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Chuck, the next time you go to Swenson, could you check on this fellow? This message appeared on Finngen. Anyone not seeing it there that might know something, please reply and I'll get back in touch with Libby. (There are some possibilities on the Migration Institute but she already saw them and she just wasn't for sure it's the same person.)
"To all of you who have responded, asking for more info, here's what I know:
I'm told, by family members, that Malakias' surname wasn't originally Laukka. He was sent to work at an early age by a step parent and worked for the Laukka family so he took their name. (From "early age," I'm assuming he changed his name before - or when - he left Finland.)
From his death cert, he was born in 1869 and died in 1932. Death cert says his father was Matt Laukka, but it doesn't say who provided the info, so I don't know how accurate that is. The death cert is not a xerox copy, but a "typed-in" form, indicating they transcribed it from a ledger perhaps. (I'm not sure this is completely accurate - perhaps since it was typed, "Matt" provided the information. He did name his third son Matt.)
One Matts Laukka immigrated, Ellis Island, arrived April 03, 1899, on the ship New York, 25 years old, but the age is all wrong.
The 1910 census says he immigrated in 1889. He lived in Marquette County, MI, around Negaunee. In 1900, he was in the town of Negaunee. By 1910, he was on a farm in the county. (Family lore has it that all the children were born on the farm, meaning he moved there ~1900 since the oldest son was born in 1901.) There were 11 children and I've pretty well pinned them down. From what I can tell, everyone in the family has accepted the answer that he changed his name and doesn't know anything
more.
He married ~1900. (The 1900 census says he'd been married less than a year.) I've written for the marriage cert. They were both Lutheran.
His wife was Margareeta (1876-1963). Her death cert info was provided by a son, Andrew, and says her father's name was Kestinen. I'm told she immigrated and worked for a family to pay her passage, perhaps in the Detroit area. She came over ~ 1899. One of her daughters, now dead, said she came through Ellis Island, but I haven't been able to verify this or find much about her family either. Her mother married twice, so I don't know if Kestinen was her natural father or her step-father's name.
The Marquette County MI Naturalization Records are on-line and I have scoured them, looking even for a first name and have not found anything even close. No Malakias'. I'm thinking even if he changed his surname, he would keep his given name.
For Laukkas, the State of Michigan Index of Naturalization for Marquette Co. applications only list Henry Laukka; Abel Laukkanen; Oskar Laukkanen; and Wilho Laukkanen - not even close. (http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7...5704--,00.html).
Not all counties are indexed, but looking at adjoining counties, I can't find anything.
The census says he became a US citizen in 1892 or 93 (can't read the census). Since it was before 1906, the process was different than it is today and the records are not as detailed.
I'm told application for naturalizatiom could be made at a county court or a federal court. There was a federal court in Marquette, but I haven't had any luck finding anyone who will admit to having those records. Neither have I had any luck determining if the on-line immigration records for Marquette Co are only county records, or whether they include records from the federal court there.
From 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time. He may fall into this category (barely).
At the time he immigrated, Finland was under Swedish rule and army training was mandatory at 19 years. (I'm guessing that, and the offer of a job, might why he immigrated when he did - for what that's worth!)
Malakias was a conscripted miner (iron mines). The mining company provided passage for a certain period of work, but I have been unable so far to find out which mines recruited in Finland for the Negaunee area in the early 1890s, thinking perhaps I might find mining company records.
My husband's other grandfather was also from Finland and came as a miner, but he came in 1909. I have his records. They say he came in through Canada. If Malakias came this way, that doesn't help me since the St. Alban's List only begins in 1895.
I live in Alabama. My side of the family is from north Florida. They were all "just folks" (no one special), but I've had pretty good luck
tracing them back to ~1800. As I understand it, the key to my next step in tracing Malakias is to find out which parish/town he came from so I can check church records in Finland.
(This is my husband's family. The state of Michigan will only send copies of death certs to heirs, but I have written for the one for my husband's mother, hoping for a clue.)
Thank you all for taking an interest. I'm sure there are "rocks" I haven't turned over yet, but am beginning to run out of places to think to look.
