Anna Sofia Sjöblom: A Titanic Survivor’s Journey

Anna Sofia Sjöblom was a remarkable Finnish immigrant who survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic on her 18th birthday. Born on April 14, 1894, in Finland, Anna’s life would be forever changed by her experience on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the world’s most famous ocean liner.

Early Life and Family

Anna was born to Gabriel Gustafsson Sjöblom, a woodworker, and Johanna (née Nilsdotter) Gustafsson. She grew up in Munsala, Nicolaistad, Vasa County, Finland, with her siblings:

• Katharina Johanna (born January 3, 1897)
• Andrew John (born January 27, 1904)
• Daniel (mentioned in contemporary press)

The Journey to America

Why did Anna embark on the Titanic?

Anna’s father had immigrated to the United States in 1904, settling in Olympia, Washington, where he worked for Simpson Timber Company. In 1912, at the age of 18 (eighteen), Anna decided to join her father in America.

Titanic Booking and Companions

Initially booked on the Adriatic, Anna and her travel companions were transferred to the Titanic due to a coal strike. She traveled with:

• Jakob Alfred Johanson
• Jakob Alfred Wiklund
• Karl Johan Wiklund

Anna’s ticket for the Titanic was number 3101265, and she was assigned a third-class cabin (D-O134) which she shared with five other passengers, including Velin Öhman.

The Fateful Night

On April 14, 1912, Anna’s 18th birthday coincided with the night the Titanic struck an iceberg. Her experience that night was harrowing:

1. Anna was fully clothed and in bed when the collision occurred.
2. She had been seasick throughout the voyage and initially didn’t realize the severity of the situation.
3. With another Finnish girl, Anna attempted to reach the boat deck but got lost.
4. They ended up on the 2nd class promenade on A deck and had to climb a crew ladder.
5. Near the à la Carte restaurant, they could see laid tables through the windows.
6. Around 1:30 AM, Anna managed to board a lifeboat.

Tragically, all three of Anna’s traveling companions perished in the sinking.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in America

After her rescue, Anna’s journey continued:

• She was taken to a Lutheran emigrant home in New York.
• A week later, she traveled by train to Olympia.
• During part of her journey, she was accompanied by fellow survivors Oscar Hedman, Berta Nilsson, and Carl Olof Jansson from Sweden.

Marriages and Family

1. First Marriage:

   • Married Anton Nils Peterson on October 7, 1913, in Pierce County, Washington.
   • Children:
     • Evelyn Eleanor (born August 9, 1914)
     • Harold William (born April 14, 1916)
   • Divorced by 1920

2. Second Marriage:

   • Married John Gordon Kincaid, an electrician, on July 18, 1923, in King County, Washington.
   • Became a widow on May 4, 1954

Later Life

• In 1920, Anna lived at 936 South East Street in Tacoma, working as a hotel seamstress.
• By 1930, she was living with her second husband and her two children from her first marriage.
• In 1956, she moved to 1220 South Jefferson St. Olympia.

Legacy and Remembrance

Anna’s experience on the Titanic remained with her throughout her life. As reported in the Tacoma Sunday News Tribune and Ledger on November 20, 1955:

“Mrs Anna Kincaid, above, was an 18-year-old Finnish immigrant girl who took a passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. She came to Tacoma soon after it sank April 14, 1912, and has lived here ever since. Even now the brief hours of her experience come back to her in her dreams.”

Anna Sofia Sjöblom passed away on November 3, 1975, at the age of 81 (eighty-one). Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind the Titanic tragedy and the resilience of its survivors.