My husband and I just finished a lovely evening in our wood-fired sauna, in the woods out in the country in New Hampshire. I like to cool off afterward in the brook that runs behind our house. I'm 50% Finn, and I guess that runs deep!

My family originated from Pihtipudas, Finland, and surrounding towns. Erik Djerf (b 1779) had a son Johan (1812-1858). Among his many children was Petter (b. 1855 in Pielavesi, d 1894). Petter married Serafia Johonytytar Luomi Oct 10 1879 (dtr of Johan Luomi and Lena Tenhunen). She was b Sept 1 1856 in Finland and died Sept 26 1918 in Massachusetts, USA. Their daughter Tyyne Serafia Djerf (1885-1952)was my grandmother. Tyyne migrated to the UP in Michigan about May 1905.

Johan's other children: Henrik b 1839; Abel b 1842; Frederik Vilhelm b 1845; Lisa Henrika (1848-1853); Daniel Victor (1852-1856).

Anybody sound familiar?

Paula Reynolds
preynolds@coopresources.net

Hello
our live webcam site works from Lieksa Finland and lots nature images from Lieksa.
webcam site url:
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/pehkonen/webcam.htm
and images gallery:
http://www.oyk.fi/~ari.pehkonen/gallery.htm

tv Ari Pehkonen from Finland

Hei to all!
I am a subscriber to the monthly FAR and I thoroughly enjoy reading it. I am the genealogist for my immediate family. My mother is Finnish and was born in 1922 in Atlantic Mine, Michigan. Her name is Eleanore KAIPONEN and her mother's maiden name is Hilda Alice MOILANEN. If you have a family connection, please write to me.
Thank you and have a safe Holiday Season!
:}

Hei, Jim and Dave!
Well, it was a nice surprise to see the "thank you" to contributors in the December issue- now I know what the pictures were needed for! It is great to see the faces of those who write for the FAR! Finnish Independence Day at Indiana University was an immense success-thank you for posting it. Hopefully more Finns in Indiana will come out of the woodwork now! Anyway, kiitos paljon ja toivon että teillä on oikein Hauskaa joulua!!--Toivon myös että mun suomea ei ole huonoa!
Hilary Virtanen
Hei, Lynn Virtanen, remember me? ;)

Hello everybody

Is anyone living in Toronro ? I would find my relatives there. Greetings from Finland
jumaen@phpoint.fi

Hei Hei,
I recently moved to the Ann Arbor area and am interested in finding other Finns and Finnish Activities. Email me at Virtanenl@yahoo.com

Hi,

Greetings from Finland !

My fathers aunt Fannie Peltokorpi (maidenname Renvall) died in Oct 1983 in Carver, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

I have also following information on her:

Fanny Ranvall (spellings vary widely, really Renvall) age 21 arrived at Ellis Island on May 6, 1916 on the ship, "Bergensfjord" from Kristiania, Akerhaus, Norway. She had $50 with her.
Her last residence was Ulvilan, Toejoki, Finland. Relative left behind was her father, Oskari Renvall,
She was going to 38 Clarke Avenue, Quincy, Massachusetts to join her sister, Suoma Lammenmaki, who paid for her passage.
She was 5'7" , with dark hair and blue eyes. Birthplace listed as Ulvila, Finland

Fanny shows up in the 1920 Federal Census for Quincy, Norfolk County, MA, ED 245 Sheet 9A, January 12, 1920
51 Copeland Street
Kuomka, Caroline head of household age 38 widowed b. Finland
son, Kalvo age 12 b. MA
boarder, Rawalle(sp)(really Renvall) Fanny age 25 b. Finland Imm to US 1916
Occ: Waitress in Restaurant
boarder, Kalle, Olga age 24 Imm 19?? b. Finland Helper in restaurant

1930 Federal Census for Quincy, Norfolk County, MA, ED 105 Sheet 20A, April 16, 1930
47 Copeland Steet
Peltakarpi(really Peltokorpi), Fannie, head of household age 35 age at first marriage 30 b. Finland Imm to US 1916 Occ: Own account Restaurant

1932 Quincy City Directory
Peltokorpi, Mrs. Fannie, restaurant 49 Copeland Street house same

If anybody is familiar with her, please let me know. I am vere interested in her life, possible childrens and so on !

Erkki

Although not very much is written about it there was a large Finnish population in New York City..they had co-op apartments in Finn Town and social events at the "Imatra".I was born in Finland in 1947 and came to live with my grandparents in 1952.There was a sense of community among these American Finns.
Along with others my family moved to Maryland in 1958 and bought a chicken farm in North East,Md.
There were about 9 or 10 other families (Finns)
in the area.
Since then almost all of these families have either died or their children have moved on.
Including me, I know live in Sarasota,Fl.
Would enjoy hearing from others who may have had similar experiences!!
Matti Aalto (maaalto1@yahoo.com)

Greetings from Finland !

