Matti Jalmari PULJU

                   Heikki Pulju laborer age 25, his wife Elisabet Emilia age 21, daughters Hilda Kaisa age 2 and Lyydi Elisabet age 1, and nephews Jaakko Pulju age 11 and Matti Jalmari Pulju age 5, left Finland on 19 August 1903 aboard the "S.S. Arcturus" of the Finnish Steamship Company.  Their ticket was purchased in Oulu, Finland for 130.70 markkaa and was for passage from Oulu, Finland to Quebec, Canada.  The passport of the family was issued on 15 August 1903 at the provincial government of Oulu and its number was 1680/1903.  The home parish of all the individuals on the passport was listed as Simo, Finland Province of Oulu.

They departed from Hanko Harbor, Finland aboard the "S.S. Arcturus" to Hull, England with a stop at Copenhagen, Denmark.  From there they probably went by train to Liverpool, England where they departed on the 26th of August 1903 aboard the "S.S. Kensington" on the Dominion Line, J.A. Broomhead, Master, 4645 tons, 305 passengers (222 in Steerage, where they traveled, with destination listed as Menahga, Minnesota), and docked in Quebec, Canada on the 5th of September 1903.  Then by train to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan where they entered the US and on to Menahga, Minnesota where they settled.

Signed papers to become citizen on 25 September 1924.  Henry Torkkola and Adam J. Kinnunen signed as witnesses on petition papers.  Became US citizen on 11 September 1939.

The above information from passport and shipping record in Finland, National Archives of Canada and Wadena County copy of intent to become citizen.

He lived iwth his Uncle Lars and attended school at District #43 in Shell River Twonship from 1904 to 1912.  Immediately following this time he was employed as a millwright.  Matt and his wife Mary lived on a farm in Shell River Township from 1927 until 1977 when they moved to Menahga.  Besides farming Matt was employed with the Lake Region Mutual Insurance Co.  He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Menahga.  Matt also served as a tax assessor, Secretary for the Co-op Sampo (Alternate Board Member Co-op Sampo 7 March, 1940), President of Menahga Co-operative Creamery Board 26 February 1953-Board member 29 February 1940, Board Member of the Telephone Co., the Township and the Menahga School Board.  He died of a heart attack.  Birth records in Finland give Matt's birthday as 26 March 1898.