Emil W. Heikkila was born in Kauhava, Finland on Sep 28, 1909. He was the first child of Emil W Heikkila (Sr.) of Lehtimaki, Finland and Maria Jutila of Kauhava. Around the time of Emil's birth, Finland was a country in turmoil due to the unwanted influence of Russia, its much larger and more powerful neighbor. Work, as a means of supporting one's family, was difficult in the rural areas like Kauhava. Emil Sr had been impressed into the Russian military, and although this provided some financial help for his wife and child, he was not happy with the forced service.
Emil Sr came home to Kauhava in 1911 and announced to his wife Maria that he was leaving the Russian military service and heading to America, where he would make enough money to bring Maria and Emil there to find a better life. Emil Sr had been told on more than one occasion that the streets in America were paved with gold, and he believed it.
Emil Sr departed for the United States in 1911, just ahead of the Russian military provost, who was most interested in his whereabouts.
Maria and young Emil lived in Kauhava, received letters and money from Emil Sr as time passed, but there was not sufficient money for the two of them to make the journey to America to join Emil.
Young Emil found adventure in Kauhava, even without his father. He learned to fish and hunt. He discovered the joy of the sauna and learned to roll in the snow after a winter sauna. His mother told him about his father, and Emil wished that the day would come when his father was there.
Then it was 1914, and the Russian influence in Finland waned as Russia's focus was on revolution. Emil Sr continued to send money and Maria continued to save that money. She checked to see how much the train fare to Helsinki was, and from there, how much was the steamship fare to America. She needed more money.