The first Finns in Fort Bragg (California) area

Former Finnish Temperance Hall in Fort Bragg

In my past writings I have already dealt with the Finnish Americans and organizations they established in Fort Bragg, in the Northwestern part of California. You can find them here, here and here. In the 1920s and 1930s, Reverend Salomon Ilmonen, who lived his late years in Fort Bragg,  wrote a number of books, which described Finnish Americans and their activities. However, it seems that he have not been enclosed Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti / American Finnish Paper's article 02/13/1880. It gives information about the very first Finnish Pioneers in the region, as well as their wealth. The majority of Finns were working at logging camps and sawmills, but some of them had settled down also as farmers. The article states that the first Finn permanently moved to the region as early as 1869 and others in 1877. So, it can be useful to bring this one article out of obscurity in the history:

Giant redwoods north of Fort Bragg

Noyo, Mendocino Co., California, in January 1880.
Now I get a possibility to give information about this warm summerland, that the winter has been very soggy, but now there is hope that the rain is over and once again become a quite warm summer. Here, the air is very fresh and healthy, and the mortality is very low. I will also mention something about our citizens around here. We are seven young men at this place, who have their own redwood "claims", which currently employs over a hundred Finns. Here you could still get properties in a very appropriate place using the Homestead Law, but the Finns did not much want to become landlords, which is due to the fact that they are so greedy for earnings and in love with money.

Here you can find a lot of work on the sawmills and logging work, which will be paid around  $40 - 45 in a month, food included. Land owner's position is here extremely good because they can keep how many animals they only want. You do not need to acquire shelters for them, because they live outdoors summers and winters. wheat isn't sown here in a big quantity, but instead barley, oats and especially potato and all types of vegetables.

Obituary of Matts Toppila in Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti 12/3/1880

Deceased

My tenderly beloved husband Matts Toppila fell into peaceful sleep of death
after a long disease, in Noyo. Mendocino Co, California, in
November 2, 1880, after living 42 years, which is hereby relatives and
friends expressed.

Also, I get a possibility to give a little information about a few of the Finnish residents who have settled nowadays here and live about three English miles from Noyo. Their houses are in a beautiful location, at the coastal highway. The earliest [Finnish pioneer] resident was settled here as early as in 1869, the others not until in 1877. Their financial situation can be seen from the following:

Matts Toppila 115 acres of land, 2 people, 2 horses, 2 cows, 8 hogs, his entire fortune is valued at  $2800 .

Petter Johansson has 125 acres, 5 people, 2 horses, 1 ox, 2 cows, 16 hogs, and his entire fortune is valued at  $3000.

Elias Johanson has 380 acres of land, 1 people, 4 horses, 12 cows, 25 sheep, 30 hogs,
his entire fortune is valued at  $15000

August Jernberg has 40 acres of land, 1 people, 1 cow, 2 oxes, his entire fortune is valued at  $500.

Jacob Kesti has 150 acres of land, 2 people, 3 horses, 1 ox, 2 cows, 30 hogs, his entire fortune is valued at  $3500.

Jakob Hyman has 160 acres of land, 1 people, 2 horses, 2 cows, 18 hogs, his entire fortune is valued at  $ 3000.

One reader of the Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti

Centerville Finnish Pioneer Families in the 1870's and 1880's

I compiled this list of the Finnish Pioneers in Klickitat County, Washington, with help of following sources:

Centerville Finns. Published by Finnish- American Historical Society of West, July 1977.

Death Certificates of Finns in Klickitat County, Washington, 1908-1942. Excerpted by Merle A. Reinikka.

Centerville Cemetery transcriptions recorded by Sharon Allan of Pasco, Washington, August 2000.

Salomon Ilmonen: Amerikan Suomalaisten Historia II (History of Finnish Americans, part two,), pages 272 - 275. Published 1923 in Finland.

As you see, individuals can have different dates for their birth and death, depending on source. In those cases, I've given other alternatives as well, in parenthesis.

