Mary and Isaac Maki
Page by Mauri Annala with contributions from Bob Leathers
Hello Bob,
It has been a real adventure to find the contents of Hanna History website. I did not know much about the environment where some of my relatives lived in the past, but after studying this website I know much more. I can see that you have done a great work in collecting and documenting all the information there. Thank you very much!
I was happy to find some information about Hilda While, daughter of Mary and Isaac Maki. Also other Maki children are mentioned in the Schools pages of Hanna History.
Mary Maki (originally Maria Sofia Annala) was sister of my grandfather. I´m sending a few Maki family pictures attached to this email. At least two of the photos were taken by Nakago in his studio. I think especially the studio pictures are pretty nice. Mary sent these photos to her original family in Finland. I don´t know the exact years when the photos were taken, but I tried to guess it and then included approximate year in the file names. I have also about 10 other images of this family. Unfortunately the quality of most of these pictures is not very good. The paper copies have been partially damaged. If you are interested in the other photographs then I can send those too.
Best regards,
Mr. Mauri Annala
Vantaa, Finland
Life Story
1892 November 29: Isaac Maki was born in Finland.
1883, August 16: Mary Sofia Annala was born in Lohtaja, Finland.
Mauri Annala wrote: Maria Annala came from Finland to New York in June 1901 together with her older brother Abram Annala. Their final destination was Rock Springs, Wyoming. Two aunts of Maria and Abram already lived in Rock Springs. These aunts had their families in Rock Springs. Later Maria moved to Hanna and was married to Isaac Maki in 1905. Then she started to use the name Mary Maki, although the name Maria Mäki was often used in old Finnish-American newspapers. (Mauri Annala)
1900: Isaac Maki immigrated to the United States from Finland.
June 1901: Maria Annala came from Finland to New York with her older brother Abram Annala.
Mauri Annala wrote: Maria Annala came from Finland to New York in June 1901 together with her older brother Abram Annala. Their final destination was Rock Springs, Wyoming. Two aunts of Maria and Abram already lived in Rock Springs. These aunts had their families in Rock Springs. (Mauri Annala)
1903 June 30: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna exploded killing 169 men.
1905 November 18: Mary Annala moved to Hanna from Rock Springs and married to Isaac Maki in Hanna.
Mauri Annala wrote:: Maria moved to Hanna and was married to Isaac Maki in 1905. Then she started to use the name Mary Maki, although the name Maria Mäki was often used in old Finnish-American newspapers. (Mauri Annala)
1906: Mary´s younger brother William (aka Vilhelm) Annala - Mauri Annnala's grandfather - came to Rock Springs.
Mauri Annala wrote:: Mary´s younger brother William (aka Vilhelm) Annala (my grandfather) came to Rock Springs in 1906. I have reasons to believe that he also lived in Hanna at least some time. Brother Abram was a shareholder of the Sampo mining company. Looks like both Abram and Mary´s husband Isaac worked in the Sampo mine around 1910. Abram returned to Finland in 1912. My grandfather William returned to Finland in 1917. (Mauri Annala)
1908 March 28: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna exploded again - twice in the same day - killing 59 men.
1908: The Sampo Coal Company constructed the town of Sampo in 1908. It started mine development efforts that same year on an eight-foot vein of coal four miles north east of Hanna. The coal mine was the first large scale non Union Pacific Coal Company mine effort in the Hanna area. About twenty men were employed in the first year. The Sampo town and mine were managed and worked primarily by the Finnish population. Joseph Pesola was the superintendent of the mine in 1908. During 1908 and 1909 several openings were made, but good quality coal was not found. The Sampo mine only produced coal in 1910. Coal production was closed by 1911.
1910: Abram, Maria's older brother and Isaac worked in the Sampo mine around 1910. Abram was a share holder in the Sampo mine. (Mauri)
Mauri Annala wrote: Abram was a shareholder of the Sampo mining company. Looks like both Abram and Mary´s husband Isaac worked in the Sampo mine around 1910. Abram returned to Finland in 1912. My grandfather William returned to Finland in 1917. (Mauri Annala)
1911 February 11: Mary and Isaac's third child was born in Sampo when the family lived in Sampo. (Mauri Annala)
1920 US Census: Mary and Isaac Maki were living in Hanna, Carbon, Wyoming, District 0021. Isaac Maki, was head of house, age 37, a naturalized citizen in 1904, could read, write and speak English, a Coal Mine laborer by occupation, born in Finland. Mary Maki, wife, age 36, immigrated to the US in 1891, a naturalized citizen in 1904, could read, write and speak English, born in Finland. Living with them were Uno Maki, a son, age 13, born in Wyoming, Jayne [Tyyne] Maki, a daughter, age 11, born in Wyoming and Hilda Maki a daughter, age 8, born in Wyoming.
