Erick Johansson (Juhannipoika) Alamaa was born in June of 1855 to Johan (Juhanni) and Maria (Salomonsdotter Kexi) Alamaa. He was the fourth of their children, after sister Maria Johanna and brothers Johan and Henrik. Erick also had a younger brother, Christian.
Shortly after Erick's birth, the Alamaa family moved from Kukkola to the Vadsø area of Norway, where Erick was confirmed in the Lutheran church on December 4, 1870. The Alamaas proved a restless young family and soon pushed further west, this time across the Atlantic Ocean to Michigan. Maria Johanna was the first to move, settling in Hancock sometime before June of 1872. The others came in waves, with Erick arriving sometime in 1873. His migratory period was over; Erick would remain in the Hancock area for the rest of his life.
The move to Hancock was a fortuitous one for Erick as far as his love life was concerned: it was here that he met and fell in love with a young Finnish lady by the name of Amanda Hoikka. Erick and Amanda exchanged vows on November 25, 1876 in Hancock, beginning a marriage that would last almost 70 years.
Their union would be thoroughly tested over the decades with a series of personal tragedies. Erick and Amanda were childless for the first thirteen years of their marriage. In 1889 Amanda gave birth to a son, Erick Arnof, who was stillborn. The couple, now using the "more American" name of Johnson, buried their child in a shady plot in Hancock's new Lakeside Cemetery and erected a stone tower there in his memory. In 1891, the sad process was repeated when son John Ronald died suddenly at six months old.
Finally, in March of 1894, the Johnsons welcomed a healthy boy, Edward, who thrived under his parents' watchful eyes. In 1896 came the only daughter, Mamie Theresa, who passed through her infancy safely. Both children began school at a precocious age, and, on the whole, things seemed to be looking up. Devastatingly, in October of 1902, Mamie's kidneys began to fail her. Despite the best care by the local physician, she died on November 15 of that year at six years of age, adding a third name to the family monument at Lakeside.
While these years were difficult ones for the Johnsons, they were not without triumphs and great happiness. Though he began his life in Michigan in the employ of the copper mines, Erick soon found a more fulfilling career. He devoted many years to the care and keeping of Quincy Elementary School and was characterized by one observer as "an education enthusiast." Erick was also an active participant in the temperance movement; his reputation as "a true temperance man" resulted in his election as treasurer of the Finnish National Temperance Brotherhood on January 25, 1888. He was also a founding member of the Pohjantähti (North Star) Temperance Society of Quincy.
On June 1, 1921, the Johnsons welcomed a daughter-in-law, Ethel J. Moyle, into the family. The following year, they became grandparents when a boy, named Edward after his father, was born. Another grandchild, Ramona Jane, followed in 1928. It must have been a joy for the Johnsons when Edward and Ethel purchased the house next to theirs in the early 1930s, allowing them to see the grandchildren on a daily basis.
While the company of the younger Edward and Ramona Jane surely delighted their grandparents, the later years of Erick and Amanda's lives were not without one more sadness. In 1941, they buried Edward, the one child who had made it to adulthood and fatherhood. He had suffered from cardiac problems for some years and his passing, while not unexpected, was grievous.
Amanda died in early 1944, ending the marriage that had survived triumph and tragedy. Erick lived only one year longer, under the tender care of Ethel and the grandchildren, before quietly passing away in May of 1945. Like three of the children they had greeted earlier in life, he and his wife were interred in Lakeside Cemetery.
Shortly after Erick's birth, the Alamaa family moved from Kukkola to the Vadsø area of Norway, where Erick was confirmed in the Lutheran church on December 4, 1870. The Alamaas proved a restless young family and soon pushed further west, this time across the Atlantic Ocean to Michigan. Maria Johanna was the first to move, settling in Hancock sometime before June of 1872. The others came in waves, with Erick arriving sometime in 1873. His migratory period was over; Erick would remain in the Hancock area for the rest of his life.
The move to Hancock was a fortuitous one for Erick as far as his love life was concerned: it was here that he met and fell in love with a young Finnish lady by the name of Amanda Hoikka. Erick and Amanda exchanged vows on November 25, 1876 in Hancock, beginning a marriage that would last almost 70 years.