Headstone of Ahola family at Centerville Cemetery in Washington

Finnish Pioneer Families in Klickitat County

Matti Ahola, born August 23, 1826 in Tervola, Finland, immigrated 1873 first to Copper Country in Michigan, died October 2, 1903 in Klickitat.

Wife, Briita Matleena Leinonen, born February 15, 1824 in Tervola, Finland, died May 1903 in Klickitat, 5 children.

Son Matti Ahola, born October 20, 1853 in Tervola, Finland, died 1931 in Klickitat.

Wife, Saara Mathilda, born 1872, died 1953.

Joseph (Männikkö) Anderson, born November 29, 1859 in Kuusamo, Finland, died 1947 in Klickitat.

1^st  Wife Anna Liisa Lehto, born November 27, 1859 in Kuusamo, Finland, died May 27, 1905 in Klickitat

2^nd  Wife, Susanna Leinonen born June 2, 1872 (death certificate: February 6, 1852), died April 6, 1936 in Klickitat, 7 children.

Johan (Kaarakka) Crocker, born October 18, 1832 in Tervola, Finland, immigrated 1871 from Norway to Copper Country, Michigan, died October 17, 1906 in Klickitat.
Wife, Maria K. Heikura, born December 31, 1833 (cemetery: January 1, 1834), in Tornio, Finland, died November 14, 1917 in Klickitat, 5 children.
Son Matt (Kaarakka) Crocker, born May 18, 1868 in Vadsö, Norway, died 1962 in Klickitat.
1^st  Wife Anna Briitta Mattson, born February 14, 1876 (death certificate: March 5, 1876, Michigan), died October 19, 1918, in Klickitat.
2^nd  Wife Eva Hagen, born August 16, 1880, Centerville, Wash., died December 1, 1938 in Klickitat.

John Albert Erickson, born June 6, 1865, died 1952 in Klickitat.
Wife, Briita (Bertha) Walborg Leinonen Karjala, born 1869 (death certificate: February 24, 1870, Finland), died November 5, 1935 in Klickitat, 5 children.

Johan (Pörhölä) Hagen, born February 4, 1846 in Pudasjärvi, Finland, died April 6, 1919 in Klickitat.
Wife, Walpuri Seppänen, born August 20, 1852 (death certificate: August 21, 1851) in Suomussalmi, Finland, died August 14, 1931 in Klickitat, 2 children.

Matti Matthisson Hyrkäs, born June 25, 1843 (cemetery: March 7, 1844; death certificate: March 17, 1842) in Kuusamo, Finland, died April 25, 1919 in Klickitat.
Wife, Kaisa Lehto, born March 1, 1841, died March 23, 1907 in Klickitat, 4 children.

Jacob (Hyttinen) Jacobson, born March 10/16, 1843 (cemetery: 1842) in Suomussalmi, died 1935 in Klickitat.
Wife, Kristiina Häivälä, born August 8, 1845 (cemetery: 1846) in Ylivieska, Finland, died June 25,1922 in Klickitat, 6 children.

John (Kinnunen) Johnson, born January 9, 1842 in Vadsö, Norway, immigrated in 1871 to the Copper Country in Michigan, moved in 1919 to Astoria, Oregon.
 Wife, Eva Greeta Östi, born September 20, 1835 in Karunki, Finland, died July 18, 1913 in Klickitat, 3 children.

John Erick Jussila, born April 14, 1848 in Kemijärvi, Finland, immigrated from Norway to Copper Country, Michigan in 1873, died July 13, 1928 in Klickitat.
Wife, Sophia Alexandra Tikkanen, born December 10, 1857 in Vadsö, Norway, 10 children.

John Kaidera, born July 16, 1844 (death certificate: July 5, 1844) in Tyrnävä, Finland, immigrated in 1873 – 1874 from Vadsö, Norway, died  December 9, 1917 in Klickitat.
Wife, Greeta Matilda Kaarakka, born May 6, 1848 (cemetery: 1847; death certificate: January 1, 1846) in Alatornio, Finland, died April 7, 1913 in Klickitat, 8 children.

