I am going to attempt this again since my thread below is a little outdated.

My step-grandmother was Eva Niemi who died in 2007. Parents: Lydia and Julius. I was told that Lydia may be a step-mother to her. Siblings included Ethel (I think she is in California now).

"Uncle Jalmer" could've been a Henry as records I have seen show a HENRY that died in 1989 and I know that I have met him so it had to have been Henry. I am thinking maybe HENRY was an uncle to Eva as she had no brothers that I have seen via census records.

I cannot find any passenger records for ANYONE. I am hitting a complete block here. My next step is headed to the Library of Michigan to pull obituaries from the Grand Rapids Press (good thing it is 10 minutes away) to see if there are any relatives listed, etc...but I don't anticipate any luck as everything here is so dead-end. In fact, I can find NADA on Julius. I've even tried the Finnish equiv. of JULIU.

I know names get shortened and I've tried KIVINIEMI since a census suggested something that started with a K, but again....roadblock.

Tons of Niemis in Michigan (up north)...there has to be a connection as I believe HENRY was born up there.

Any help AT ALL would be greatly GREATLY appreciated. I am trying to put stuff together as a Christmas gift and it this idea may flop!

Any idea how to get actual records on name changes and/or anything out of Finland?? I have no info on WHERE in Finland so that may be where I am hurting.

Thanks in advance!

Carrie
retrowfmk at yahoo dot com