1922: The first high school orchestra was organized under the direction of Miss Coughlin. Some members of the first orchestra were: Violins, Doris Hudon, Susie Ridge, Tyyne Maki, Ella Huyhta, Beth Wright, Leona Tate, Sam Scarelli; Piano, Margaret Mumm; Mandolin, Florence Sherratt; Clarinets, Charles Stebner, Waino Kaninon, John Hakala; Cornets, Uno Maki, Percy Groutage; and Trombone, Eric Lipponen.
May 26, 1926: Thirteen students graduated from Hanna High School. Annala, Anna, Barton, Clyde W, Bedford, John D, Clegg, William, Crawford, Muriel A., Dickinson, Tommie G., Hudson, Thomas G., Hudson, William, Maki, Tynne M., Maki, Uno R., Russell, Clark C., Tate, Leona and Wright, Beth M. (Note: Tynne and Uno Ray graduated from Hanna High School the same year.)
September 1926: Hanna High School started offering post graduate courses, something that had not been done before. It demonstrated the school's commitment to helping the young people after they were out of High School. A Post-Graduate Course was started in Hanna High School this year, which is something was never been offered here before. This was a good Course for people to take, who either cannot , or do not wish to go to college. The subjects being offered were: Bookkeeping and Shorthand by Miss O'Brien. Penmansip and Music, by Miss Clark. Home Economics, by Miss Pepoon. Those who enrolled for the course were: Tommie Dickenson, Alice Hodgson, Margaret Jackson, Marie T. Maki, and Muriel Crawford. The classes were in the morning, which gives the students the afternoon off for study. (The Pioneer, October 1926)
April 1927: Hanna's Wild Kittens claimed the Wyoming Girls' State Basketball Championship. The Girls Basketball season began in January, and a great majority of the high School girls tried out for the team. The following girls are the ones who made the team: Pearl Nelson (Captain), Hilda Maki, Mabel Wright, Rose Scarpelli, Annie Meekin, Eileen Lucas, Stella O'Malley, Edna Clark and Ila Tate.
June 1929: Twenty four students graduated from Hanna High School. Baillie, Mildred, Barton, John Bizen, Joe Bizen, Briggs, Kenneth, Crank, Stanley, Denny, Alice, Ekman, Yngve, Eskeli, Waino, Harrison, Alice, Hunt, Olga, Jackson, Joe, Kandolin Veikko, Kuoppala, Reino, Lepponen, Ina, Leivo, Ellen, Luoto, Vieno, Maki, Hilda, Mangan, Tuttie, McCelland,Margaret, Morgan, Harold, Nystrom, Nellie, Scarpelli, Rose and Williams, Elma
1930 US Census: Issac and Mary Maki were living in Hanna, Carbon, Wyoming. Isaac Maki, head of house was living with his wife Mary Maki. Isaac Maki, age 48, born in Finland, immigrated in 1899, married at age 22, a coal miner by occupation. Mary Maki, age 46, married at age 20, no occupation. Living with Isaac and Mary was Ray Maki, son, age 23, single, born in Wyoming, an Outside Laborer in a coal mine by occupation, and Ethel Maki, daughter, age 8, single, born in Wyoming, no occupation.
1940 US Census: Isaac Maki and his wife Mary were living in Hanna, Carbon, Wyoming. Isaac Maki, was head of house, age 57, born in Finland, a Coal Mine Track Layer by occupation. Mary Maki, age 56, born in Finland, no occupation listed. Living with them was their son Ray Uno, age 33, single, college plus 4 years of education, born in Wyoming, was the President of the State Industrial Union by occupation.
1950 US Census: Isaac and Mary Maki were living in Hanna, Carbon, Wyoming. Isaac Maki was head of house, age 67, born in Finland, no occupation listed. Mark Maki, wife, age 66, born in Finland, no occupation listed. Living with them was Ethel Maki, daughter, age 28, single, never married, born in Wyoming, no occupation listed.
Mauri Annala wrote: According to 1950 census Mary and Isaac still lived in Hanna. Later they moved to Reedley California where they had a nice house. Mary died in California in 1962 at the age of 78. Isaac died there in 1968 at the age of 85.