John Peter Karjala(inen), born 15 May 1833 in Petsamo, Russia, immigrated 1873 from Norway to Copper Country in Michigan, died 1906 (Cemetery: 3 May 1909).
Wife Kaisa M. Manninen, born 17 Mar 1827 in Kuusamo, Finland, died 20 October 1902 in Klickitat, 3 children.

Peter Karjala(inen), born April 18, 1873.
Wife, Briita Valborg Leinonen, born 20 Jun 1869, 2 children.

August Klockner (Klockar), born September 20, 1849 (Ilmonen: 1845) in Haparanda, Sweden, immigrated in 1871 to Copper Country in Michigan, died March 25, 1905.
Wife, Margareeta Ollila, born November 30, 1839 in Sodankylä, Finland, died December 12, 1911, 6 children.

Henry Lahti, born August 21, 1842 in Kukkola, Alatornio, Finland, immigrated in 1874 to Copper Country in Michigan, died June 23, 1895 in Klickitat.
Wife, Greeta Karoline Rautio, born June 28, 1854 in Vadsö, Norway, died September 12, 1882 in Klickitat, 5 children.

Jacob (Laurila) Lawery, born October 15, 1845 in Suomussalmi, Finland, immigrated 1873 from Norway, died November 27, 1936 in Klickitat.
Wife, Greeta Liisa Lehto, born June 2,  1855 (Cemetery: 1859) in Kuusamo, Finland, died 1950 in Klickitat, 5 children.

Herman Lehto, born November 2, 1857, died April 1,  1940 in Klickitat.
1^st  Wife, Katie Valborg Karjala, born August 23, 1871, died May 29, 1907 in Klickitat, 10 children.
2^nd  Wife, Briita Ullarika Kuntijärvi, born June 8, 1875 (cemetery 1874), died 1960 in Klickitat.

Andrew Liimatta, born May 12, 1846, died May 8, 1934 in Klickitat.
Wife, Maria Stina, born September 30, 1843 (death certificate: September 23, 1842 in Finland), died June 23, 1908 in Klickitat, 6 children.

Lars (Seppanen) Mattson, born April 23, 1841 (cemetery: 1842) in Suomussalmi, Finland, immigrated to Copper Country in 1873, died 1926 in Klickitat
1^st  Wife, Anna Kaisa Kaleton, born March 18, 1846 in Taivalkoski, Finland, died June 10,  1919 (Cemetery: 1920) in Klickitat, 12 children.

2nd Wife Briita Johanna Nelson (Kankkonen)
Son Matti Mattson, born 1865 in Suomussalmi, Finland, died 1936 in Klickitat

Johan Niemelä, born June 1,  1839 (cemetery: May 24, 1838) in Tervola, Finland, immigrated in 1872 to Copper Country in Michigan, died May 16, 1912 in Klickitat.
1^st  Wife Briita Eliza Pietilä, born January 1, 1840 in Tervola, Finland, died November 13,  1906 in Klickitat, 8 children.

2^nd  Wife Maria Tormänen, born in Kuusamo, Finland.
3^rd  Wife Liisa Laide.

Peter Niemelä, born February 12, 1843 (cemetery: February 15, 1844) in Tervola, Finland, immigrated 1874 from Norway, moved 1884 to Klickitat, died February 22, 1908 in Klickitat.
Wife, Maria Kustaava Pietilä, born November 3, 1842 (death certificate: November 1, 1841) in Taivalkoski, Finland, died August 16, 1926 in Klickitat, 7 children.

Henrik Niva, born March 25, 1845 in Karunki, Finland, immigrated 1873 from Norway to Copper Country in Michigan, moved in 1880 to Klickitat, died February 3,  1917 in Klickitat.
1^st  Wife Greeta Liisa Jokiaho, born December 25, 1859, 7 children, died 1895 (cemetery: 1894).

2^nd  Wife, Dorothy Jokiaho, born November 2, 1851 (death certicate: February 11, 1851), died March 31, 1936 in Klickitat.

Henry Molstrom, born January 1, 1850.
Wife, Greeta Tengman, born December 30, 1848, 6 children.

