Thank you for all the help. I apologize fo my absence the past few days. I had an internet connectivity issue that I just resolved. Ive been keeping up on my phone though. I have a question or two. I too noticed that on most early records he reported himself and parents as being born in Finland and then later in life he reported Sweden/Swedish instead. I wonder why? My grandmother told me a story that Matt Emil had fled Finland because he killed an officer and changed his name from Schauman. But everything I have found is contrary to that story, well the name change part. He may have indeed fled to the US to escape punishment from the cassacs and to avoid the draft. But I still wonder. It had been many, many years since she heard the story, so perhaps she mixed up two stories or just misunderstood it.
Also, what is the correct spelling? Wiitala, or Viitala? Ive read that both letters are interchangeable and that the "W" is really not used in the Finnish language.
I also found a document that places in Marquette, MI which is where he stated he was headed once he got to the US to meet his Uncle. SO perhaps I can trace his Uncles lineage here in America and possibly find distant cousins here in America. What I really want is a picture of Matt Emil. My family on my father side was very small and we have no pictures other than his parents and siblings. Perhaps his uncles family here in America have some photos when Matt Emil immigrated her and met up with his uncle in Michigan.
Again, thank you so much for your help. Youve helped me answer questions Ive wondered my entire life. My grandfather, Edward Emil Vitala died in 1985 when I was 15, so its been tough to really find out any info on the Vitala name. From my research, the name means "from the land of young tress/forest."
One other thing, how do I know which parent of Matt Emil the uncle is a sibling to? I cant seem to find any definitive info on the uncle here in the states. I did find a death record of a Frank Isaac in Ishpeming, MI. It listed him as single at the time of his death. Im trying to find if he had any children.
