2012 September 6: Pekka and Janne Simojoki
Exhibit by Bob Leathers
Pekka Simojoki and his son Janne came from Finland to Carbon and Hanna Wyoming to pay their respects to their forefather, Nils Simelius.
Pictured with Pekka and Janne are Bob Leathers, Cel Landen, Victor Anderson and Nancy Anderson from the Hanna Basin Museum. In attendance, but not pictured was the photographer, Jim Landen.
Pictured with Pekka and Janne are Bob Leathers, Cel Landen, Victor Anderson and Nancy Anderson from the Hanna Basin Museum. In attendance, but not pictured was the photographer, Jim Landen.
It was a beautiful day for a visit to the Carbon City cemetery. The day was spent at the cemetery, town site and museum.
Visiting the Carbon City Cemetery
Click on the image for a larger view and some comments.
Click on the image for a larger view and some comments.
Visiting the Carbon City Abandoned Town Site
Click on the image for a larger view and comments.
Click on the image for a larger view and comments.
Visiting the Hanna Basin Museum
Click on the image for a larger view and comments.
Click on the image for a larger view and comments.
The Nils Simelius grave site is next to the Warburton plot in the Carbon Cemetery. (Image by Bob Leathers)
A Family Connection Made Possible by the Hanna Basin Museum Website
Pekka writes in his email:
August 22, 2011
email from Pekka Simojoki in Finland to Bob Leathers Hanna Basin Museum Website.
Hi friends,
I'm happy to find this website, because I found the father of my great grandfather in your list. His name was Nils Simelius (grave no. 123). Now I have a question: I'm coming with my son to Wyoming next year and our mission is to find the grave, where nobody in the family has ever visited. Can you send me the facts of the grave, first of all, where we can find it? Have you a photo of the grave?
Pekka Simojoki (former Simelius)
My grandfather writes in his diary, that “as far as I know, that village of ours is today abandoned...” He also writes, how he remembers the funeral of his father. He tells that on the grave was put “two stones on both ends of the grave and the text was written on the headstone.” His mother decided to bring the family back to Finland after she got married again in Rock Springs one year later. My grandfather was born in 1882 and he was 7 years old when they returned to Finland from the USA.
The visitors are all descendants of Nils Simelius. The name changed from Simelius to Simojoki occurred after Nils' death in Carbon when Nils' wife Agnetta remarried in Rock Springs prior to returning to Finland.
Prior to his death, Nils purchased a farm in Finland and was planning to move back to Finland. Nils died before he was able to make the move. Penti and his family brought with them a rock and plaque from the farm and left them at the grave site. Nils was a blacksmith by trade but was working at the coal mine at the time of his death.
Prior to his death, Nils purchased a farm in Finland and was planning to move back to Finland. Nils died before he was able to make the move. Penti and his family brought with them a rock and plaque from the farm and left them at the grave site. Nils was a blacksmith by trade but was working at the coal mine at the time of his death.
Carbon City burial record:
Simelius, Nils
Grave: 123
Monument: “Kotoisin, Franttilasta, Elettyansa; 33 W 11K 22P, Ruoli 8P, Lokakuuta 89"
Source 1: CCA “Home; Coming from/Originating from; lived to be 33 years,11 months, 22 days. Died Nov. 22, 1889” translation from the Finnish by Gert (Salo) Milliken of Hanna.
Source 2: CCA Wife Agnetta.
Note: Additional information and family pictures may be found in Monuments and Documents for grave 123.
Simelius, Nils
Grave: 123
Monument: “Kotoisin, Franttilasta, Elettyansa; 33 W 11K 22P, Ruoli 8P, Lokakuuta 89"
Source 1: CCA “Home; Coming from/Originating from; lived to be 33 years,11 months, 22 days. Died Nov. 22, 1889” translation from the Finnish by Gert (Salo) Milliken of Hanna.
Source 2: CCA Wife Agnetta.
Note: Additional information and family pictures may be found in Monuments and Documents for grave 123.