Sifert Kustaa Törmänen, born July 7,  1845 in Kuusamo, Finland, immigrated 1873 to Copper Country in Michigan, died May 3,  1918
1^st  Wife, Eva Stiina Lehto, born May 20, 1833 (cemetery: April 20, 1823) in Kuusamo, Finland, died Septermber 24, 1910 Klickitat.

2^nd  Wife, Maria Kämärä, born 1858 in Kuusamo, Finland.

Gabriel (Matalainen) Walman, born February 17, 1841 (death certificate: February 28, 1846) in Pudasjärvi, Finland, immigrated 1873 to Copper Country in Michigan, died May 28, 1911 in Klickitat.
Wife, Johanna Höök, born 1850 (cemetery: 1852) in Vadsö, Norway, died 1908 in Klickitat, 10 children.

Andrew (Antti) Wiidanen (Viitanen), born June 20, 1845 in Pulkkila, Finland, immigrated 1872 to Copper Country, Michigan. died January 12, 1925 in Klickitat.
Wife, Amanda Karoline Holm, born September 10, 1857 in Haparanda, Sweden, died 1925 in Klickitat, 9 children.

Matti Wiidanen (Viitanen, Andrew’s brother), born l May 1849 in Pulkkila, Finland, moved to Klickitat in 1883.
1^st  Wife Matlena Walborg Hyvärinen, born April 8,  1847 in Pulkkila, Finland.

2^nd  Wife, Kaisa Emelia Määttä, born February 25,  1870, 9 children.

Mikael (Mike) (Wirkkunen) Wilson, born 2 Jan 1836 (Ilmonen: July 27 1842 in Haukipudas, Finland, cemetery: 1838), immigrated 1866 to Copper Country, Michigan, died 24 april 1917 (cemetery: 1914) in Klickitat.
Wife, Briita Fredriika Höök, born 20 Nov 1858, died 1930 in Klickitat, 10 children.

Johan (Witikka) Vitikkohuhta, son of Laestadian preacher Antti Vitikkohuhta, born May 20, 1845 in Hammerfest, Norway, immigrated 1869 from Norway to Copper Country, Michigan, died  April 24, 1910 (cemetery: April 26, 1910) in Klickitat.

Wife, Maria Charlotta Ollila, born October 8,  1844 (cemetery: August 10, 1844) in Sodankylä, Finland, died December 1,  1903 in Klickitat, 8 children.

Finnish settlement in Centerville, Washington

 

Majestic snow-capped Mt. Adams looms to west in Centerville

On the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state lies the Klickitat Valley, a level woodless area made fertile by the lava flow. Nestled there is the farming community of Centerville, settled by Finnish immigrants in 1877.  To the south, separated by a 2,000 foot divide, flows the Columbia River. Majestic snow-capped Mt. Adams on the Cascade Range looms to the west, and to the north are the Simcoe Mountains.  On a clear day, one can view five snowcapped mountain peaks, namely Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson.

On my trip with the theme "Go West Old Man” I was able to visit in 30th June, 2005 this beautiful valley, where many Finnish pioneers found their home in 1877. Afterwards I compiled the following story of Centerville Finns. It's based mainly on Mrs. Otis Mattson’s article Klickitat Finnish Pioneers in a booklet Centerville Finns published by the Finnish Historical Society of the West in July 1977 and on article Centerville was settled by Finnish in the Goldendale Sentinel, July 1, 1954.

Klickitat Valley and Mt. Adams

History of the Finnish settlement in the Centerville region.

The first Finnish settlers arrived in Centerville by accident. 

In the 1860's and 1870's, many Finns left their homeland to seek a better life in America. Many of the Finns immigrated to northern Michigan where work was available in the copper mines.  The Finns were used to work on the land and in the forests, so they began look for an opportunity to get out of the work underground in the dark mines.  Then a man by the name of Elias Peltopera wrote to them to come to Pendleton to get their homesteads. Three different groups left Houghton County, Michigan. They traveled by train to San Francisco, and on to Astoria and Portland, Oregon, by boat. They continued to Pendleton, arriving there in the spring of 1877. But the fourth group from Michigan got lost before they reached their destination. In this group were John Hagen, Lars Mattson, John Crocker, Jacob Jacobson, and Peter Karkiainen, with their families.  In Astoria, Peter Karkiainen decided to stay to visit friends who lived there.  The others continued on to Portland.  When it came time to purchase their tickets, they discovered that no one remembered the name of the destination. The letter from Peltoperä was in Astoria, in the possession of Peter Karkiainen. The situation looked discouraging, and they were planning to go back to Astoria.

