Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson

Who was Miss Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson?

Miss Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson was a 38 (thirty-eight) year-old Swedish passenger who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1873, she was a seasoned traveler between Sweden and America, with a rich family history and a poignant reason for her final, fateful journey.

Early Life and Family

Swedish Roots

Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson was born on November 24, 1873, in Sventorp, Skaraborgs County, Sweden. She was the daughter of Anders Johan, a minor landowner born on November 30, 1825, in Suntetorp, Skaraborg County, and Anna Greta Carlsson (née Andersdotter), born on October 14, 1832, in Sventorp, Skaraborg County. Her parents had married in 1852, establishing a large family in rural Sweden.

Siblings and Family Life

Ida grew up in a bustling household with seven siblings:

Johan Alfred (b. May 3, 1853)
Anna Kristina Elisabet (b. November 7, 1861)
August Linus (b. November 26, 1863)
Hilda Maria (b. July 3, 1868)
Karl Oskar (b. July 21, 1870)
Hilma Susanna (b. November 3, 1876)
Josef Timoteus (b. December 21, 1878)

This large family would play a significant role in shaping Ida’s life and her ultimate decision to board the Titanic.

A Life of Travel and Service

Early Journeys to America

Ida’s adventurous spirit and desire for new opportunities led her to America for the first time on May 26, 1893. However, her stay was brief, as she returned to Sweden by June 1894. This pattern of transatlantic travel would repeat itself, hinting at Ida’s restless nature and her strong ties to both her homeland and the promise of America.

Career as a Domestic Worker

In the late 1890s, likely between 1898 and 1899, Ida found employment as a maid in Skövde, Västergötland. She worked in the household of photographer Karl Erik Ludvig Eriksson, gaining valuable experience in domestic service. Her career trajectory continued upward when, on November 25, 1910, she moved to Lagmansbro Manor in Vadsbro, Södermanland. There, Ida secured a position as a housekeeper, one of at least six ladies employed in that capacity around 1911.

The Fateful Journey

A Family Tragedy and a Call to Duty

Ida’s decision to board the Titanic was rooted in family tragedy. Her sister Hilda, who had emigrated to the USA on October 28, 1887, and married Axel Johnson on August 26, 1890, in Manistee, Michigan, died in childbirth on March 7, 1909. At the time of Hilda’s death, she and Axel were caring for their own six children (plus the newborn) and the three children of Axel’s older brother Andrew.

A Journey of Love and Duty

Family lore suggests that Ida’s voyage to America in 1912 was motivated by a desire to care for these ten children left motherless by her sister’s passing. However, the story takes a romantic turn, as family members believe that Ida was not only going to help with the children but also to marry Axel. Intriguingly, it seems that Andrew, Axel’s brother, had also shown interest in Ida, adding a layer of complexity to her journey.

The Titanic Tragedy

Boarding and Final Moments

Ida boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. Her ticket, number 347091, cost £7 15s (equivalent to £15 6s in total fare). As the magnificent ship set sail on its maiden voyage, Ida likely felt a mix of excitement for her new life and sadness at leaving her homeland once again.

The Sinking and Aftermath

Tragically, Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Her body was never recovered from the icy Atlantic waters, leaving her family on both sides of the ocean to mourn her loss.

Legacy and Remembrance

Financial Compensation

In the wake of the disaster, the Mansion House Fund paid 874.08 Kr (£48) to Greta Olsson, possibly a relative or friend of Ida. Additionally, a damage claim of 924 Kr (£50) was paid to Ida’s father, Johan Carlsson, as a small consolation for the immeasurable loss of his daughter.

A Poignant Church Record

The local vicar made a somber note in the church records, stating that Ida had emigrated to North America on March 30, 1912, and had been lost in the sinking of the Titanic. This simple entry serves as a lasting testament to Ida’s life and the tragic circumstances of her death.

Ida Augusta Margareta Andersson’s story is a poignant reminder of the many personal tragedies that made up the larger disaster of the Titanic. Her life, cut short at 38 (thirty-eight) years old, was one of service, family devotion, and the pursuit of new opportunities – a common tale among many of the Titanic’s passengers, but no less heartbreaking for its familiarity.