It was a challenge to find out the original Finnish identity of this Isaac Maki. It was a common practice to simplify names when people immigrated to USA. Maki could mean any name ending with mäki, and there are lots of that kind of names in Finland. Anyway, after checking many documents, I came to the conclusion that Isaac Maki was originally Isak Anselm Kuivasmäki (also known as Kuivamäki), born November 26, 1882 in Jalasjärvi, Finland. I’m 99% sure of this. Isaac immigrated to USA in the year 1900. (Mauri Annala)
1962 July 14: Mary Maki died in Fresno, California and was buried in the Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California.
1968 February 18: Isaac Maki died at age 85 and was buried with his wife Mary in the Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California.
Isaac and Mary Maki had four children together:
- 1906 October 7: Uuno Ray Maki - (Ray Uno Maki). Ray Uno was born in Hanna, Wyoming. Graduated from Hanna High School. He married Mary Cecil Manders. In 1950 Ray and Mary were living in Rawlins, Wyoming. He died June 20, 1990 at age 83 in Las Vegas, Nevada and was buried in Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
- 1908 April 22: Tyyne Maria Maki - (Marie Tyyne Costello) - Misreading in the 1920 US Census. Tynne listed as Jayne. Marie Tyyne (Maki) Costello was born in Hanna, Wyoming. Graduated from Hanna High School. She married L. F. Costello. In 1950 they were living in San Francisco, California. Marie Tyyne died January 18, 1981 at age 73 in San Francisco, California.
- 1911 February 11: Hilja Sylvia Maki - (Hilda Sylvia Maki) born in Elmo, Wyoming. She graduated from Hanna High School. She married John "Jack" While January 20, 1934 - (John "Jack" and Hilda Sylvia (Maki) While) - John While died March 31, 1975 at age 68 and was buried in the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Hilda While died December 9, 1993 in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was buried with her husband John in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
- 1922 March 1: Ethel Irene Maki (Ethel Irene Maki) was born in Hanna, Wyoming. She died December 24, 1970 and was buried in the Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California with her parents, Mary and Isaac.
- Mauri Annala wrote: The underlined first names are the names that they used within the family and in the Finnish speaking community. The name Hilja or Hilda is an interesting case as they are clearly different names but both are perfectly normal first names in Finland. (Mauri Annala)
Mauri Annala wrote: The Hanna History site contains information about other persons who have the family name Annala. However, they are not my relatives. (Mauri Annala)
1913
1913
1916
ca1916 two Mrs Makis - The text written on the backside of the picture says that both adults in this image are called Mrs. Maki. No other names are given. Anyway, Mary Maki is standing in the back, Tyyne is on the left, Hilda in the front and there is this unknown Mrs. Maki. (Mauri Annala)
1920's
ca1920s - Hilda – Name Hilja (aka Hilda) is written on the backside. (Mauri Annala)
1930's
1930's
ca1930-Ethel-and-Mary - Persons are named on the backside. Mary and Ethel with her baby doll.(Mauri Annala)
1930's
1940's
ca1940s-Mary-and-Isaac - The text on the backside is a little bit mysterious. The writer is not Mary nor Isaac, and it is not clear who wrote it. The writer mentions “our car”. I guess that the car belongs to the family of Tyyne or Hilda. Tyyne appears in another picture that looks like being taken at about same time. Tyyne and her husband lived in California in the estimated time of this photo. It is a long way from California to Hanna though. I have very limited understanding of the looks of old American cars, but I guess that the car is some model that was introduced perhaps mid-1930s. (Mauri Annala)
1940's
ca1940s-Tyyne-and-Mary - The clothes of Tyyne and Mary seem to be dirty. The dirt is on the photograph, however. (Mauri Annala)
Perhaps-1949-blizzard-girls-on-roof - Then some pictures that unfortunately I cannot guarantee that my interpretation is correct. Just like most of the images that I’ve sent you this is from my grandparents’ collection. It has been obvious to me that the picture is from America, but no other information was available. After reading the 1949 Great Blizzard story on the Hanna History site I believe that Mary sent these pictures in 1949. The two girls on the roof are too young to be the Maki sisters. This is just speculation, any possibility that the girls are While sisters Edna and Joyce? I found them among many others when I tried to find girls with matching ages in the 1950 Hanna census. (Mauri Annala)
1960's
ca1960 Mary and Isaac in California – Recently I was able to get access to two letters that Mary sent to my aunt. Their address in Reedley California was written on the envelope. One letter was sent in 1959, in the other the year was missing. In one letter Mary wrote that the daughters Tyyne and Ethel live in San Francisco and come to visit them by car. Hilda and Uno were living in Wyoming, and they also sometimes come to visit their parents. (Muri Annala)
1962
1962 July 14: Mary Maki died in Fresno, California at age 79 and was buried in the Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California.
1968
1968 February 18: Isaac Maki died at age 85 and was buried with his wife Mary in the Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California.