Having purchased one of the on-line census subscription services available in this country, I was surprised to see the listings along with the Salomon Jouppi (Joppe in listing) family for the 1900 Census of Laird Township, Houghton County, Michigan. It showed that his youngest brother, August Aleksandersson Wiegel, was a boarder with them at that time!

I am not certain whether any of the living descendants of Salomon knew that to be the case, that is, no one has ever mentioned that Salomon's brother was in this country. This information was enumerated on the 8th day of June, 1900 and Salomon lived till Christmas Day of 1900. Salomon's children at this time are listed as being 8, 5, 4, 2 and 9/12 for Ida, Emil, Solomon, Lempi (written as Lambi and incorrectly shown as a son), and Olga respectively. Perhaps Ida, Emil, and Solomon (Ted) knew of their uncle. I wonder if there were any other contacts through time... Johanna, of course, knew of August but I wonder whether she ever talked of him when with her immediate family.

August Aleksandersson Wiegel (I have listed as Wigell per Parish reply regarding Aleksander Hermannsson Wigell's family) was born 1 August 1871. At the time of the census he is listed as being in this country for one year (1899) and 28 years old.

From what I think I know of Finnish naming conventions, August could also have been known as a Jouppi as that is the farm at which they lived near Seinäjoki. Also, in this special instance, both Salomon and August and the other siblings were also of the original lineage of Jouppi (i.e. not only named for the farm name but also for the original family name). Their mother's name was Maria Salomonsdotter Jouppi and I have some info for that Jouppi family ancestry back to about 1530.

Now this really intrigues me in regard to August Wiegel: In the column, "Whether single,. married, widowed, or divorced" it shows the M as married. In the next column, "Number of years of present marriage" it shows 6. I was of the mistaken belief that Salomon Aleksandersson Wigell Jouppi was the only emigrant of Aleksander's lineage in this country. I also believed that we of the Salomon Jouppi lineage were the only surviving descendants of Aleksander Wigell. Now I am hopeful, that with a little hunting, I may find other living descendants of Aleksander's heritage through August Wiegel.

I guess that I have come to realize that I can expect to see about any name variation for what our family now knows to be Jouppi or Wigell. I have seen the first as Joapi, Jobi, Joppe, Jouppie, etc. and the second as Wegelius, Wigelius, Wigell, Vikelii, etc. And then there is the consideration as to some of the farm names including Uppa or Uppala. It will be interesting to see whether I can track August (and hopefully a continuing family) in some of the other American census years.

Another problem (there are no problems, only opportunities) appears to be that there are many with the Wiegel spelling variant that seem to be of German and not Finnish origin. I guess that the hunt is the best part of this genealogical game that I enjoy. Perhaps part of the Wigell / Jouppi story will have to be rewritten. I hope to find other Wigell / Jouppi connected family alive and well in this country because of August Wiegel.

On 30 May 1902, Johanna married John Luomanen as her second husband.

If anyone happens to know of or find more regarding August Aleksandersson Wiegel and possible descendants in this country please let me know.

Thank you.

Don Swanson