My name is Svein K. Strøm. I am a Norwegian, searching my relatives in the USA, the Kentta / Gentha family from Norway and Finland. My g-grandfather was Carl Kentta, born in Alta Norway in 1857. He was left here in Norway while the rest of the family, his parents and brothers, did emigrate to Hancock and Houghton in the period 1873-1891. Gentha is the Finnish languages pronunciation of Kentta. First my family were immigrants to Norway from Tornedalen in Finland and Sweden, in the 1830-40s. My g-g-grandfather Johan Petter Isaksson Alainenpää Kentää, was born in 1818 at the Martila farm, Turtola in Finland. He came to Norway, Kåfjord Coppermines, Alta, Finnmark County in 1831. My g-g-grandmother Brita Eva Adamsdotter Caisadotter Blomster, was born 1. april 1820 in Alatornio, Liedakala Finland. She arrived at Kåfjord in 1842. Johan Petter and Brita Eva got married in Kåfjord Church, Alta, the 10.oktober 1843.

They got 10 children:
1) Britta Marie, b 12.12.1842 Alatornio Finnland
2) Johan Petter, b 1845 in Kåfjord.
3) Isach wilhelm, b 15.01.1847 in Kåfjord, d 20.09.1847.
4) Erik Ullrik, b 1848 in Kåfjord.
5) Salamon, b 6.06.1850 in Kåfjord.
6) Isak, b 22.02.1852 in Kåfjord.
7) Fredrik, b 24.08.1855 Kåfjord.
8) Carl, b 22.02.1857 in Kåfjord, d 28.02.1919 in Skjervøy. He is my g-grandfather.
9) Mickel, b 25.11.1858 in Kåfjord.
10) Fredrik, b 1861 in Skjervøy

In 1860 the family did move to Kjækan, Kvænangen Coppermines in Skjervøy. Still there is a crag in Kjækan called "Genthabergan" the Gentha Crag. Both the Kåfjord Coppermines and the Kjækan Coppermines were operated by the English, but the Calumet Copper mining company in Michigan, recruited copper miners all over the world, and from Kjækan too.

My g-grandfather Carl was nr.8 of Johan Petter and Brita Eva´s children. While growing up he was using the name Kentta. He was adopted into the Strøm family, and after that he was using the surename Strøm. He did not emigrate to the USA, and he settled down in Skjervøy, Troms County. Near the town of Tromsø, at the 70. lat. north.

Our relatives, Carls parents and brothers and probably his sister, did emigrate to Hancock and Houghton, from the port of Trondheim, Norway. The journey was by ship from Trondheim to Hull in England, then by train to Liverpool, and then by the ocean steamers to Amerika.

In 1873 my g-g-grandfather, using the name Johan Petter Alanenbe, age 58, together with his son Johan Alanenbe, age 28, left Kvænangen for Amerika with destination Hancock. They left Trondheim on the 10. of july 1873, on the ship Tasso. The agent was Allan Line. The rest of the family was left in Kvænangen Norway.

Then in 1880 Johan Petter sr. is back in Norway for getting the rest of his family to America. This time, while emigrating, he is using the name Johan Petter Genta, age 57. He is together with his son Isak Genta, age 27, and Isaks wife Gunhild Genta, age 48. This time too the ship from Trondheim to Hull is Tasso. The agent is National. Now the destination is Haughton Michigan. The rest of the family members are left in Norway.

On the same ship and with the same destination is a person named Salamon Johansen, age 31, and his wife Anna G. Johansen, age 23, both from Skjervøy. I am not sure if they are our relatives.

In 1881 my g-g-grandmother Brita J. Kenta, age 52 and her son Mikkel J. Kentta, age 23, are emigrating from Skjervøy to Haughton Michigan. Now she is a widow, so maybe my g-g-grandfather Johan Petter b. 1818, at that time is dead. They left the port of Trondheim on the ship Domino. They are using the surename Genta / Kenta. The agent is National.

In 1890-91 a whole family named Kenta are emigrating from Senja, Berg Coppermines, Troms County, to Hancock Minnesota. On the 4. of june 1890, from Trondheim harbour on the ship Juno: Salamon I Gentha, age 28, from Senja. Agent is Allan line. On the 8. of july 1891, from Trondheim harbour, agent was Dominian, the ship Juno: Krestine Kenta, married, age 38, from Senja, with her children Hilde Kenta, age 16, Erna Kenta, age 14, Alfred Kenta, age 11, Hjalmer Kenta, age 7, Jenny Kenta, age 12. Kristinas husband could have been a Kenta, who already had emigrated, maybe Salamon Kentta. It is probable that theese are our relatives, and that Salamon is the brother of my g-grandfather Carl.

The State of Michigan conducted a local census throughout the state in June 1884:

We find in Clifton, Keweenaw County our Gentha boys: Clifton no longer exists. It was a mining town.
Guita, Issac, age: 32, husband, miner, resident of the state for 4 years
Guita, Kreta, age 42, wife, housewife, resident of the state for 4 years ( in the emigration protocol she is named Gunhild )
Guita, Jacob, age 12, step son, attending school, resident for 4 years
Everybody born in Norway.

I think the census taker simply misspelled their names. Step son generally means that Grethe had a child with a father other than Issac.

The above ages for Issac and Grethe are right and they are living next door to Lars Eriksen, who is Gretha's brother. This is definitely our Issak Gentha.

Living two houses away from Issak, we find: Guita, Jacob, age 72, husband, born in Finland, Wood Chopper, resident of state for 4 years.
Guita,Greta, age 66, housewife, born in Finland, resident of state for 4 years.

These people are a very good match for Issak's parents. Their ages are correct based upon my information. (Isaks parents were named Johan Petter and Brita Eva, did they change their names) Isach Gentha is one of their sons, and brother of my g-grandfather Carl.

At the courthouse at Eagle River, searching for recorded death records, an american friend of mine did find theese three Kentta:

Brita Kaisa Gentha
Died November 21, 1892 at 69 years old.Lived in Clifton
Died of rheumanation of the heart.
Houswife.Born in Finland
Husband Pedar, also dead.
Parents: Brita Kaisa

John Pedar Gentha died august 20, 1898 In Houghton
Age 84.Died of asthma.
Born in Finland. Laborer.Lived in Clifton
Parent? Isaac Gentha

Isaac Gentha died February 26, 1899 age 47. Died of blight disease Born in Norway. Laborer. Father john Pedar. Lived in Clifton.

We do think we have found the grave of my g-grandfather Carl´s brother Isak, at the Pinegrove Cemetery, Keweenaw County, Eagle Harbour, Michigan. Genta Isaac John, 1852 - 1899, age 47 father: John P Eagle River.

We have been working hard, me and some american friends of mine, to find our relatives in the USA today. This means a lot to me and my family. I do think we will find our relatives in the Copper County area. How can I get any help to find the descendants after the emigrants ? There is a possibility that the relation between people living today, in Norway and US, could be as close as second cousins.

With kind regards

Svein K Strøm
EMAIL: skstroe@online.no