General shareholder's meeting of the American Finnish Printing Company, 10/05/1879

Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet (1873)

I have written in the past about the early stages of the Finnish American Paper (Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti) in a biography of its editor-in-Chief, Alexander Leinonen. So, I will write it also here:

"Leinonen was invited Copper Country to re-establish Finnish American Paper.  Newspaper project's background team included a group labeled by their opponents as "alliance of three". It consisted of the clerk in the Apostolic Lutheran Congregation, David Castrén, as well as of the members of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation, Nils Majhannu and August Nylund. Their aim was to collect funds for a printing house and newspaper whose readership would consist of all Finns across religious lines. The establishment of the newspaper was realized in the summer of 1879. Papers sample number appeared on 06.13.1879 and the regular appearance it started at the beginning of July. To this way born Finnish American Paper was called editor-in-chief from Texas, Aleksander Leinonen. Leinonen, who from the beginning was also a shareholder of the company, avoided the religious disputes and tried to follow the fairness when writing about the competing churches. Instead, he lashed his former homeland's clergy and the state church. Majority of the printing company's shareholders, which were a total of 65, seems to be Apostolic Lutherans, among them the parish priest, a layman Johan Takkinen. Printing company's shareholders' meetings were held in the parsonage Apostolic Lutheran Congregation. However, the first elected chairman was non-Apostolic Lutheran watchmaker August Nylund. The Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation, A.E.Backman, who was also printing company's shareholder and many other non-Laestadians were quite soon sidelined in the project. However, the American Finnish Paper remained relatively independent under Leinonen's management, and it wasn't used only as an Apostolic Lutheran voice. However, the Paper's line in local religious disputes was often Apostolic Lutheran form-fitted and critic to the Evangelical Lutherans. But otherwise, the paper's line was all the time very liberal. When interest in the publishing business waned among Apostolic Lutherans because of increasing internal disputes, Alexander Leinonen acquired full ownership of the paper. "

Notice of the  American Finnish Printing Company's shareholder's
meeting  in Johan Takkinen's apartment. ASL 07.11.1879

The newspaper was printed by American Finnish Printing Company, which held several shareholder's meetings since the launch of the newspaper in the fall and at the late summer of 1879. At the beginning of October (10/5/1879) held meeting, it was found that the project was successfully started and was decided that the company does not admit new shareholders. In the following story is told proceedings of the meeting and presented company's shareholders and the number of their shares. Because I think this is an important milestone in the Finnish-American History, I wrote it down:

ASL 10/05/1879

American Finnish printing company (ASL 10/15/1879)

held general shareholder's meeting last Monday evening in the parsonage of the Apostolic Lutheran congregation, where it was decided and studied a few of the company's affairs. First, there were sold more company shares, and then Treasurer's accounts were audited, which showed that the company had paid all the debts and there was small amount of money left. Almost a year ago, the first step was taken in this company, and because the printing company is now already in practice, as well as on the serious foundation, so it was decided that the company no longer will sell new shares. At the end of the meeting, the company's chairman expressed his joy that this important institution for preserving our language and nationality in America had with luck finally been carried on solid foundation. He wished good luck and success in the inspiring of the Finnish American intellectual life and consensus. Also, the chairman said on behalf of the entire company fondest gratitude to the Treasurer Johan Laiti [1], which had from the beginning and with the highest precision, without payment, managed the company's financial affairs. Finally, was read the complete list of the Company's shareholders, which showed they were 65 men, who owned 106.5 shares, namely,

Isak Hirvaskari 7, Isak Andersen 4, Jacob Ojanperä 4, Johan Abram Alanenpää 3, Antti Johan Hilli 3, Johan Takkinen 3, Alex Leinonen 3; Lahnala Matti, Petter Ostrom, Johan Eckrea, Anders Nylund Haapala and August, each of 2.5, August 2 Pekkala, Johan Pirttikangas 2, David Castrén 2, Frans Wuornos 2, Stefan Lohvansuu 2, 2 Johan Laitinen, Stefan Olson Hill 2, Isak Rovainen 2; Matti Hannula, Matti Mertala, Alex Paulus, Erik Pikkarainen, Anders Eriksson, Nils Majhannu, Erik Käkelä, Nils Petter Starkka, Jacob Anttila, Emil Westerlund, Erik in Nara, Wilhelm Järvelä ,, Rahtu Henrik and Henrik Nikkilä each 1.5; Johan Vehkoja 1, AEBackman 1, Isak Niva 1, Erki Grass 1, Tapio Adolf 1, Petter Pikkarainen 1, Johan Oskar Snabb 1, Karl Frisk 1, Matti Nurmi 1, Karl Mark 1, Henrik Laplander 1, Petter Suaningi 1, Erik Maunu 1, Anders Piippola 1, Nils Petter Nilson 1, Abram Mällinen 1, Frans Oskar Salmonson 1, Johan Alamaa 1, Karl W. Tervo 1, Johan Ruonavaara 1, 1 Peter Lustig, Matti Peteri 1, Salmon Ruona 1, Karl Sankala 1 Johan Petter Johanson 1, Johan Hiltunen 1, Peter B. Henrikson 1; Peter Anton Putty and Edvard Frisk half.

In this meeting were also given $ 14 to the printing company as a gift.

