Who was Mrs Aliina Vilhelmina Johnson?

Mrs Aliina Vilhelmina Johnson, also known as Alice, was a 27 (twenty-seven) year old Finnish Titanic survivor who demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout her life. Born on April 21, 1884, in Helsinki, Finland, she survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and went on to lead a life marked by both triumphs and tribulations.

Early Life and Family

Aliina was born into a large Finnish family, the daughter of Stefan Backberg (1845-1911) and Amanda Lovisa Gustafsson (1848-1937). She grew up with several siblings:

• John Ernhard (b. 1874)
• Brynolf (b. 1876)
• Josef Aksel (b. 1879)
• Toivo Edvard (b. 1881)
• Anna Dagmar (b. 1886)

First Marriage and Immigration

At a young age, Aliina married Kalle Victor Neffling (b. 1872). However, this union was reportedly unhappy, leading to separation and eventual divorce. Seeking a fresh start, Aliina emigrated to the United States around 1905, joining the wave of European immigrants looking for new opportunities in America.

Life in America and Second Marriage

How did Aliina establish herself in America?

Aliina, now going by the name Alice, settled in Illinois and began building a new life. On April 6, 1907, she married Oscar Walfrid Theodore Johnson (b. January 1, 1882) in Kane County, Illinois. Oscar, a Swedish immigrant, worked as a journalist and later as a barman.

The couple started a family, welcoming two children:

1. Harold Theodor (b. 1908)
2. Eleanor Ileen (b. 1910)

By 1910, the Johnson family was living at 254 Sixth Avenue in St. Charles, Illinois, as recorded in the census of that year.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

What brought Alice Johnson to the Titanic?

In early 1911, Alice returned to Finland with her two young children due to her father’s failing health. Tragically, her father passed away in February 1911 before she could reach him. Planning to return to America, Alice booked passage on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic.

Titanic Voyage Details:

• Ticket Number: 347742
• Passenger Class: 3rd Class
• Ticket Price: £11 2s
• Embarked: Southampton

For the journey, Alice was tasked with escorting two Swedish girls across the Atlantic. While initially reported to be her husband’s sisters, it’s now believed these women were Helmina Nilsson and Elin Braf, both from her husband’s birthplace of Ramkvilla, Sweden.

The Night of the Sinking

On the tragic night of April 14-15, 1912, Alice demonstrated remarkable courage and quick thinking. As the Titanic began to sink, she took her two children to the upper decks, accompanied by their two charges.

In the chaos of the evacuation, Alice and her daughter Eleanor managed to board one of the aft starboard lifeboats (possibly lifeboat 13 or 15). Helmina Nilsson also made it into the boat. However, Elin Braf, who was holding young Harold, remained frozen on deck. In a heart-stopping moment, Alice had to call out for her son, who was eventually pulled from Elin’s arms and pushed into the lifeboat. Tragically, Elin Braf was left behind.

Alice spent a harrowing night in the lifeboat, sitting in ankle-deep icy water. As a result of this ordeal, she developed laryngitis.

Rescue and Reunion

Upon reaching New York, Alice and her children were cared for at St. Luke’s Hospital. Her husband, Oscar, received a telegram informing him of their safety, causing him to faint from emotional overwhelm. The community in St. Charles rallied around the family, raising over $100 to fund Oscar’s journey to New York to reunite with his family.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience impact Alice’s life?

The Johnson family resettled in St. Charles, welcoming another child, Herbert, in 1913. However, tragedy struck again when Oscar died on October 31, 1917, leaving Alice a young widow at 33 (thirty-three) years old.

Alice’s life continued to be marked by both joy and sorrow:

1. On December 2, 1918, she married Hans Thorvald Amundson, a Norwegian man. Tragically, he died less than a month later on December 23. They had one child, Vernon Hans Amundson (b. March 6, 1919).

2. On August 28, 1920, Alice married for a third time to Carl Oscar Peterson, a Swedish dairy farmer. They had one surviving child together, Irene (1925-1999).

Later Years and Legacy

Alice and Carl raised a large blended family of nine children in Wayne Township, DuPage County, Illinois. She became a widow for the third time when Carl died on April 25, 1964.

In the 1950s, Alice and her grown children Harold and Eleanor attended screenings of the films “Titanic” (1953) and “A Night to Remember” (1958), reconnecting with their historic experience.

Alice Johnson spent her final years living with her daughter Irene in St. Charles. She passed away on December 19, 1968, at the age of 84 (eighty-four), outliving her eldest son Harold by less than a year. She is buried in North Cemetery, St. Charles, Illinois.

Alice Johnson’s life story is a testament to human resilience, having survived one of history’s greatest maritime disasters and weathering personal tragedies while raising a large family. Her experiences as a Titanic survivor and her subsequent life provide a unique perspective on early 20th-century immigrant experiences and the long-lasting impact of the Titanic disaster on its survivors.