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Note: - - - Information from The Lutheran Church in Finland.
Name in Finnish = Jaako Vihtori Ojanpera e Niemi.
Spent time in America working as a carpenter, and as a
lumberjack throughout the forests of the Northeastern USA.
Lived in the Quincy, Massachusetts (USA) area, and for several years
in the 1930's and 1940's lived in central Vermont in the towns of
Barre, Websterville and Graniteville.
Death information from Mount Wollaston Cemetery Burial records, Quincy, Massachusetts.
Died at age 69 at The Albany, New York Hospital. Died of pneumonia.
Buried in lot #687, Maple Hill Section.
Also buried in the same plot:
John W. Olson ( 3months old), Irja H. Kosti (Koski?),
Marie Matilda Olson, Viano Ilona Knapp.
At the time of Victor's death, it is believed that he had been working in the Adironack Mountains in New York, helping to build cabins.
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Information from The Lutheran Church in Finland and via records / Researcher at the LDS family History Center, Utah. Information also from Family sources.
Name in Finnish = Jaako Vihtori Jaakonpoika Niemi.
Probably used the last name of Ojanpera before he left Finland. (Victor has a relative in Finland who also used the last name of Ojanpera, but was born "Niemi" I was told by a relative that they both worked on an Ojanpera farm together at one time). Victor's sister that also came to America went by the last name of Niemi (Maria Elviira Jaakontytar Niemi).
Victor came to America about 1912.
In his early years he worked as a ship builder and a ship's carpenter.
Before coming to America he was a Finnish seaman and spent time in the Finnish Navy.
He was noted as a very good carpenter, and cabinet maker. He also worked as a
lumberjack throughout the forests of the Northeast.
Victor was probably about 5'4" and about an average of 140 pounds.
he was injured in the woods in about 1936 and had an operation on his side.
He also had a tattoo.
Lived in the Quincy, Massachusetts (USA) area, for many years.
Godparents: Mikki Kangas and wife Maija. Baptised by Pastor A. Cederberg.
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The family says that Victor changed his name upon arriving in the USA. He was previously Jaako Vihtori Jaakonpoika Niemi (or Ojanpera).
The story is that he served in the Finnish (?) Navy and his best friend's last name was "Olson". This Olson died and left Victor a small amount of money in his will. Family members tell me that Victor did indeed receive a small sum of money monthly for a number of years from the Olson that had died.
Victor chose to take his friend's last name upon arrival in the USA.
Victor had also earlier gotten into trouble in Finland. I don't know if it was before he went in the Navy, afterward, or during.
He was at a barn dance and had quite a bit to drink. He got into a dispute with another man. In his anger he took out his gun and shot it. I don't believe he was aiming at anything in particular, but it did end up hitting a woman there.
Finnish relatives tell me that in those days the barn dances could be quite wild and untamed, with much drinking.
Victor thought he had killed her. He left Finland. Relatives in Finland say that's the last they had heard of Victor.
The relatives in Finland also have told me that the woman survived and was fine.
But, they don't know if Victor ever knew that. But, Victor's sister did travel back to Finland a few times to visit family/ relatives, and her and Victor always stayed in contact, so I would like to believe that she knew of this information and passed it on to him.
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1920 US Census:
Name: Victor Olsen
Home in 1920: Quincy Ward 4, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Age: 35 years Estimated birth year:
abt 1885
Birthplace: Finland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Matilda
Father's Birth Place: Finland Mother's Birth Place: Finland
Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1912
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes Household Members:
Victor Olsen 35
Matilda Olsen 33
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1930 US Census:
Residence: Barnstable,MA
age 44
born: Finland
year of Immigration: 1914
occupation: carpenter.
Household members:
Victor J Olson 44
Mary M Olson 42
Arno V Olson 10
Viano I Olson 8
John W Olson 5
Merton E Olson 3
Viola R Olson 8/12
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1940 US Census:
Residence: Websterville, VT
Highest grade of school: 4
occupation: carpenter
Wife and all 5 children (Auno, Viano, John, Merton and Viola) listed in same houseold.
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And, and very interesting true story:
In 1939, in East Barre, Vermont, a body was found near a dam that had been blown up with dynamite.