If anybody is familiar with this family, please let me know:

The 1930 Census for Middleborough, Plymouth County, MA:

Makie, Kusti A. age 52 age at first marriage 35 Imm to US 1911 b. Finland Occ: cranberry farmer
wife, Suoma M. age 43 age at first marriage 26 Imm to US 1913 b. Finland
dtr., Judith E age 16 b. MA
son, John H. age 14 b. MA
dtr., Ruth C. age 5 b. MA

Suoma was my father's aunt. I'm especially interested in her children Judith, John and Ruth and their childrens !

Please, reply directly to my email: stamps@suomi24.fi

I LOVE THIS PAGE. KEEP IT UP.

Hei everyone! I´m a genealogist and I´m searching for a person. For 10-15 years ago a man from Green Bay, Wisconsin was in Finland in a small village named Jeppo. And this man was searching for relatives and he asked after Lillas. Is there anybody who this man could be? I would realy like to know more about him. His name was John Owen Fredrickson Jr.
Sören from Sweden

Paiva, In 1964-1967 I used to correspond to a penpal named Matti Haapalahti, from Oulu, Finland. When he moved from Oulu, we wrote a couple more letters and lost touch. He would be around 50 years old now. Does anyone know his whereabouts?

wow, great pictures,

Please check my own created site on Mystery of Mountain, India.

http://www.geocities.com/girnarmystery

Send your comments and suggetions.

Hi- anyone Finnish is welcome to check out finncamp.org and come visit us in Wixom Michigan near Detroit for a sauna and a swim. We are a summer camp organization that has been in the area since 1925. We have a library with lots of info and names of Finns from way back. We also rent little cabins along the lake by a pine Forest and we also have a private lake complete with diving tower. We are always looking for members. Good Luck with your searches! Mary B Farmington Hills MI rgb@wwnet.net

I am having trouble finding who my grandfather's
parents were, I have got a death certificate
for him,WILHO WERNER KANANEN born 12/6/1910
and might have lived in the calumet area, Stanton
area, Adams township, not really sure.
But his parents are listed as Erick Kananen and
Emma Keranen. I can't find anything on them.
Several links have been to Oscar or Tyyne Kananen
but I don't believe they are it. They had to
many children. As far as I know there was
my grandfather Wilho aka(Bill) and his sister
Winnie. Not sure if thats her real name or a
nickname. Bill married Alice Harma of Atlantic
Mine, MI and Winnie married a man named Harry
Coleman. Anyone who has infomation please
help. Wilho Wener Kananen's Parents?????

Mesaba Co-Op Park near Hibbing, Minnesota will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary during the summer of 2004- June 26 and June 27. The theme will be: Against All Odds.

Really beautiful tee-shirts depicting the Park are available.

Mark your calendar. Don't miss the fun and a chance to discuss progressive politics and partake in progressive politics, working-class culture and entertainment.

This past summer Mesaba Co-Op Park hosted a well attended Tribute to Paul and Sheila Wellstone... everyone had a good time.

The Park needs members to keep it going. Mesaba Co-Op Park stands as a tribute to the hardworking Finnish families who worked the mines, farms, and lumber camps of Northern Minnesota.

Do you or anyone you know have pictures of Park activities over the years that you would like to share during the 75th Anniversary celebrations?

Hi!
I´m looking for an information about my relatives. In the early years of 20th century came Johan Edvard (Juho) Jylhä to Worcester. Some years later came his brother Atte Nikodemus and his sister Hilda and her husband Oskari Haapakoski (or Koski). Hilda´s children were Aarre, Edith and Helen (based on a letter). In Finland they lived in Parkano. If you have any information of these persons, please contact me.

I am doing some research on my family roots. I am trying to get any info on my Great Grandmother, Selma Alfors from Hanko Finland, and My Great Grandfather William(or Vaino) Koivu(or Koivuniemi)from Turku Finland. I know they emmigrated into this country in 1906-1909 and settled in Boston Mass. I know my Great Grandmother had 3 sisters in this country, Olga, Ellen, and Edith Alfors. And my Great Grandfather had brothers already settled in this country when he arrived. One of his brothers was named John Koivuniemi. I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Chris Koivu

Wondering if anyone has information on the name Wickman from Jepua (Jeppo), Finland and settling in the Foster City / Felch / Hardwood area of Michigan around 1915.