1. Johan (John) Laiti was involved in almost all the Finnish-American activities when living in Copper Country in the 1870s and the first half of 1880s. Johan Laiti was born on 08/14/1844 in Kemi, Finland, moved from there to Norway, from where moved to USA and settled Red Wing, Minnesota. Laiti family moved to Copper Country in 1870s. He was married in 1872 in Hennepin County, MN with Sofia Matleena Rautus. Sofia was born in 1844 in Kittilä, Finland, moved in 1869 to Cokato Minnesota. Johan Laiti and his family moved in 1885 from Copper Country to New York Mills, Minnesota, for farming. He died in 1920. See. Ilmonen 1923, 207.

A series of articles about Finnish organizations in Fort Bragg: News on the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Fort Bragg

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Bragg photographed pretty soon the building was completed.

In the Finnish American Newspaper there was April 7, 1889, news on the establishment of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Fort Bragg, in Mendocino County, in Northern California. I wrote it down and translated to English. Above you'll see the image of the church built the same year, which I found in a short history of the congregation.

Fort Bragg, Mendocino Co., Cal., Feb. 21..

We ask for a place to get something to said on A. S. Paper's columns also about this place. At the meeting held on this month's 17th day, was established Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, which elected with majority of votes John P. Bergqvist for Chairman, John P. Westerberg for clerk, John Gert for treasurer, for board members were chosen John Jensen, Herman Bergqvist, Jacob Ny, Isak Markkula and Jacob Haiman (Hyman ?). Members of the congregation joined 17 people. Next meeting is scheduled for the forthcoming month's 17th day, in which congregation's laws ja constitution will be treated. The meeting will be held in Fort Bragg in John Bergqvist's house. All citizens living in surrounding area are asked to come to the meeting. The construction of the church will be implemented as soon as there will be enough money together to begin. Lot is given by Fort Bragg's company free of charge, which would have cost $ 500 when buying. On behalf of the church:
John Bergqvist, manager
John P. Westerberg, clerk,

Finnish Newspapers in America part one: Finnish American Paper (1876)

Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti /Finnish American Paper

The first Finnish language newspaper in America was Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti. It started in Hancock on April 14, 1876. Its founder and editor was A. J. Muikku, a Finn who had been actually called to the community to serve as pastor for local Lutheran congregation . 

In the fall of 1875, Hans Roernaes, the Norwegian pastor in Hancock received a letter from a Finnish university student Antti J. Muikku in New York. He was expressing a wish to come to the Copper Country. The letter-writer informed also that he didn't have money for his fare. Pastor Roernaes read the letter at a worship service of his Finnish-Swedish-Norwegian congregation. The Finnish members were immediately interested. They thought that now they would have a preacher who can speak their language. So they collected the money.

Antti J. Muikku, the son of a carpenter, was born on March 22, 1846, in Liperi. His family moved later to Joensuu. After his graduation from the lyceum at Jyväskylä, Muikku studied  mathematics at the University of Hel­sinki . His studies ended because of a lack of money. After working for example at the Pulkova Observatory near St. Petersburg, he came to America.

The newcomer was not planning to be a preacher or speaker of any kind. Muikku had in his mind a Finnish newspaper which could serve the growing Finnish population of the Copper Country. Muikku spent the winter 1875-76 collecting funds and subscriptions. He could get 300 subscribers and started his paper with the name Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti (Finnish American Paper). The first issue came out on April 14, 1876. This was the birthday of the Finnish American press. Muikku's newspaper came out on Fridays and consisted four four-column pages.  The price was two dollars a year. It was printed on a press owned by German-born E. P. Kibbee.

The  local newspaper Karjalatar in Joensuu, Finland noticed hometown boy's new career:

Muikku tried to make his paper many-sided and lively. It included local news, news from other places where Finnish immigrants had settled down, and from Finland. 

Muikku's greatest difficulty was his inability to take care of paper's financial businesses. Subscriptions did not increase in number. Only a few of the immigrants appreciated the value of having a Finnish newspaper. Another problem was that Solomon Kortetniemi, pastor and leader of the Laestadians (Apostolic Lutherans), forbade his congregation to subscribe to a secular paper. At this time most Finns belonged to this congregation. All together 14 issues were published. The last number came out in July 1876 as an edition of only two pages.

Nearly all copies of Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti have disappeared. There may be only two copies left—an incomplete one in the Finnish National Library, and another, in fairly good condition, in the FinnishAmerican Historical Archives at Finlandia University in Hancock

Antti J. Muikku died on February 5, 1877 at the Johan Fredrik Frisk's home on Quincy Hill. Later a monument was placed on his grave in the Quincy Hill cemetery. On it was carved the following inscription: "A. J. Muikku. Died 1877. The founder of the Finnish American press. A memorial from his countrymen."

The Quincy Hill cemetery was abandoned a few years later when the rental agreement with Quincy Mining Company ended. Many graves were moved to the new Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.  Muikku's grave was still there unti year 1914, when four men, J. A. Kärkkäinen, Emil Saastamoinen, Juuso Hirvonen, and F. Tolonen, decided to move it also to Lakeside Cemetery. Muikku's bones were dug up by Kärkkäinen and Hirvonen, and moved to a coffin of Finnish model. And on Sept. 18, 1915 the coffin was laid down in the grave at Lakeside Cemetery. The old gravestone was replaced by a new one in 1916. It was made by Sampo Granite Co. of Quincy, Massachusetts.

The old marker was moved to the museum of Suomi College. Today it belongs to the collection of Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University. The cemetery at Quincy Hill was "found" in 1999 while construction works were made to build a new water tower. It was investigated using geophysical methods and named Ingot Street Cemetery in the investigation report.