Alex and Aliina (Kemppainen) Pihlaja

Aleksanter Alex Pihlaja, born June 13, 1877 inn Isojoki parish, Vaasa province Finland, the son of Frans Johan Pihlaja and Anna Kaisa Sorila, was among the early pioneers to settle and establish the Finnish Ahola parish near Wing, Burleigh county, ND.

Like so many of his contemporaries, Alex Pihlaja had left Finland about 1889, to avoid conscription into the Russian military. Eventually, he made his way to North Dakota, where members of his family resided. through his neighbors. Alex became acquainted with Aliina Kemppainen, whose family had come earlier from the Kainuu District in eastern Oulu province Finland. Alex Pihlaja and Aliina Kemppainen were married at the Dickey county courthouse in Ellendale, ND on July 4, 1903. For the next several years they lived near family members in the vicinity of Fullerton, where two daughters were born to them.

By the spring of 1907, the Pihlaja's, together with many of their neighbors were in the process of re-locating to an area in northeastern Burleigh county where homestead land was available. Alex and others rented a freight car to transport the livestock ahead to the new property. The animals were loaded at Driscoll, and then herded by men across the prairie to the new farm sites. A short time later, the women and children joined their husbands and fathers. Aliina and her infant daughter, Aili accomplished by sister in law Olga Pihlaja Kavonius and her children, disembarked at the railroad depot in McKenzie, where they were met by John Pesonen, who transported them in his wagon to their new homes.

For his homestead site, Alex Pihlaja, selected the SE 1/4 of S. 12 in Lyman township. after years of hard work, he eventually owned 10 cows, 7 yearlings, 2 calves, 6 horses and the usual farm machinery and harnesses. On Jan. 8, 1912 after having made the necessary improvements on the property, Alex and Aliina Pihaja received a patent document from the United States government signed by President William H. Taft, issuing them clear title to their homestead land.

The children of Alex and Aliina Pihlaja, who spent their early lives in Burleigh county are referred to below.

1. Impie Sylvia, born near Fullerton, Jan. 10, 1905, died in infancy, 2. Aili Elmi Elizabeth Ila was born near ZFullerton, Feb. 16, 1907. She married Thomas J. Noonan Aug. 29, 1936 and resides in Tacoma, WA.
3. Walter Alexander was born on July 26, 1909 at the family homestead near the Aetna postal station. He and his wife, Helvi, whom he married in Nov. 1969, reside in Duluth, MN. 4. Laurie Edwin was born at home on Jan. 12, 1913. In June 1955, he married Margaret M. Pesonen the daughter and granddaughter of Finnish pioneers in Burleigh county. Laurie and Margaret Pihlaja live in Kalispell, MT Their children are Cynthia, Annette, Vern Walter, and Greg Jon,. 5. Saima Tekla Mirjam was born Mar. 19, 1915 at home. Her father performed the delivery. She was married at Hot Springs, SD on June 19, 1942 to Glenwood G Welsh. His parents, Robert M. Welsh and Marte Mattie Knutson, were the children of early settlers in Morton and Sark counties. ZThe children and grandchildren of Glen and Saima Welsh all born and residing in Tacoma, WA are Karen Verna, Dec. 7, 1945, married Timothy R. Green Nov. 7, 1970, their children are Christopher Alexander, and Heidi Lea, and Glen Alexander born May 29, 1956. 6. Harold Walfred was born Mar. 31, 1918 in Lyman township, later resided in Los Angeles, CA where he was a U.S. Postal Service employee. 7. Verner Bernhart was born May 19, 1920. Like his 3 brothers, he served his country during WWII. He died Au. 9, 1945.

Shortly after establishing themselves on their new homesteads and farms the Finnish community met together in private homes and available school houses to worship. At the Lyman school in July 1907, Alex Pihlaja and his fellow worshippers began discussing the need for the organization of a Lutheran congregation in the immediate vicinity. On Feb. 6, 1908 the Articles of Incorporation were filed for the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church Suomi Synod. Other Finnish residents who were not in agreement with this synod, established another congregation known as the Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Within the Finnish community, this first church was referred to as the Ahola Evangelical Lutheran Church and parish. The name was taken from the Finnish word aho which refers to a clearing that has been left a waste and the nearest Finnish term for a place that is like a prairie. A Sunday school was begun at Ahola in 1908. For the convenience of meeting there was a north and south section. Alex Pihlaja was among the first teachers in the south section. Classes were held when weather permitted.

The difficult and uncertain life of the Finnish settlers was occasionally relieved by social gatherings. Two annual events were the Christmas and Mid-Summer's Night observances. In Finland, Mid-Summer's Night was acknowledged by the lighting of bon-fires at dusk. In Burleigh county, ND the Finns enjoyed a church picnic where such delicacies as ice cream, soda pop, and bananas were all eagerly consumed by all. There was also a bazaar where the women were able to sell their goods.

By Timothy Green