Thanks

Hello, this is Hilary Virtanen once again. I have just completed my Courses at Michigan State University (and therefore my Bachelors degrees) last night and now start my Masters program at Indiana University this morning. I am working with a program called Traditional Arts Indiana that hosts many smaller projects. It is my job to seek out Finnish Americans in the state of Indiana who practice a variety of traditional arts and to try to connect them and their work with the greater community. "Traditional arts" entails a variety of things: cookery, music, crafting, dancing, storytelling, joking, rug weaving... there are any number of things that could fit this category. The artisans do not have to be directly from Finland or purebred Finns. I am writing to ask all out there if they know of such people in Indiana. If you would like more information about the work TAI does for traditional culture, please go to www.indiana.edu/~tradarts/ If you know of anyone fitting this description please email me at virtanenhj@aol.com or call me at 812-339-4402.

Thank you all very much for your time!
Hilary Joy Virtanen
Masters Student,
Folklore Institute,
Indiana University-Bloomington

Seeking information on Olga Lindfors, aka Olga Kanerva and Olga Strom, lived USA 1903-1934, in Quincy, MA, Redgranite VT, Westerly RI, Milford NH, before moving in 1934 to Karelia. Husbands: John Kanerva, William A. Strom. Children: Voitto and Warma Kanerva; Ellen and Sisko Strom. Ellen Strom attended school in Milford, N.H.

Can anyone recommend reading material on the Finnish immigrants who worked as quarry men? You will notice that all the towns listed above are the homes of quarries.

Thank you, and please reply to my e-mail at: casadr@earthlink.net

Looking for familyrooths

My Fathers grandmother Johanna Sundell left for State Oregon from Helsinki,Finland in 1920. Johanna Sundell arrived in Portland at her son Erland Nikolai Sundell. Erland was my Father's stepuncle. Erland has also a brother Johan Gustaf Sundell who might have arrived at portland also.

Erland Sundell was born on 3rd November, 1890 and Johann sundell on 1st February, 1900.

Would there be my relatives or any information about them.
Please reply to my E-mail: anjaroine@hotmail.com

Dear Finnish American,
My girlfriend Kristi Seppala thoroughly enjoys reading your monthly paper.

Moi Moi

Hi ! Gwendoline Stephenson ( an Australian who lives in England )has started The Finnish Language Forum at : http://forums.prospero.com/suomikieli?fpi=yes . The main language of the forum is English. We also discuss Finnish culture and even other languages besides Finnish. Most people on this forum are interested in languages in general.
The best on-line Finnish-English-Finnish dictionary is here : http://www.tracetech.net/db.htm .
Want to talk to Americans and Englishmen who live in Finland ?
IESAF ( The International English Speakers Association of Finland has a discussion group here : http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/esaf
Most members of the group are native speakers of English who live in Finland but anyone can join the group.
Cheers Pertti Suorsa

ABA GUY

Hello everyone!
First of all i just want to say that this site is wonderfull and maybe the last and only hope that i got left!
I´m 22 years old woman from Finland and seeking any information concerning my long lost family in United States. Everything started when my father said that his great great uncle left to Usa in early 1900´s - 1910´s. Since then i have been looking if i have relatives in Usa.
I am looking any information concerning descendants of Uuno Svensk (born 22.6.1889,died 1960-1966 in Usa) His parents were, father Juhana Jeremian poika SVENSK 1848-1928 and mother Henriikka Pertelin tytär HIRVONEN 1854-1919. Uuno was unmarried when he left to Usa and he got married there, we dont know his wife´s name. Uuno and his new American wife had at least one (1) son, we dont know if they had more children. Uuno was travelling trhough Usa when he found place to live. He lived as far as we know, in Oregon, Astoria. Uuno SVENSK left to Usa from KERIMÄKI,MIKKELI FINLAND. He came to Finland for the last time in the beginnig 1960´s and he died soon after the visit.
Uuno had many sister, Eemil Svensk(1878-1966), Helmi Svensk(1895-1980 or 1990), Otto Svensk(1885-1886, died in age of 6 months)Hilma Svensk(1876-1878 died in age of 2 years) after her Henriikka gave birth to another baby girl and they named her also Hilma(1880-????), Maria Svensk(1883-1911)Emerika Svensk(1873-1907) and then there was Veikko Svensk but we dont know his year of birth or year of death. The SVENSK name has been in our family for 5 generations now and its really rare name in Finland.

I would be very grateful of any replies concerning my long lost relatives in Usa.
Thank you for your time and take care everyone!

Reply to me to my email
mervi_svensk@hotmail.com

good luck to all the finns walter p tampa

i just found your sight and its great

Hello!
Does anyone know childs or grandchilds for August Hjalmar (Jalmar) Teppo? He was born in Ypäjä, Finland 09.01.1888 and died 23.12.1942 (in Canada, I think). He left from Finland to Canada 1907 with ship called North Bay. His parents were Emma Katariina Teppo (1855-1934) and Kalle Juhonpoika (1852-1923). If You know something, please e-mail to me.