Beautiful scenery

However, they decided to spend a little time in Portland where they could look over the land along the Willamette River.  At that time, an 80 acre tract along the east side of the river, were sold for $800.  The land was covered with brush, and did not appeal to them. Finland was at that time under Russian rule, and they were directed at the port to speak to the Russian vice-consul.  This gentleman was not familiar with the Pendleton settlement, but he advised the travelers to go to The Dalles, 100 miles up the Columbia River, where homesteads were available.  Taking the consul's advice, the Finns bought tickets, boarded a river boat, and continued their journey

Apostolic Lutheran Church

They arrived safely in The Dalles on July 4, 1877. While inquiring about land around the place, they met a farmer named Al Brown who happened to be in town for supplies.  After he heard about their intentions to settle in the area, Mr. Brown told them about Centerville across the river.  He explained that he called the place Centerville because it was located in the middle of the valley.  There was good fertile free land to be had in 160 acre lots, he told them, as he tried to encourage them to come there to live.  The Indians were hostile at that time, so the farmers would welcome more white neighbours.

Several of the Finns decided to look into the proposition.  Leaving the rest of the party at The Dalles, Lars Mattson, John Crocker, and John Hagen set out at once on their adventurous journey.  They took with them eleven year old Matt Mattson, Lars Mattson’s son, who had gone to school in Michigan and could act as their translator. Lars Mattson was the first of the pioneers to set foot on Washington soil as the party crossed from Oregon.

The group of men crossed the Columbia by boat, then continued up the hill on foot. They slept the first night in the barn, continuing on at daybreak.  As they reached the ridge of the Columbia hills, it came to Mr. Crocker as to the prophet of old, "This is the promised land; here is where I shall live, and here is where I shall die."They found early settlers, the Browns, the Jaeckels, the Garners and the Childers living at Centerville.  The Finns established their land claims, and then returned to The Dalles to rejoin their families.Upon arriving in the Oregon city, the immigrants purchased horses and wagons to carry their families and supplies.  On Thursday, July 10, 1877, they started for their new home site in the "promised land".  As the Finns were entering the Klickitat valley, they met a caravan of white settlers who were leaving the place. A couple of young boys in the group overheard those leaving say, "Those poor fools will be scalped before morning." The Indian scare at that time was bad, but as time went on the Finns had no great problem with the Indians.

Centerville Cemetery

The settlers sent letters to Calumet, Michigan, advising their countrymen to come to Klickitat Valley, where one could get 160 acres of free land for each family. They wrote about fertile soil free of stumps and ready to be tilled, and of heavy bunch grass which was good feed for cattle and sheep. That fall the following families arrived:  Erick Jussila, Henry Molstrom, Andrew Liimatta, Jacob Lawery, John Kaidera, August Klockner and Fred Johnson.  In November a third group arrived. That group included Matt Ahola, Henry Lahti, Sivert Törmänen, Gabriel Walman, Andrew Wiidanen, John Witikka, and Mike Wilson.  Altogether by the next spring, over twenty Finnish families and a few single men had arrived to Kickitat valley.

When the first Finns eame, they found a mystery.  No one knew when and who had a home that was burned long ago, five miles west of town.  There were corner stones of a house in place, pieces of broken dishes and other evidence that someone had lived there.  John Hagen prospered on his small farm.  He was not interested in additional land as his only son, William, was thrown from his horse at the age of twenty-one years and fatally injured.  Hagen had money to lend to other farmers who wished to buy more land to add to their holdings.

It wasn't long before most of the homesteads were taken.  The farmers bought ad-joining acres, as much as they could afford.  The value of the land went up, and that made it very difficult for a man with little capital.  Altogether, about fifty families were able to get homesteads around Centerville between1877-1880.

