7th Finglish trip August 2008 #8
Elias P. McKeen Jr. (1936-2015) is buried at the Finnish Cemetery on Porter Road in West Paris, Maine. He was a plumber and before that a shoe salesman. His grandfather Jaakko emigrated from Finland to America in 1888. Elias's grandmother was Mary Pulkkinen. Jaakko Mikkonen came from Kuhmo and sent money for tickets to his relatives to travel to America, many came.
Jaakko was the first Finn in West Paris. Jaakko Mikkonen later changed his name to Jacob McKeen. Grandfather Jaakko worked in the mines before he bought a farm in West Paris, just few miles from the place where Elias lived. Jaakko Mikkonen, alias Jacob McKeen, is also buried at the Finnish Cemetery on Porter Road in West Paris.
Next Finnish American Heritage Center West Paris Maine USA