Hello
Just a note, as I just happened on this message board.
If you have any information on the Hihnala name, please contact me at jackhmontana@aol.com.
Trying to complete some geneology.
Recently I received a contact from Finland, the individual found my name on the internet in a rather distant posting. Thanks

I don't know your name, but you are born in Finland, Kajaani town about 1950's as a twin and live now in Toronto. You have visited Finland some years ago and have tried to find your father Antti's family in Vilppula. Please contact , I think I could help you.

My name is Ed Kukko and I live in NJ. My father was born in Finland and came to the USA in 1939. My mother's parents were also from Finland. Their last name was Penttila.

Looking for information about Frans Henrik Hogman
from Oulu area emigrated 1910 to MA and worked for
some time in or related to somebody in Ishpeming, also
Manninen family from Kivijarvi - Eliina my grandmother,
sisters Sara (m. Matti Niskanen) of Pigeon Cove, MA
and Eeva Manninen of Kivijarvi. Eliina emigrated in
1913. I am second generation - would love to find
Manninen family particularly - Eliina was youngest of
13 siblings.

Hello to all interested in Finland by relatives or else matter.Just want to send my best regards to you all - Í got this adress from my very good friend in Fond Du Lac.
Personally I know some of my mothers familiars moved to USA in begining of 1900 century and in Canada lives my husbands "nanny" - greetings to Sirkka!
Thanks also who has done these nice websites !
yours Merja Saarenpää,Finland

If you are related to the Hepokoski or Rikkola
family pease email me.

Jason Hepokoski

suomi2112@hotmail.com

Join the mailing list or post to the query boards for Houghton county genealogy here.
Alicia

http://www.mfhn.com/houghton/

Hey, Jim, I got my copy of the FAR yesterday, thank you very much! I was just flipping through these old messages and saw a couple of interesting ones. Scott Savola was replying to a Finnish girl with dark features- I am also very dark, with dark brown hair and green eyes, unlike my mom, sister, aunts and uncles, but like my great grandparents on the Wiideman and Wiisti sides. Actually, Lempi Ellis was my Great Grandpa Kaarlo Wiideman's sister- she used to send me a dollar every birthday when I was little.
Saami people in northern Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia were typically darker people- interbreeding with the blondes means that now not all Finns are so fair in tone. It is thought that the Saami migrated from as far away as Mongolia/Siberia thousands of years ago.
Also, hi to Josh Luukkonen- I don't know if you remember me, but we were a part of the whole Motherlode/Suburban Exchange crowd. Nice to see other Finnish college people that I know checking this stuff out.
now that I am late to class, I should go.
Terve!
Hilary Joy Virtanen

Both sets of my grandparents came here from Finland. I do not know what part of Finland they came from. My last name is Polvinen and my mom's maid name is Kuvaja. My aunt is a Heikkinen. I live in Maine where there were many finns that settled back in the early 1900's.

Hi to All,
Love doing research on the Finns.
My grandmother was Katherine KALLIAINEN Gray who was born 12-8-1869 in Kirkenes, Norway.
Don't know a whole lot about her except she came to America about 1892.
I would love to correspond with any KALLIAINEN's anywhere who know English, especially from Norway or FInland.
Thanks, Maxine

Hi, looking for descendants of younger children of Vilhelm Wester (Vesterinen) born 9.6.1811 in Iisalmi, Finland, died 12.2.1887 in Suomussalmi. He was married with Liisa Tapio, born 19.1.1822, died 2.1.1914. They had children: Aapeli, Emil, Kalle, Anna Kaisa, Israel, Kustaa; Oskari (Oscar) born 19.1.1859, emigrated to USA; Liisa Kustaava, born 8.1.1861, emigrated to USA and Vilhelm, born 16.8.1866, emigrated to USA.
Please reply my email: mikko.vesterinen@kolumbus.fi

I am searching any information of descendants of Emil Wester (Vesterinen) born 23.12.1846 in Pudasjärvi, Finland and died 20.2.1917 in Calumet, Michigan. His wife was Maria Lovisa Stierna, born 1854, died 6.8.1827. They had 8 children: Charles, Emil, Oscar, Fred (Fredrick) born 19.7.1892, Eveliina (died 5.11.1919), Ida (married with John Jokipii), Elisabeth (married with Olaf Moilanen), Edla (married with Ernest Crathwohl). Elisabeth might later be married again and used name Lisie Herlevi (or she is somehow related to this family)
Please, reply directly to my email: mikko.vesterinen@kolumbus.fi