In midwinter of 1878, the Piute Indians were moved from the Malheur Reservation in southeastern Oregon to Fort Simcoe, north of Centerville, as punishment for their supposed sympathy with the uprisings of the tribes of Oregon and Idaho.  They did not want to move from their land, but quarters had been arranged for them at the Washington fort.  Five little Indian children and the widow of Chief Winnemucca who was old and ill died on the way to Fort Simcoe.  They were buried in the snow beside the trail.  The Indians were taken through the valley in a bitter cold by the cavalry.

A pic from the cemetery

Some of the pioneers became good friends of the Indians.  Each tribe had its own linguistics, and some of the whites learned enough of the Chinook jargon so they could communicate with them.  Edward Mattson became a special friend of the Indians. They borrowed money from him, and brought him their beadwork bags, purses, gloves, vests and other items for security.  Some of the pioneers grazed their cattle on open land in the Simcoe Mountains.  The Kaideras and the Jussilas kept their milk cows there in the summertime where the grass was green.  The territory was large, wooded, with no fences, and the cattle had to be herded.  Mrs. Kaidera and Mrs. Jussila stayed up there with their children.  They milked cows, made butter, and baked bread.  Mr. Kaidera and Mr. Jussila took supplies up to their wives about every two weeks.

 Some of the Centerville farmers formed a company to purchase a separator and a Case gasoline engine.  This was the company thrasher, nicknamed "Vallankumous" = revolution. Each outfit had a nickname.  The Niva - Wiidanen outfit was called "Akka Walta" = Woman Power.  Crocker's was called "Hiki-Liikkuja" = Sweat mover, and Mattson's outfit was called "Elinkeino" = Source of Livelihood.

Besides farming, many of the Finns went into business.  The town had the Jussila - Kononen general store. Peter Ahola was a carpenter and also had a general store, Mr. Hutanter was a jeweler, and Frank Johnson was editor of the Centerville Times. Matt Mattson operated a hotel, John Kaidera managed the Farmer's State Bank, and Nathan Liimatta was a barber.  John Walman served as a blacksmith, William Niva a warehouse operator, William Niva and A. J. Niva as depot agents.  August Jussila operated a garage, as did Chester Mattson.  Jussila was a Chevrolet dealer, and had the first gas pumps in Centerville.  Abshier and Niva had a hardware store, A. J. Niva a grocery store and general merchandise, and Zenas Mattson was the U. S. mail carrier.

Mrs. Matt (Permelia) Mattson operated the restaurant in the Klondike Hotel run by her husband.  She rang a bell to signal to the townspeople when the meal was ready. The Klondike Hotel was destroyed by fire in the 1920's. The Post Office was located in Peter Ahola's store.  Abe Ahola served as the Justice of Peace for the county for many years.  Goldendale was the county seat, eight miles away, so all legal business was done there. Peter Anderson was a lover of outdoor life.  He enjoyed the songs and sounds of birds and all wildlife, and used to quote this little verse: "Piis, piis, pikku lintu, missä sinun pesä on? Kivikossa savikossa, pikku kiven alla." "Cheep, cheep, little bird, Where is your nest? In the rocks, in the clay, beneath the Stones."

Joseph Anderson, Adolph Maatta, Herman Lehto and several others had saunas on their farms.  Some of the older saunas were built with the rocks heated by the flames, and the exit for the smoke was small holes in the valls.  The fire had to be completely out before the water could be poured on the rocks or there would be "häkä", a form of gas that would make one very sick.  Later saunas had a stove with stove-pipe and chimney.  The rocks were heated on the top of an iron plate, so there was no smoke or soot in the room.  It has been said, "If you survive a sauna, you are either a fool or a Finn."

Beautiful, beautiful

Saturday night was a social evening when neighbors would gather for sauna.  The women all went in at the same time, taking their small children with them.  The men then had their turn; or vice versa.  Coffee and sweet yeast bread, and cheese "Leipä Juusto" were served after the sauna.  At some homes group singing was enjoyed afterwards.

