My grandfather fled Karlshamm at age 16 to get away from his aunts. He had been orphaned and then placed with two relatives with, I gather, minimal experience with children or interest in nurturing them. Also a factor was a bad economy for young Swedes who wanted to buy land and farm, leaving military service as the last option, one I don't think Grandpa was interested in. He also got letters from relatives who had already come over, describing America in overly positive terms. But it worked out okay, except for that brief unpleasantness with the Dust Bowl.