I have not been there. This photo is from Verniel. I have it on my list of things to do this summer….along with many other things to do.
Here is Isak and Margaretta’s story.
For a quick recap they both came from Finland and settled in French Lake Minnesota. According to my Dad Isak got Typhoid Fever and stayed with Margaretta’s family while he was sick and recuperating. He then helped build the church with John Leinonen and a man named Rontti.
In this sketch of the original site there is a cemetery.
I think that cemetery is where Briita Liisa ( My Great Great Grandmother is buried) so that is also on my list…I think it is called the Leinonen Cemetery. Once churches are moved to different locations…old cemeteries are hard to find…but I have directions! Briita Liisa’s third husband Johan is buried elsewhere …not sure why? He died in 1917…I suppose lots of things can change in sixteen years.
Briita Liisa is shown as Liisa Leinonen at the French Lake Cemetery. Born April 20 1838 and died July 9, 1901. Her headstone is written in Finn.
I hope you and your dad will have an opportunity to visit.
ReplyDeleteYou may want to check the dates you have for the life of Briita Liisa (lovely name!).
ReplyDeleteThanks yes I had it transposed...I have corrected it now!
DeleteI love your interest in history. It's a beautiful heritage you have, too.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love the historical nuggets you give me on your blog. Hope you get there so you can take lots of pictures and share. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting bit of family history! I'd love to see that church in person.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you have that church to visit and that it is being preserved. I was able to visit the church my great grandparents were married in near Roseau a few years ago and it was a very special feeling to be there.
ReplyDeleteA good reason for a road trip!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to visit too! How interesting :)
ReplyDeleteIn my ancestry there are three churches that my grand's help to build. Three different sides of the family.
ReplyDeleteI have gotten to see two of them. The other was all ready gone. Two went back to the 1800's and one 1930's.
I hope you and your dad get to see the church soon (and that it is open so you can go inside!!) I hope you find the cemetery too.
ReplyDeletePlease take the time to visit the area and the church with your Dad. It would be time well spent.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what you can find if you work hard enough. It's out there even if it's in Finn. some of the headstones in my families cemetery are in German. Dad would read what it said.
ReplyDeleteSweet church, hope you get to visit, Francine.
ReplyDeleteHow neat! I hope you get to visit the church and the cemetery soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heritage you have! Definitely, yes! Go visit the church and see if you can find the cemetery. Have you checked to see if anyone has posted any records of that cemetery's burials online? Would love to read your story and see the photographs from when you take that trip!
ReplyDeleteThat would be a great place to visit. Hopefully you will be able to get inside and take some pictures. It looks like a very quaint church.
ReplyDeleteOh, you have some cool exploring to do!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to go visit both spots this summer. What an interesting and wonderful history your family has and great that it isn't so spread out so you can visit and keep the family memories and stories alive.
ReplyDeleteYou have quite the bucket list. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love that you have such detailed information like this with pictures. This will all be precious to somebody down the line in the family.
I enjoy reading your family history blogs. So nice that you have been able to learn so much about them. Not many Finns or Swedes in the parts of Ohio that I know about. There are Germans, French, English, Scots, Polish, Hungarians here. Lots of Amish, (German Baptists and others)
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to find it. I had a great grandfather help build Union Church. It was built with two doors to keep the men away from the women. I have read that the church was moved to a farm nearby. I keep wondering if the building is still in use.
ReplyDeleteJohan Leinonen is only buried 1.5 miles away in Riverside. :)
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