Doctors were never called except in very severe cases. Mrs. John (Matilda) Kaidera and Mrs. Henry (Dorthea) Niva were midwives who helped friends and neighbours when babies were born. Every home had a spinning wheel, and the women spun yarn and knitted warm clothing for the family.  In the evenings after chores vere finished, the men made furniture for their homes.  They were skilled, too, in making skiis, skates and harnesses.

The simple thrifty life, mingled with the Christian spirit, enriched the life of these Finns.  The one kind of togetherness the Centerville Finns enjoyed was belonging to the local Apostolic Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1879.  Their little country church, one and a half miles northwest of town, was erected on the corner of Jacob Jacobson's homestead.  A larger church was built in town in 1911.

By the beginning of the 20th century, many changes took place at Centerville, as in other Finnish communities. The simple homes were improved and enlarged. and automobiles came into use. More land was cleared for crops so that wheat and hay could be grown.  It was all dry land farming at first, but in later years irrigation has been started from wells and streams. Finnish customs and the language have been passed from one generation to the next. The third and a few of the fourth generation still spoke Finnish.  The local people are now in the seventh generation and have mixed and married well with other nationalities.  The early Finns applied for and secured their citizenship papers within a few years of their arrival.  They are proud to be Americans.

The automobile age changed Centerville.  Very few businesses remained.  Now (in 1970s) there is one grocery store, a post office, a good sized grange hall, a grade school, grain elevator, the fire station, a number of residences, and a Christian Church as well as the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church. 

Greasewood Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church, Umatilla County, Oregon

Greasewood Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church

On my trip ”Go West Old Man” I stopped in 29^th June, 2005, at the former Finnish Apostolic Lutheran church and Cemetery in Umatilla County in Northeastern part of Oregon. At this Church site I once again saw that simple is often beautiful.

When the church was young and automobiles were even younger

This church, the Greasewood Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church is 131 years old. The abandoned building, surrounded by wheat fields, stands on a hill five miles west of Adams and eleven miles north of Pendleton. It’s located at the intersection of Enbysk and Midway roads near Adams, Oregon. It was listed in 1988 on the US National Register of Historic Places. The Apostolic Lutheran Church was founded by a Lutheran branch called Laestadians.

The founders

They brought their faith, Bibles, songbooks and catechisms with them from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Lapland first to the copper mines of Michigan and later to Oregon, where they claimed free homesteads in 1877.  In the early days, their religion formed the backbone of their lives. In 1884, the Greasewood Finns agreed that they needed a church. For one dollar, Peter and Josephine Enbysk donated one acre of land for the church in the center of the settlement. The transaction was made to Andrew J. Rauhala, Carl. J. Pell, Matt Deining, Matt Kononen, Peter C. Enbysk, Olof Hendriksen, Gustaw W. Planting and to their successors and assigns forever.

The one room sanctuary was built between 1884 and 1887 by volunteer labor. To this small, Gothic Revival church was added a vestibule in 1910. In the chancel, painted maroon, are the clergy's pulpit and a choir loft for the three song leaders. The communion railing is in front of the pulpit, with a gate on each side. The walls are painted a light blue, the floors gray and the inside doors are finished in light oak.

The building was heated by a large potbellied wood stove located in the middle of the room. Light was supplied by ornate kerosene lamps attached to the wall. Water was carried into the room in a blue granite container with a spigot.

Signboard

In addition to Sunday services, special services were held during “juhannus”, and when visiting ministers came to the area. Often after baptisms and special services, the congregation gathered at one one of the homes for dinner and fellowship. Some members walked to church, but there were families who traveled many, many miles, returning home the next day. Horseback, horse-and-buggy or horse drawn sleigh was the mode of travel for the day. In about 1912, when automobiles came into use, they were parked in a row on the east side of the building. The noise and sight of the cars frightened the horses tied to the hitching posts. When a car backfired, the horses often became unmanageable and runaways occurred.

Some of the local Finns were affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. They found a church three miles to the Northwest, founded by Germans, who came to the are in 1878. Their church was built in 1897.