Their union would be thoroughly tested over the decades with a series of personal tragedies. Erick and Amanda were childless for the first thirteen years of their marriage. In 1889 Amanda gave birth to a son, Erick Arnof, who was stillborn. The couple, now using the "more American" name of Johnson, buried their child in a shady plot in Hancock's new Lakeside Cemetery and erected a stone tower there in his memory. In 1891, the sad process was repeated when son John Ronald died suddenly at six months old.
Finally, in March of 1894, the Johnsons welcomed a healthy boy, Edward, who thrived under his parents' watchful eyes. In 1896 came the only daughter, Mamie Theresa, who passed through her infancy safely. Both children began school at a precocious age, and, on the whole, things seemed to be looking up. Devastatingly, in October of 1902, Mamie's kidneys began to fail her. Despite the best care by the local physician, she died on November 15 of that year at six years of age, adding a third name to the family monument at Lakeside.
While these years were difficult ones for the Johnsons, they were not without triumphs and great happiness. Though he began his life in Michigan in the employ of the copper mines, Erick soon found a more fulfilling career. He devoted many years to the care and keeping of Quincy Elementary School and was characterized by one observer as "an education enthusiast." Erick was also an active participant in the temperance movement; his reputation as "a true temperance man" resulted in his election as treasurer of the Finnish National Temperance Brotherhood on January 25, 1888. He was also a founding member of the Pohjantähti (North Star) Temperance Society of Quincy.
On June 1, 1921, the Johnsons welcomed a daughter-in-law, Ethel J. Moyle, into the family. The following year, they became grandparents when a boy, named Edward after his father, was born. Another grandchild, Ramona Jane, followed in 1928. It must have been a joy for the Johnsons when Edward and Ethel purchased the house next to theirs in the early 1930s, allowing them to see the grandchildren on a daily basis.
While the company of the younger Edward and Ramona Jane surely delighted their grandparents, the later years of Erick and Amanda's lives were not without one more sadness. In 1941, they buried Edward, the one child who had made it to adulthood and fatherhood. He had suffered from cardiac problems for some years and his passing, while not unexpected, was grievous.
Amanda died in early 1944, ending the marriage that had survived triumph and tragedy. Erick lived only one year longer, under the tender care of Ethel and the grandchildren, before quietly passing away in May of 1945. Like three of the children they had greeted earlier in life, he and his wife were interred in Lakeside Cemetery.
Erick Johansson (Juhannipoika) Alamaa was born in June of 1855 to Johan (Juhanni) and Maria (Salomonsdotter Kexi) Alamaa. He was the fourth of their children, after sister Maria Johanna and brothers Johan and Henrik. Erick also had a younger brother, Christian.
Shortly after Erick's birth, the Alamaa family moved from Kukkola to the Vadsø area of Norway, where Erick was confirmed in the Lutheran church on December 4, 1870. The Alamaas proved a restless young family and soon pushed further west, this time across the Atlantic Ocean to Michigan. Maria Johanna was the first to move, settling in Hancock sometime before June of 1872. The others came in waves, with Erick arriving sometime in 1873. His migratory period was over; Erick would remain in the Hancock area for the rest of his life.
The move to Hancock was a fortuitous one for Erick as far as his love life was concerned: it was here that he met and fell in love with a young Finnish lady by the name of Amanda Hoikka. Erick and Amanda exchanged vows on November 25, 1876 in Hancock, beginning a marriage that would last almost 70 years.
Their union would be thoroughly tested over the decades with a series of personal tragedies. Erick and Amanda were childless for the first thirteen years of their marriage. In 1889 Amanda gave birth to a son, Erick Arnof, who was stillborn. The couple, now using the "more American" name of Johnson, buried their child in a shady plot in Hancock's new Lakeside Cemetery and erected a stone tower there in his memory. In 1891, the sad process was repeated when son John Ronald died suddenly at six months old.
Finally, in March of 1894, the Johnsons welcomed a healthy boy, Edward, who thrived under his parents' watchful eyes. In 1896 came the only daughter, Mamie Theresa, who passed through her infancy safely. Both children began school at a precocious age, and, on the whole, things seemed to be looking up. Devastatingly, in October of 1902, Mamie's kidneys began to fail her. Despite the best care by the local physician, she died on November 15 of that year at six years of age, adding a third name to the family monument at Lakeside.
