We have reached an important milestone. A sufficient quantity of submissions of Juntunen family histories and genealogies have been received to fill Volume I of the North American Juntunen Project's first book about immigrant Juntunens. Thanks to all of you that have provided this wealth of information so that the Juntunen story can be told. We hope to have this material and immigrant arrival data ready for publication in the late fall. If you are working on your Juntunen family genealogy and history, please let us know your estimated timetable for having your data ready for submission.

Volume I of the North American Juntunen book will be available in English on CD-ROM or as a spiral-bound version. Closer to the publication date, the prices and order reservation information will be announced. This is an exciting phase of the project and your interest and support are greatly appreciated. Ideas or suggestions for the book title are also welcome.

North American Juntunen Project researchers have found homestead and naturalization records for several immigrant Juntunens, but we do not know anything else about these immigrants such as names of their spouses or their descendants. If anyone has any information about the individuals described below, we would very much appreciate your contacting John & Ruth Stierna at [email protected] We hope to identify the birth records, spouses, & first & second generations of these Juntunens' descendants and where they lived.

Copies of original homestead patents for the Juntunens listed below can be found on the US Bureau of Land Management Website at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov

This August Juntunen might possibly be one of two August Juntunens found in Passenger Arrival records. One is August Juntunen age 29 who arrived in NY in February 1900 on the ship St.Mary. His indexed record is very faded and difficult to read. The other August Juntunen age 26 arrived in Halifax, NS in March 1903. He listed his destination as Hancock, MI & a cousin Aug. Heikkinen.

This Eljas Juntunen might possibly be the same-named individual who filed a declaration of intent to become a US citizen in US District Court, 15th Judicial District, County of Wadena, MN in May, 1896. He said he was born in Finland in 1854, and landed in NY about May, 1889 (age 35). On April 9,1901 US citizenship was granted to an Eljas Juntunen by the same court (changed to 7th Judicial District). This Eljas Juntunen said he had lived in the US for the past 5 years & in MN for the past 1 year. He renounced allegiance to the Czar of Russia and swore to uphold the Constitution of the US & State of MN. He signed with his mark and was witnessed by Mike Ohlgren and Adolph Ruona.

It is presently unknown if the above two Isaacs are different or the same individual. We have found naturalization records for an Isaac Juntunen in Wadena County, MN. We know that other Finnish immigrants living in neighboring Becker County, MN filed for naturalization with the Wadena County US District Court.

An Isaac Juntunen gave the Waden County, MN US District Court proof that he had filed his declaration of intent to become a US Citizen in the Circuit Court of Marquette County, Michigan. He signed a blank Declaration document in the County of Wadena US District Court, 15th Judicial District. On December 5, 1892 an Isaac Juntunen made application with the Wadena County, MN US District Courth to become a US Citizen. His character witnesses were Ole Salmonson and Charles Manninen. An Isakki Juntunen with the same signature as on the blank Declaration document was granted US citizenship on December 6, 1898 by the same court. He said he had lived in the US for the past 5 years and in Minnesota for the past 1 year. He renounced allegiance to the Czar of Russia and swore to uphold the Constitution of the US and Minnesota. His signature was witnessed by John Kummala and Alex Mattson.

'It is exciting that we've been able to find homestead and naturalization records for early Juntunen settlers in the US. We would appreciate any other information about these Juntunen families.''