stating that she had read our names in the Deseret News, and was in hopes that some of her kin-folk were coming to live near her. We did not know the name of that place and when we tried to get in touch with them later no one seemed to know even the name of the person or the place we referred to.
On our arrival at Salt Lake City that night no one was here to meet us as they had been informed that the train would not come in till the next morning. This was our first great disappointment as we did not know where to go and our eight children were sleepy, but by watching a group of people standing there I concluded they were in the same condition as ourselves, and I said to my wife we will go where they go, and so we passed the night in the tithing house as best we could, but even that was better than thousands of others who came to this country in early days. . . . [p.41]
BIB: Bowler, James Samuel Page. Autobiography (Ms 4551 1), pp. 35-41. (HDA)
Letter from John Nicholson - November 2, 1880New York, Nov. 2, 1880.
President William Budge.Dear Brother,--We arrived here at 3 p.m. today. Up till the night of Monday, Oct. 25th, the weather was mild and pleasant. At that time, however, a gale commenced blowing. Fortunately it was in the right direction for speeding us on our way, causing the good ship to dash over the surging sea with great rapidity. The scene during the storm was indescribably grand, the waves lifting their crested heads to a tremendous height, and breaking with a terrific roar. The deck was swept by the dashing waters, causing the passengers to seek refuge under cover.
From Wednesday morning till the morning of Sunday, Oct. 31st, the weather was pleasant and the sea smooth. On the morning of the last-named date we were treated to another storm. A strong head wind, accompanied by rain, prevailed throughout the entire day and nearly the whole of the following night, materially impeding our progress.
With the exception of seasickness, which was general during the storm, the health of the company has been excellent. A good spirit has prevailed, and our meetings, of which a goodly number were held, have been characterized by good feelings. The elders returning have done all in their power in ministering to the comfort of the people; and the officers of the ship, from Captain Bentley down, have been uniformly kind and accommodating.
Many of the Saints of this company are very poor, and inquiry on the subject develops the fact that quite a number are without sufficient means to purchase their provisions for the overland trip. This places us in a position of some perplexity, causing us to do some hard thinking, but we have faith that, with the help of God, which has thus far been visibly given us, all things will work well, and that all will be able to successfully prosecute our journey to its termination.
Nov. 3rd. We were met last evening on board by brother W. [William] C. Staines, who is in good health, and desires to be kindly remembered. Everything progresses nicely with the company. We are passing through the Custom House this morning, and this afternoon at 5 o'clock we expect to leave for the west. The Saints feel well, a spirit of union being in their midst. The elders are doing all they can to assist the Saints with their luggage. The business portion of our affairs causes us no trouble so far. With kind regards we remain,
Your brethren in the covenant,
John Nicholson, President,
George Crane, Counselor
Andrew Ferguson, Counselor
Edward E. Brain, Clerk. [p.747]
BIB: Nicholson, John [Letter], Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 42:47 (Nov. 22, 1880) p.747. (HDL)