The Mikko Jokela III Family

The Family of Mikko Jokela III and Maria Paksuniemi (the Editor's Maternal Grandfather's Birth Family), Köngäs, Kittilä Parish, Lappi Province, Finland. Mikko Jokela III was the father of the editor's maternal grandfather. Jaako Jokela reports that Mikko married Maria Paksuniemi. According to information received from Katrin Öhgren, the wedding took place on December 26, 1845. Maria gave birth to 11 children - seven sons and four daughters - over a period of 37 years. Her last child, Kaisa, was born on May 14, 1882, according to Jaako Jokela's record. If Jaako's record is correct, Maria would have celebrated her 59th birthday in less than one month after Kaisa's birth.

The Editor's Maternal Grandfather. Mathias Jokela (Mikkelsen) -- born February 23, 1860 -- was Maria's eighth child, and her sixth son. Matti grew



to manhood on the Jokela farm located on the east



bank of the Ounas river near Köngäs, in Kittilä parish.

In her book The Northern Light, Mary Mickelsen reports one of Matti's relatives, Maria Niva, said, "He was the handsomest man in these parts. I wish you could have known and seen him. You would know what a handsome man looks like..."

Dona Renne Meland says, "[He] ...was a tailor by trade."

Matti's oldest brother (Mikko Jokela IV) married Angelica Charlotta Laestadius, the daughter of Lars Levi Laestadius, Apostle of the North. In 1880 (when Matti was 20-years-old), they emigrated from Finland to Fanklin, Minnesota.

Matti met his future wife (Emma Kristine Tiberg) when she came from Vadsø, Norway, in the winter of 1882-83, to visit in the vicinity of Kittalä. Emma made a second visit to Kittilä in the winter of 1884-85.

After corresponding with Emma for more than a year, Matti went to Vadsø, where, on February 20, 1886, the couple married and established their home.

Matti's Paternal Grandparents. Grandfather Mikko Jokela II died at age 88 on August 30, 1883. His wife, Magdalen Johansdatter, died at age 89 on March 15, 1886.