back    John Jacob Kallio and Justina Wilhelmina    The Kallio family tree, compiled I think by Ken & Irene Wedell,
list their name as John Kestila Kallio, b. 3/4/1873 Kauhojoki, Waasanlaani, Finland and Justina Koskiniemi Kallio
b. 1/1/1871  Filipulan Kyla, Waasanlaani, Finland. Justina died 1/15/1954, John 12/21/1959 both in Chatham, Michigan

I'm getting to know this family. John & Justina, in the above photo are 35 and 37 respectively. They apparently
came to the U.S. about 1900. Some of the children were born in Finland - Sulo, who died at one month, Emil & Walter,
some in Coalwood, Michigan but no later than 1912, the birthdate of Tauno Albert,  they had settled in Chatham.
Someone kindly listed the names next to the photo.

Emil (or Eino) John, the elder son in the above photo, and left top row, below, according to a short but touching
autobiography by his son Floyd Kallio, left the family for another woman in 1927, the year of Floyd's birth. The
woman was wife Nellie Vogel's first cousin, Edith Walls Webber. Nellie moved in with her parents, had a "nervous
breakdown" two years later and Floyd grew up thinking of his grandparents as his mom and dad. I will put
that short but poignant memoir on this site unless someone objects.

So here's a jump from 1908 to 1932. One of the children has died at age 19 details unknown, Tauno
Albert (1912-1931), born too late to be in the early photo and died too soon to be in this one. What
changes time doth wrought, eh? Tyyne has gone from infant to 24 year old woman. Justina looks
older than 61, having lost her teeth(?) and bearing eleven children must have its effect. Interesting
to look at each person's nose: it's either John's or Justina's. The parents out-lived four of their children -  
Sulo died in Finland at one month, Tauno in 1931, John (1910-1938), apparently much-loved, of TB.
George b. 1904, died in 1954, same year as Mom Justina. Three sons died very shortly after John Jacob
(1959): Walter (1897-1960) and both Emil John (1894) and Toivo (1903) in 1961. Lillian Mari is not
in this photo. Matt lived 1898-1975 and Martin 1914-1976. I have to get Tyyne and Lillian's dates.
Tyyne left us in the early 90s. I think her name is pronounced tune ay though it got translated into Tiny.

so, left to right, top row: Emil (Eino?) John, Matt, Walter,           Lillian not pictured, 1906 - death date unknown
middle row: John Hilding, Tyyne, Martin,                                    Tauno and Sulo deceased
bottom: George, Justina, John Jacob, Toivo                                  Tyyne death date unknown

I include longer shots below for context. Someone doing their A-B-Cs on the front porch edge.

so below, Toivo Kallio, born in 1903, died 1961 at 58. This must be about 1920. His suit fits better than the one
I got for my high school graduation, never to wear again.

Martha Kallio, my Mom, daughter of Walter, is the saucy16 year old in the middle of the photo below and 3rd from left
on the porch, in the photo above. This is most of the whole crew, with spouses and children. Details on other pages. Alma,
Martha's Mom, has only three years to live and John, next to Tyyne, three after that.

That crack in the picture from upper left to bottom points from the 24 year old Tynne to a photo taken in 1988
when she was 80 years. Tynne spoke with a pretty strong Finnish accent. She told me, about the time of this
picture, that she was in the sauna and took a ladle of very hot water from the container sitting on top of the stove
 and tossed it over her self without thinking, just as she was accustomed to dong from a bucket of cold water, and
said, "Oh no, what have I done!" She was over it when she told the story but there was a period of suffering.

The photos below are from their 60th wedding anniversary, likely 1950 or so, since Justina died in 54. This whole page runs
through their life just as it must have seemed to Justina and John Jacob looking back, a very brief passage. They seem to me
here, quite dignified, wise in their years.

Martha has written on the back of this photo: left to right, "Uncle Martin, Uncle George (died shortly after in 54),
Uncle Toivo by the door, Uncle Matt, Walter (our Dad), Uncle Emil, Grampa, Aunt Lillian (finally a shot of Lilian),
Tyyne and Gramma's 60th Anniversary." Tyyne looks rather youthful, probably early 40s but everybody else
looks aged... I think they must have worked very hard. Walter cannot be older than 57.

(above) Bob Kallio, b. 1918, Martha's brother at the gravesite of Joakim Hill, their Mother Alma's Father. Baby sister
Elsie's  grave to the right (don't know of her) and between Father & Mother (below). Bob looks about maybe 7 years
so this is about 1925. Alma had only ten years to live. Note the car in the distance.

hand-written on the back by Martha: " Taken late evening on Decoration Day 1989. My Mother's grave on the left - Gramma
grampa Johnnie & Tommy's graves on the right - "  Don't know who Tommy is. Martha (Nanny) lived to be 89 so saw a lot
of family and friends precede her into the great mystery.     back