Matti/Mats ('Matt') was born in Alajärvi, Finland. He was the eldest of 6 children born to Elias Anttila Syrjälä Hietala and Anna Vitasaari. Matti married Maija (Maria, Mary) Koukkari of Lappajärvi, Finland in 1867 in the Lutheran Church at Alajärvi. The couple had 9 children between the years 1868-1882. Twin sons, Matts and Elias, died in infancy.
In 1883, his eldest son Juha Gustaf ('Gust') Koskela (and possibly Matti) immigrated to America to work first in the copper mines of Michigan, then at Carbon, Wyoming. Matti's wife, Maija, and their 6 other children who had remained in Finland, came to America in 1887 and joined Matti and Gust at the Carbon, Wyoming coal mining area for about a year. The family then went to the Pendleton, Oregon area where they homesteaded for several years, but lost everything during an economic depression. In the fall of 1895 they joined several other Finnish families and went by wagon and horseback to Long Valley, Idaho. They were among the first European settlers in the Valley. They homesteaded near Arling, southeast of Roseberry. Matti was a farmer and rancher during his remaining years. He was survived by his wife, and children: Hilda Wilhelmiina Lahti, Matti William Costella, Elias Edward Koskela, Mathilda ("Tillie" or "Tilda") Susanna Kantola, and Helmi Emeliia ('Pearl') Blankinship. His daughter Anna Maria preceded him in death, possibly in late 1895. He was 54 years old.
[Thank you to Charlotte Lake Oglevie for this research and the Church Records of Alajärvi Lutheran Church, Alajärvi, Finland]
In 1883, his eldest son Juha Gustaf ('Gust') Koskela (and possibly Matti) immigrated to America to work first in the copper mines of Michigan, then at Carbon, Wyoming. Matti's wife, Maija, and their 6 other children who had remained in Finland, came to America in 1887 and joined Matti and Gust at the Carbon, Wyoming coal mining area for about a year. The family then went to the Pendleton, Oregon area where they homesteaded for several years, but lost everything during an economic depression. In the fall of 1895 they joined several other Finnish families and went by wagon and horseback to Long Valley, Idaho. They were among the first European settlers in the Valley. They homesteaded near Arling, southeast of Roseberry. Matti was a farmer and rancher during his remaining years. He was survived by his wife, and children: Hilda Wilhelmiina Lahti, Matti William Costella, Elias Edward Koskela, Mathilda ("Tillie" or "Tilda") Susanna Kantola, and Helmi Emeliia ('Pearl') Blankinship. His daughter Anna Maria preceded him in death, possibly in late 1895. He was 54 years old.
[Thank you to Charlotte Lake Oglevie for this research and the Church Records of Alajärvi Lutheran Church, Alajärvi, Finland]
Matti/Mats ('Matt') was born in Alajärvi, Finland. He was the eldest of 6 children born to Elias Anttila Syrjälä Hietala and Anna Vitasaari. Matti married Maija (Maria, Mary) Koukkari of Lappajärvi, Finland in 1867 in the Lutheran Church at Alajärvi. The couple had 9 children between the years 1868-1882. Twin sons, Matts and Elias, died in infancy.
In 1883, his eldest son Juha Gustaf ('Gust') Koskela (and possibly Matti) immigrated to America to work first in the copper mines of Michigan, then at Carbon, Wyoming. Matti's wife, Maija, and their 6 other children who had remained in Finland, came to America in 1887 and joined Matti and Gust at the Carbon, Wyoming coal mining area for about a year. The family then went to the Pendleton, Oregon area where they homesteaded for several years, but lost everything during an economic depression. In the fall of 1895 they joined several other Finnish families and went by wagon and horseback to Long Valley, Idaho. They were among the first European settlers in the Valley. They homesteaded near Arling, southeast of Roseberry. Matti was a farmer and rancher during his remaining years. He was survived by his wife, and children: Hilda Wilhelmiina Lahti, Matti William Costella, Elias Edward Koskela, Mathilda ("Tillie" or "Tilda") Susanna Kantola, and Helmi Emeliia ('Pearl') Blankinship. His daughter Anna Maria preceded him in death, possibly in late 1895. He was 54 years old.
[Thank you to Charlotte Lake Oglevie for this research and the Church Records of Alajärvi Lutheran Church, Alajärvi, Finland]
In 1883, his eldest son Juha Gustaf ('Gust') Koskela (and possibly Matti) immigrated to America to work first in the copper mines of Michigan, then at Carbon, Wyoming. Matti's wife, Maija, and their 6 other children who had remained in Finland, came to America in 1887 and joined Matti and Gust at the Carbon, Wyoming coal mining area for about a year. The family then went to the Pendleton, Oregon area where they homesteaded for several years, but lost everything during an economic depression. In the fall of 1895 they joined several other Finnish families and went by wagon and horseback to Long Valley, Idaho. They were among the first European settlers in the Valley. They homesteaded near Arling, southeast of Roseberry. Matti was a farmer and rancher during his remaining years. He was survived by his wife, and children: Hilda Wilhelmiina Lahti, Matti William Costella, Elias Edward Koskela, Mathilda ("Tillie" or "Tilda") Susanna Kantola, and Helmi Emeliia ('Pearl') Blankinship. His daughter Anna Maria preceded him in death, possibly in late 1895. He was 54 years old.
[Thank you to Charlotte Lake Oglevie for this research and the Church Records of Alajärvi Lutheran Church, Alajärvi, Finland]
Inscription
Matt Koskela 1848-1902
Mary S. 1843-1919
Gravesite Details
Cemetery located on private property
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