It was decided that the body found was that of Victor Olson. Positive verification was not possible due to the condition of that body. But, Victor was not currently in the area and was not at his last known place of work (Lumber camp in Groton, Vermont).
A funeral was held at the Congregational Church in East Barre, and the body was buried at the Wilson Cemetery in Websterville, Vermont.
But! Turns out that Victor was working at a lumber camp in Maine at the time. His family recived a letter from him shorthy after what was beleived to be his funeral.
When Victor returned home, he discovered that the dead person found had been buried in his best suit. He was furious about that, and insisted the Town of Websterville reimburse him for his suit. Which they did. (The town records note a payment to Victor Olson at that time.)
It was never discovered who the person was that they discovered at the East Barre dam. He is listed in the town records as "unknown".
The "Unknown" is still buried at the Wilson Cemetery in Websterville,Vermont. A descendent of Victor's had a marker saying "Unknown" placed at near his grave site. (The "unknown" is buried in a "unknown" spot, in the row called "Pauper's Row" , the row nearest the Websterville Road, facing St Sylvester's cemetery).
Wilson Cemetery is across the road from St Sylvester's Catholic Cemetery which is where several descendents of Victor's are buried, including his sons', John William and Merton Edward, and grandson's Augustus T. , and John W. Olson Jr.
The above information came via the news articles written in the local newspaper "The Times Argus" , of Barre,VT - which can be found on microfiche in the City of Barre's "Aldrich" library, and from family sources.
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Y-DNA (Paternal line) test:
is Haplogroup “N” (LLY22G)
Paternal Line Descendency:
- Olli Tuomaanpoika Nokela
m. Peata b. abt 1662
- Heikki Ollinpoika (Jackolanpera) Tuhla
b. Jun 1707
m. Priita Laurintytar Ollila
- Lars Henriksson Tuura
b. 13 Apr 1740 Tuhlan Limingoja, Phyajoki, Finland m. Maria Johansdotter Klamppu - Jacob Larsson Katila
b. 21 Jul 1770 Isokyro, Turrala, Finland M. Walborg Johansdotter Myllykoski - Johan Jacobsson (Katila) Sorvari
b. 30 Oct 1794 Ylistaro, Myllykoski Farm, Finland m. Hedvig Mattsdotter Lopar - Matti Juhonpoika (Sorvari) Niemi
b. 26 Nov 1818 Katila, Orismala, Isokyro, Finland m. Hetvikki Mikontytar Valdar - Jaako Matinpoika Niemi
b. 4 Aug 1854 Niemi Farm,Niemenkyla, Jurva, Finland m. Anna Liisa Eliaksentytar Pera - Victor Jacob Olson (Jaakko Vihtori Jaakonpoika Niemi /Ojanpera )
b. 16 Aug 1886 Kangas Farm, Jurva, Finland m. Marie Matilda Haapakoski (m. In Quincy, Massachusetts, USA about 1916) - John William Olson
b. 15 Oct 1924 Quincy,Massachusetts,USA m. Cecile Germaine Valley - - -
1920 US Census:
Name: Victor Olsen
Home in 1920: Quincy Ward 4, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Age: 35 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1885 Birthplace: Finland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Matilda Father's Birth Place: Finland Mother's Birth Place: Finland
Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1912
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes Household Members: Victor Olsen 35
Matilda Olsen 33
- -- ancestry.com City Directories:
1938, 1939 living in Websterville,VT
occupation: carpenter. 1944, 1946 - living on Hooker Ave, Barre,Vt and Prospect St, Barre,VT
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WWII Draft Registration Cards:
Victor said his place of birth was Sweden. (The man whose name he took upon arrival in America was from Sweden). Date of birth given: 2 Apr, 1883. (Possibly the date of birth of the Swedish man).
Nearest relative: Tilda Olson.
employer:
J H Fadden & Son, No. Woodstock,NH. Currently unemployed.
Residence: Websterville,VT
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Jakob Viktor Jakobsson Niemi. Born 1886-08-16 Jurva . Kangas.
Father: Jakob Mattsson Niemi (Sorvari).
Mother: I:2 Anna Lisa Eliasdotter Leppäniemi. Marriage with Maria Matilda Johansdotter Haapakoski (Born 1888 Jurva .).
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