History of Abel (Aapieli or Apseli) Hatinen

Abel (born 1880) migrated to the US in 1904. His brother Henry (born 1871) migrated in 1912. Little is known of the brothers’ history in their first five to 10 years in the U.S., but by 1918 the brothers were operating a successful dairy farm in Thomson Township in Northern Minnesota amongst many other Finns. Abel had married Eva Ruuskanen and had two sons Waino (born 1914) and Samuel Henry (born 1916).

The fall of 1918 was unusually dry, and sparks from trains were starting small fires in dry grass and brush along the tracks.  On October 12, 1918, many of the fires combined, making a huge, destructive fire that completely destroyed the Hatinen farm. Eva was badly burned while trying to escape the fire with her small son, Samuel Henry, who died from injuries sustained in the fire, nine days later.

The family worked very hard to make up their losses and eventually rebuilt, becoming one of the most successful farms in Thomson Township. Abel and Eva had two more children, Carl Sam (born 1919) and Lauri Elmer (born 1922)

Abel died in 1953 and Waino died in 1965. Father and son spent most of their years in Thomson Township, operating the farm along with Henry, who never married and died in 1942.

Details of his descendents are as follows:

Waino, Abel’s oldest son, married Elsie Rahja and had three children Marie (1943-2006), Wayne (1943- 1989) and Evelyn (born 1947).  Descendents of Marie (who married Kevin Coyne) are Thomas Coyne (born 1976) and Christine Coyne (born 1981).

Wayne, who married Karen Shepherd, had no children.

Evelyn, who married Rudy Koski has two children, Dogulas Koski (born 1968) and Donald Koski (born 1970). Douglas has children, Keith Koski (born 1989), Kody Koski (born 1997 and Lukas Koski (born 1998). The Koskis reside in Minnesota.  Donald has no children.

Carl Sam had two sons: Raymond, who married Virginia Heine, has two boys, John Hatinen (born 1968) and Michael Hatinen (born 1971). John, who married Penny Brennizer, has two

Woodward, has two children, Heather (born 1990) and Blake (born 1994. Heather, who is married to Ryan O’Conner, has two children, Cameron Hatinen (born 2009) and Piper O’Conner (born 2015) The children all reside in Minnesota. Carl Sam’s second son is Kenneth (born 1947), who married Linda Sodererg. They have three children: Peter (born 1973) who married Anne Eelkema, Erik (1973) and Sarah Hatinen (born 1981).  They have no children. Peter and Anne and Erik reside in Minnesota, and Sarah resides in California.

Lauri, Abel’s youngest son, had two sons, Larry (born 1941) and Lynn (born 1943). Though names or birth years are not known, an obituary for Lauri Hatinen, father of Larry and Lynn, indicated he had five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. These children seem to be spread out between Connecticut and Florida. 

History of Abel (Aapieli or Apseli) Hatinen, given by Linda Hatinen

Pentti Hätisen esitelmä Sukukokouksesssa 15.8.2021: