The Emigrants

In 1844, Nils is injured, forcing his eldest son Karl Oskar to run the family farm at Korpamoen. He takes on responsibilities beyond his years as rocky fields and harsh weather plague the harvest. The family’s debt grows as the land fights them, setting a hard tone for their future.

Karl Oskar marries Kristina Johansdotter, and the couple raises four children: Anna, Johan, Märta, and Harald. Life on the farm is grueling, with poor harvests and mounting debt marking their days. Their bond, though strained by hardship, anchors the family through adversity.

The Nilsson family contends with rock-strewn fields, bad weather, and hunger, underscoring the fragility of their livelihood. Kristina openly reproves Karl Oskar for his irreligious attitude, blaming it in part for their misfortunes. The clash reveals a conflict between faith and survival in a harsh land.

Robert, Karl Oskar’s bookish younger brother, grows tired of overwork and abuse as a farmhand. He reads about the wonders of America and resolves to seek a better life there. He asks Arvid to join him, hoping to share passage and a new start.

Anna dies after gorging on uncooked porridge, a tragedy that devastates Kristina and Karl Oskar. The couple discusses leaving their homeland for America as the only path to safety and opportunity. Kristina, though reluctant, finally agrees to emigrate when the need to escape becomes overwhelming.

Danjel Andreasson, Kristina’s uncle, is persecuted for rejecting the official religion and hosting religious meetings. He and his wife Inga-Lena, along with their four children, are exiled, and they choose to join Karl Oskar’s emigrant group. The exiles bring along new faith and resolve to the journey.

Ulrika of Västergöhl, a former prostitute, and her illegitimate daughter Elin join the growing party. Jonas Petter also expresses interest in escaping his unhappy marriage and seeks a new life in America. The group grows larger as hope for a better future spreads.

Robert secures Danjel’s agreement to hire Arvid and pay his fare, ensuring one more hand for the arduous voyage. Before departure, Kristina tells Karl Oskar that she is pregnant, adding both risk and new purpose to their journey. The emigrants brace for what lies ahead.

The emigrants travel to Karlshamn and board the wooden brig Charlotta for New York City. On board, Karl Oskar and Kristina meet Måns and Fina-Kajsa Andersson, an elderly couple bound for Minnesota, and inspired by their stories they decide to follow them to the promised homeland.

During the crossing, Inga-Lena and Måns die of sudden illnesses, removing two companions from the voyage. Kristina suffers a severe nosebleed and nearly dies, testing her faith and perseverance. The shared hardship strengthens the emigrants' resolve to reach safety in America.

Upon arrival in New York, the party travels west by train and then by riverboat toward Minnesota. They are guided by faith and communal support as they move closer to a hoped-for farmstead. The route brings them toward the Chisago Lakes region.

While on the riverboat stop, Ulrika's past is reconciled with Kristina when Ulrika finds Kristina's missing child. The reunion eases Kristina’s prejudice and cements the bond among the emigrants. The child is safe as they continue toward their new home.

Tragedy strikes as Danjel’s infant daughter dies after a brief illness during the riverboat journey. The loss deepens the emotional toll on the group, yet they press onward toward Minnesota. The voyage remains a crucible that will shape their future.

The group arrives in Stillwater, where Pastor Jackson helps them locate a path to Anders’ farm in the Chisago Lakes area. The settlers begin to feel the first glimmers of community in their new homeland. The land appears fertile and full of promise despite the hardships.

Karl Oskar ventures inland to explore lands along Lake Ki Chi Saga, discovering topsoil that promises prosperity. He carves his name into a tree to stake his claim, marking the start of a new chapter for the family. Nearby, Danjel and Jonas Petter also choose farmland nearby for their own prospects.