While these years were difficult ones for the Johnsons, they were not without triumphs and great happiness. Though he began his life in Michigan in the employ of the copper mines, Erick soon found a more fulfilling career. He devoted many years to the care and keeping of Quincy Elementary School and was characterized by one observer as "an education enthusiast." Erick was also an active participant in the temperance movement; his reputation as "a true temperance man" resulted in his election as treasurer of the Finnish National Temperance Brotherhood on January 25, 1888. He was also a founding member of the Pohjantähti (North Star) Temperance Society of Quincy.
On June 1, 1921, the Johnsons welcomed a daughter-in-law, Ethel J. Moyle, into the family. The following year, they became grandparents when a boy, named Edward after his father, was born. Another grandchild, Ramona Jane, followed in 1928. It must have been a joy for the Johnsons when Edward and Ethel purchased the house next to theirs in the early 1930s, allowing them to see the grandchildren on a daily basis.
While the company of the younger Edward and Ramona Jane surely delighted their grandparents, the later years of Erick and Amanda's lives were not without one more sadness. In 1941, they buried Edward, the one child who had made it to adulthood and fatherhood. He had suffered from cardiac problems for some years and his passing, while not unexpected, was grievous.
Amanda died in early 1944, ending the marriage that had survived triumph and tragedy. Erick lived only one year longer, under the tender care of Ethel and the grandchildren, before quietly passing away in May of 1945. Like three of the children they had greeted earlier in life, he and his wife were interred in Lakeside Cemetery.
Shortly after Erick's birth, the Alamaa family moved from Kukkola to the Vadsø area of Norway, where Erick was confirmed in the Lutheran church on December 4, 1870. The Alamaas proved a restless young family and soon pushed further west, this time across the Atlantic Ocean to Michigan. Maria Johanna was the first to move, settling in Hancock sometime before June of 1872. The others came in waves, with Erick arriving sometime in 1873. His migratory period was over; Erick would remain in the Hancock area for the rest of his life.
The move to Hancock was a fortuitous one for Erick as far as his love life was concerned: it was here that he met and fell in love with a young Finnish lady by the name of Amanda Hoikka. Erick and Amanda exchanged vows on November 25, 1876 in Hancock, beginning a marriage that would last almost 70 years.
Their union would be thoroughly tested over the decades with a series of personal tragedies. Erick and Amanda were childless for the first thirteen years of their marriage. In 1889 Amanda gave birth to a son, Erick Arnof, who was stillborn. The couple, now using the "more American" name of Johnson, buried their child in a shady plot in Hancock's new Lakeside Cemetery and erected a stone tower there in his memory. In 1891, the sad process was repeated when son John Ronald died suddenly at six months old.
Finally, in March of 1894, the Johnsons welcomed a healthy boy, Edward, who thrived under his parents' watchful eyes. In 1896 came the only daughter, Mamie Theresa, who passed through her infancy safely. Both children began school at a precocious age, and, on the whole, things seemed to be looking up. Devastatingly, in October of 1902, Mamie's kidneys began to fail her. Despite the best care by the local physician, she died on November 15 of that year at six years of age, adding a third name to the family monument at Lakeside.
While these years were difficult ones for the Johnsons, they were not without triumphs and great happiness. Though he began his life in Michigan in the employ of the copper mines, Erick soon found a more fulfilling career. He devoted many years to the care and keeping of Quincy Elementary School and was characterized by one observer as "an education enthusiast." Erick was also an active participant in the temperance movement; his reputation as "a true temperance man" resulted in his election as treasurer of the Finnish National Temperance Brotherhood on January 25, 1888. He was also a founding member of the Pohjantähti (North Star) Temperance Society of Quincy.
On June 1, 1921, the Johnsons welcomed a daughter-in-law, Ethel J. Moyle, into the family. The following year, they became grandparents when a boy, named Edward after his father, was born. Another grandchild, Ramona Jane, followed in 1928. It must have been a joy for the Johnsons when Edward and Ethel purchased the house next to theirs in the early 1930s, allowing them to see the grandchildren on a daily basis.
While the company of the younger Edward and Ramona Jane surely delighted their grandparents, the later years of Erick and Amanda's lives were not without one more sadness. In 1941, they buried Edward, the one child who had made it to adulthood and fatherhood. He had suffered from cardiac problems for some years and his passing, while not unexpected, was grievous.
Amanda died in early 1944, ending the marriage that had survived triumph and tragedy. Erick lived only one year longer, under the tender care of Ethel and the grandchildren, before quietly passing away in May of 1945. Like three of the children they had greeted earlier in life, he and his wife were interred in Lakeside Cemetery.
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