• Sunday-What'sUP March 26 - 07:56 am

For our Shoebox Memory this week, Henry Lehtola found the top photo from 1910, which included his grandfather Charles Niemi, the second kneeling miner from the left. Next to Mr. Niemi (his right, our left) is Andrew Mickus, pictured in the bottom photo with his wife and children some years later. Andrew apparently saved up his wages during those mining days, later to go into the grocery business in South Range.

I'd be curious to know if anyone else in the group photo can be identified. I'm sure a book could be written about the lives of these guys after their years in the mines. Bet there are a few pasties in those lunch pails...

Spring has definitely sprung here in the Copper Country. This time of year - after the snow and before the bugs - some mining ruins become visible out in the woods, which disappear in the brush by summer time. If you are into exploring the history of the mining era first hand, it would be a great time of year for a trip to the Keweenaw.

Have a good week :o)

I wish I could! (spend time in the Keweenaw, that is). I hope
someone has a list of the miners in this picture. My grandfather
worked in the mines--probably right about that time. The family
lived on a farm near Baltic. The man in the back row, upper right
hand corner, kind of looks like a picture at my parents house.
How horrible to think that I really don't know what my grandfather
looked like for sure, but then, he had died by the time I was born.
My mother was the second-to-the last child in a large family. IF I
am right, his name was Carl Ohman.

I know that the man in the upper right hand corner is not dressed
like a miner, so that makes it even more credible because Grandpa
Ohman kept the books at the mine. Sadly, though, I'm not even
sure it was the Baltic Mine where he worked.

I'm with you, Kosk. I wish I knew who they were too, so I could see if my grandpa was there. It doesn't look like it though and I don't know for sure if he even worked at this mine.

I also had family working in many of the mines, but I don't know which ones. I wish I did. Baltic is not far from the family farm on Paradise Rd, it is entirley possible that is one of them.

I've been fooling around on the Internet trying to locate a listing of
the men employed at the Baltic Mine without success. Anyone have
any bright ideas?

I'm going to talk to my dad to see if he knows of anybody who worked there then. My grandpa was born in the 1800's so it's possible. Unfortunately, my dad wasn't born until 1927 so I'm not sure how much he'll know. His sister is going to be 99 in August, so she may know something.

Kosk,

If you can't find the employment rosters, try the various city and county directories for the era. In the days before privacy being a political issue, the city directories published names, occupation, where employed, and who lived at every address. The MTU Archives has them from several different years and we were able to trace quite a few long lost relatives.

Paul

Hi Kosk,
I think that this may be your family?

1930 United States Federal Census
about Carl Ohman
Name: Carl Ohman
Home in 1930: Adams, Houghton, Michigan
Age: 62
Estimated birth year: abt 1868
Birthplace: Sweden
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Elizabeth
Race: White


Parents' birthplace:
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Carl Ohman 62 born Sweden farmer both emigrated 1901 naturalized
Elizabeth Ohman 52 born Finland
Allan Ohman 26 children born Mich.
Carl Ohman 22 miner
John Ohman 18 laborer in Copper mine
Henry Ohman 15 laborer in Copper mine
Helen Ohman 13 farm helper
Eva Ohman 11
Agnes Ohman 8


1920 United States Federal Census
about Thoman Chas Chas (Chas. Ohman)
Name: Thoman Chas Chas
[Ohoman Chas Choe]
Home in 1920: Adams, Houghton, Michigan
Age: 51 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Sweden
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Lizzy
Father's Birth Place: Sweden
Mother's Birth Place: Sweden
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1901
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 687
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Thoman Chas Chas 51
Lizzy Chas 4? emig. 1906 Finland
Alle Chas 16 laborer in woods.
Hilda Chas 15
Lilly Chas 14
Carl Chas 12
John Chas 8
Henry Chas 5
Harold Chas 3 3/12
Eva Chas 1 0/12


1910 United States Federal Census
about Karl Ohman
Name: Karl Ohman
Age in 1910: 41
Estimated birth year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Sweden
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Sweden
Mother's Birth Place: Sweden
Spouse's name: Lizzie
Home in 1910: Adams, Houghton, Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1901
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Karl Ohman 41 miner machine
Lizzie Ohman 31
Allen Ohman 6
Hilda Ohman 5
Lillian Ohman 4
Karl Ohman 2
Alicia

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh some windows open....thunder rumbling...(Jesus bowling my mom said) I can hardly contain the joy I feel.........

When I look at the faces of these men I feel so sad ........ what hard workers in those days...life sure wasn't easy for them compared to these days.....God Bless'm.

Mickus....I have never heard that last name before.....does anyone know what nationally that is...???? Ukarine maybe...???

Well, if anyone missed the fish sale at Louies in L.L. this past Thursday and Friday did you miss a good thing. I gotta tell you they had the biggest shrimp I have ever seen and was it great eatin.....there was a great variety and everything I have eaten has been wonderful....thank you Jason and our meat men....yes you too blue eyes....good job!!!!

Have a wonderful week and remember as Easter approaches how good God is, He sent His only Son to die on our behalf and pay for our sin so we could have eternal life by accepting his Son into our hearts and living accordingly....we all have His promise to live forever in a perfect world if we only accept Him......doesn't seem like a bad deal to me....God Bless.....xo


Geeeee can you imagine a perfect world....no sickness, tears or pain .....no mean people wow!

Charlie,
Andrew Mickus may be the gent on the far right in the front row (squatting). The man to Mr. Niemi's right doesn't seem to have the same facial characteristics as shown in the picture of Andrew Mickus and family. What say you?

Hi Helen
Andrew Mickus stated that he was born in Russian Lithuania.
Alicia

You can find lot of information at the MICHIGAN TECH ARCHIVEs and also use the 1910 Census of Adams Township, which includes Atlantic Mine and South Range; probably 95% of all Copper Range employees lived in Adams Township.

Many of the public libraries have Ancestry.com where you can search the census records also, not just 1910.

Wow! Thanks so much. I will continue my search.

Alicia............thanks I will ask my Russian Friend Larisa what she knows of the name. It is really interesting how many countries are represented up here. I am always curious cuz my dad is a Swede and my mom is an Armenian....different as night and day.

thanks again for the info.....God Bless

Hi, My sister was friends with a girl by the name of Lois Mickus. I don't know if she is alive yet. My sister probably knows some info on her.

For Mr. Mickus being born in Lithuania it would only be fitting for him to work in a place called Baltic since that's where he came from.

I disagree (with Heikki)... I think the man on our left, bottom row, kneeling is the same as the family photo. The nose is exactly the same.

Cindy - that was my thought exactly, especially compared side-by-side. A few more years, a few more pounds later...

Andrew Mickus is in the lower right hand corner. That is per his son Albert, who should know, and supplied the photo.