Early settler Charles Marks is sitting in his horse-pulled buggy, with his family in front of their house. The Charles Marks farm was located on the south end of the Marks road (the west side thereof) and extended north from the Harney Road. The family's pet cat is sitting on Mrs. Marks' lap. It was photographed by a Moose Lake Photographer, Adry Carlson.
This photograph shows an early road leading to the Victor Sariin farm, located about a half mile east of the Erickson Road and north present day Highway 61. Note the barbed wire fence, rocks piled along the fence line, as well as the deep wagon ruts and planks crossing what was evidently a low and wet spot in the middle of the road.
The family is taking a break in the field with their dog and puppies, as well as a small wagon and buggy. The woman holding the puppies is "Liisa of Kalajoki." In his "History of the Thomson Farming Area," written in Finnish in 1935, John A. Mattinen wrote that the Fred Johnson farm was also known as Liisa of Kalajoki's farm and that Liisa (who died in 1924) was Fred's mother.
This scene shows the pioneer home of Mr. and Mrs. John Niemi, located on the Stenman Road, as well as their large dog sitting in the chair next to Mrs. Niemi. Their surname had been Vanhaniemi and was shortened and simplified to Niemi.
This photograph depicts a hay shed, with a brush-lined wagon road. It is thought to be the Victor Sariin farm. The Victor Sariin farm was probably located north of Highway 61, about a half mile east of the Erickson Road.
Alfred Kuusiko's farm home in Thomson Township, before the 1918 Fire, in 1909. Daughter Esther Kusicko was 14 years old in 1909. The surname originally in Finnish would have been Kuusikko, but the Americanized spelling is Kusicko.
Depicted here is the homestead of Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson homestead, as well as his family, located on the Forstie Road. Left to right are Johan (Piekkola) Jacobson, Amanda Jacobson, holding Henry (Ham) in her lap; Axel Jacobson, Arvid Jacobson, Hann
This is a photograph of the farm home of John Winter with two unidentified men and a grinding wheel on a water trough that was used to sharpen tools such as axes and sickles and other farm tools, in front of them. John Winter's surname originally was Wintturi in his native Finland.
From left to right in this photo of the Joseph Juntunen Sr. family and his farmyard, known as Meadowbrook Dairy, are twins Joseph and Hjalmer Juntunen, Ed Juntunen, Lydia Juntunen, Grandma Elsa Juntunen, Selma Juntunen, Ida Juntunen, Anna Juntunen, Kate Juntunen, and Grandpa Joseph Juntunen in the wagon. Joseph Juntunen Sr. was the founder of Meadowbrook Dairy.
This photograph is of the Luokkala family's house, with their barn and other farm buildings in the background. The two women and baby in the foreground are unidentified.
This photograph shows Henry Sunnarborg and his wife, as well as their dog, standing in front of their farmhouse located on the western banks of the Midway River, north of Highway 61. The younger lady standing to the right of Mrs. Sunnarborg is their adopted daughter, Julia (Mattinen) Sunnarborg. Henry was born in 1859, moved to Duluth in 1880 and Thomson Township in 1885, then to Bessmer Michigan in 1887, moved back to Thomson Township in 1889, passing away here in 1929. His wife died in 1918. Julia lived with them from the age of 5 onward. The house and its barn still are still standing in 2012.
This photograph shows Mr. and Mrs. John Juntti, with their daughter Lempi, in front of their home. Lempi appears to be showing off her apparently new shoes.
This shows the Thomson Road just south of present day Interstate 35, lined with fence posts and stones removed from the field. There is a small shed in the background, and piles of stones and branches. This was located near the John Fredrickson's farm - formerly known as John Alatalo. John Alatalo homesteaded this farm in 1873, one year after he came to America from Finland. He died in 1876, and his was the first death among the early settlers in the area. John Alatalo's brother, Peter, took over the operation of the farm after John's death. In 1935 the owner of the farm was Peter Fredrickson Jr., who was born on the farm on March 2, 1889.