Pitkänen

Pitkänen, Vitikka

The Pitkänen family decends from Simuna Tuomas' son Pitkä (1726-1804). His father Tuomas died at young age. Nothing exact is known of him and Tuomas' father is not known, too. Simuna's mother came from the Tolva farm at lake Ylikitka, which is close to places where the Pitkä family lived.

Simuna came around 1729 with her mother to the Muosalmi farm at lake Muojärvi. Muosalmi was at that time one of the wealthiest farms in Kuusamo.

Lämsä family church book 1760 at Muosalmi:

Suurperheessä mukana poikapuoli (St Son) Simuna perheineen.

Step son Simuna and his family was living with Lämsä family.

The Sossonniemi farm was formed by splitting the Muosalmi farm in 1781. Simuna Pitkä became the owner of the Sossonniemi farm.

There were 4 families living on the farm at that time.

Pictured Pekka Pitkänen (1876–1948) from Sossonniemi on 1920's

People from Sossonniemi participated in grain importing from Russia by reindeer sledge. With money received from that merchandize Antti Sosso was able to buy for his sons the Kantoniemi farm in 1872. His sons lead by Antti Konrad (1849–1904) were keeping for 20 years time the biggest merchandize company in Kuusamo. Antti Konrad Pitkänen worked also in many council duties for more than 20 years time.

Simuna Simuna's son Pitkä (1760-1811) moved around 1795 to the Lammaslehto farm at lake Suininki.

Lammaslehto family church book 1816:

The farm was modest, but it got wealthier in the beginning of the 20th century, when Juho Aappo Pitkänen (1855–1936) had stone factory.

Pictured the Lehto farm in year 1933. Photo source Sukutilat webissä.

Part of the family moved from Sossonniemi to lake Tavajärvi in 1852.

See Aatu Kustu Pitkänen family page.

Some moved further to Norway.

Pictured below right Johan Pitkänen around 1920 in Vadsø, Norway

Aukusti Pitkänen (1843-1933) moved from Sossonniemi to lake Alakitka and his sons moved to Houghton, Michigan from 1893 onwards.

Part of the family moved from Sossonniemi to the Vitikka farm at lake Suininki in 1867. From there Juho Fredrik (1870–1955) moved to Utajärvi county in 1903. Utajärvi branch uses surname Vitikka.

Some Pitkänens moved to Russian Kola area on 1880s. Some of them moved later to Svetogorsk and Kemi in Carelia. Family uses name Pitkanen.

Pictured Fredrik Pitkänen (1866-1933) moved to Liminka. He was an active politician and he was one of the founding persons of the Finnish labor party. He changed his party soon afterwards. See drawing of the Härmälä farm.

Pitkä name was used by all people in Pitkänen family branch until mid 1800's and the original name was largely used until the end of 19th century.

Lehto

Part of the family moved from Lammaslehto to Centerville, Klickitat, Washingtonin from 1880 onwards. The family changed there their surname to Lehto.

See story of August Lehto's (1864–1944) journey to USA