At an evening service, in 1910, the congregation observed Halley's comet with awe and alarm. Another service was interrupted when a farmer came asking for help. His cow fell into the well. The men used horses to pull her out, but in her agitated state, she turned on the crowd and scattered the people.

In the chancel, painted maroon, are the clergy's pulpit and a choir loft for the
three song leaders. The communion railing is in front of the pulpit, with a gate
on each side. The walls are painted a light blue an the floors gray.

In those days it was the custom for men to sit on the right side of the room; the women and children sat on the left. Older children were instructed to sit quietly. Sometimes little ones escaped from their mothers, opened the gate on the communion railing and wandered behind the pulpit. Their stirring around, or the crying of infants did not bother the preacher as he delivered his sermon.

The Finnish language was used exclusively as long as the immigrants lived. The first generation born in America spoke Finnish from childhood, and they too treasured the inflections of the words and the sacred songs sung in minor key.

Look at the large potbellied wood stove in the middle of the room

No collection were taken during the service, but donations were made to pay the expenses of visiting ministers. Members of the congregation provided lodging for them and sometimes their large families as well. Many Finns held fast to their faith and supported other Apostolic Lutheran  churches in the Portland area and in Michigan and Minnesota. Families traveled far to visit their countrymen and brothers and sisters in faith. Astoria, Portland, Quincy and Clatskanie in Oregon, Brush Prairie and Centerville in Washington and Long Valley in Idaho were often destinations.

In 1929 were held a memorable occasion for the local Apostolic Lutherans. The Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church of America had their Big Meeting / Convention in Pendleton. It was held four days at the Methodist Church in Pendleton. Over 700 delegates and guests came to convention by bus, car and train from different parts of the USA. At this National Convention, the by-laws and the constitution of the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church were approved.

Church lamp

The local lay preacher and ministers were Andrew Rauhala Jacobson, Sackri Hendrickson, Henry Maaherra, Ingerbrit Holmgren and Gustaw W. Planting. Reverend John Lumijarvi from Astoria is remembered among the most eloquent of former ministers. He owned land in the community which he rented to a farmer who never needed a written lease. Reverend Wilhelm Basi, pastor in Centerville, Washington, conducted many services in the local church. Reverend Andrew Mickelson, a minister from Michigan, brought preachers from the “old country” to speak to the pioneers. They enjoyed news from Finland and this touch from across the sea. Reverend Bernhard Fardig, a former sea captain from Berkeley, California, was a favorite with the young people. Other ministers or traveling missionaries who were invited for special occasions were: Charles Ojala, John Nelson, Carl Sacarisen, Fred Johnson, Isaac Nelson, George Nelson, Liimatta, John Paana, Alwar Leppanen, Monroe Prouty, Kurtti, Evert Maattala, Otto Stadius, Uuras Saarnivaara and many others.

Baptism certificate on the church wall

During two weeks in the summer, teenagers attended confirmation school (Rippikoulu) where they studied the Bible, Bible history and catechism. They were required to memorize many passages. A visiting minister taught the class in the Finnish language and held a concluding examination in front of the congregation. Then the students proudly received their diplomas and were invited to partake of holy communion for the first time. The ministers who served the congregation are remembered for preaching the apostolic faith which stressed confession, repentance and forgiveness. The parishioners wished each other, "Jumalan rauha" (God's peace) when they left the worship service.

Kerosene lamp attached to the wall.

It was the custom for the people in the settlement to help one another. In times of sorrow, relatives and friends (valvojaiset) stayed with the one in repose until time for the funeral. The casket arrived on the Hunt train at Myrick Station, where someone waited with a team and wagon. The deceased was washed and dressed by family or friends and then placed in the parlor until time for the service at the church. Burial was at Greasewood Cemetery, one-half mile north of the church, where the men of the community had opened the grave. At the concluding ceremony, a trio sang several songs. After the minister's last words, the pallbearers took turns filling in the grave.

The last time the church was used for worship was in the beginning of 1970’s. The church received a generally high degree of maintenance until 1965, when it ceased being used for services on a regular basis. Following its restoration by descendants of the builders in 1985 – 1986, it is still quite good condition.