Erik Wanhaniemi

Eric was married and lived in Yellow Jacket. Age 37y 3m 15d

Houghton County Mining Inspector Accident Reports: http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/houghton/miningaccreportsindex.aspx and a more detailed accident inquest: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974828&view=1up&...

Houghton County Mining Inspector Report 1897

Accident No. 14. April 2nd a fatal accident occurred in the 53rd level drift, North of No. 4 shaft Calumet Branch of the Calumet and Hecla mine, by which Eric Neimi (Niemi) and John Dalvinsaari (Talvensaari) were killed.

These men had drilled five holes in the drift and had then gone to the box in which the powder was kept and had taken about fifteen pounds of it into the drift, judging from the amount taken from the box, and were preparing the powder for blasting when the accident occurred. Before blasting any of the five holes, it was necessary to blast the bottom of the hole that had been left by the night shift men, and it is probable that they were charging this hole when the explosion occurred. No one was with the men at the time, but when we examined the drift there was no evidence to show that they had used anything but a wooden rammer to put the powder into the hole.

An inquest was held before Coroner Sowden.

The jury brought in the following verdict: "We find that Eric Niemi and John Dalvinsaari came to their deaths by the accidental discharge of explosives in their possession while in discharge of their duty as miners, in the 53rd level drift, north of No. 4 shaft, calumet mine, on the 2nd day of April, 1897."

Journal of Pastor Eloheimo 1891-1910
Page 170
Erik Niemi accidentally died on 2 April 1897. Buried 4 April 1897 in Calumet (Houghton County), Michigan. Aged 38 years, Leaves a wife. J.W. Eloheimo.

Page 217
On 8 September 1897 the bachelor Nils Arvid Yli-Partanen, 20 years old & the widow Priitta Kaisa Vanhaniemi (AKA Priita Kaisa Erkkilä), 33 years old were married in Calumet, (Houghton County), Michigan. Witnesses Eerikk Heikka & John Erickson from Calumet, Michigan. License #291 dated 7 September 1897. Married by J.W. Eloheimo.