I apologize for taking "list space" with this long posting, but several folks have indicated that with additional information, someone might have an idea.
Thank you again,
Libby"
Sorry for the long message.....
"To all of you who have responded, asking for more info, here's what I know:
I'm told, by family members, that Malakias' surname wasn't originally Laukka. He was sent to work at an early age by a step parent and worked for the Laukka family so he took their name. (From "early age," I'm assuming he changed his name before - or when - he left Finland.)
From his death cert, he was born in 1869 and died in 1932. Death cert says his father was Matt Laukka, but it doesn't say who provided the info, so I don't know how accurate that is. The death cert is not a xerox copy, but a "typed-in" form, indicating they transcribed it from a ledger perhaps. (I'm not sure this is completely accurate - perhaps since it was typed, "Matt" provided the information. He did name his third son Matt.)
One Matts Laukka immigrated, Ellis Island, arrived April 03, 1899, on the ship New York, 25 years old, but the age is all wrong.
The 1910 census says he immigrated in 1889. He lived in Marquette County, MI, around Negaunee. In 1900, he was in the town of Negaunee. By 1910, he was on a farm in the county. (Family lore has it that all the children were born on the farm, meaning he moved there ~1900 since the oldest son was born in 1901.) There were 11 children and I've pretty well pinned them down. From what I can tell, everyone in the family has accepted the answer that he changed his name and doesn't know anything
more.
He married ~1900. (The 1900 census says he'd been married less than a year.) I've written for the marriage cert. They were both Lutheran.
His wife was Margareeta (1876-1963). Her death cert info was provided by a son, Andrew, and says her father's name was Kestinen. I'm told she immigrated and worked for a family to pay her passage, perhaps in the Detroit area. She came over ~ 1899. One of her daughters, now dead, said she came through Ellis Island, but I haven't been able to verify this or find much about her family either. Her mother married twice, so I don't know if Kestinen was her natural father or her step-father's name.
The Marquette County MI Naturalization Records are on-line and I have scoured them, looking even for a first name and have not found anything even close. No Malakias'. I'm thinking even if he changed his surname, he would keep his given name.
For Laukkas, the State of Michigan Index of Naturalization for Marquette Co. applications only list Henry Laukka; Abel Laukkanen; Oskar Laukkanen; and Wilho Laukkanen - not even close. (http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7...5704--,00.html).
Not all counties are indexed, but looking at adjoining counties, I can't find anything.
The census says he became a US citizen in 1892 or 93 (can't read the census). Since it was before 1906, the process was different than it is today and the records are not as detailed.
I'm told application for naturalizatiom could be made at a county court or a federal court. There was a federal court in Marquette, but I haven't had any luck finding anyone who will admit to having those records. Neither have I had any luck determining if the on-line immigration records for Marquette Co are only county records, or whether they include records from the federal court there.
From 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time. He may fall into this category (barely).
At the time he immigrated, Finland was under Swedish rule and army training was mandatory at 19 years. (I'm guessing that, and the offer of a job, might why he immigrated when he did - for what that's worth!)
Malakias was a conscripted miner (iron mines). The mining company provided passage for a certain period of work, but I have been unable so far to find out which mines recruited in Finland for the Negaunee area in the early 1890s, thinking perhaps I might find mining company records.
My husband's other grandfather was also from Finland and came as a miner, but he came in 1909. I have his records. They say he came in through Canada. If Malakias came this way, that doesn't help me since the St. Alban's List only begins in 1895.
I live in Alabama. My side of the family is from north Florida. They were all "just folks" (no one special), but I've had pretty good luck
tracing them back to ~1800. As I understand it, the key to my next step in tracing Malakias is to find out which parish/town he came from so I can check church records in Finland.
(This is my husband's family. The state of Michigan will only send copies of death certs to heirs, but I have written for the one for my husband's mother, hoping for a clue.)
Thank you all for taking an interest. I'm sure there are "rocks" I haven't turned over yet, but am beginning to run out of places to think to look.
I apologize for taking "list space" with this long posting, but several folks have indicated that with additional information, someone might have an idea.
Thank you again,
Libby"
Sorry for the long message.....
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