I would like to know all I can about Taivalkoski. Particularly about what life was like there between the years 1870-1900.

Taivalkoski in the north-east of Finland is a small community with only some 6000 inhabitants.
Many of the names in Taivalkoski are of Lappish origin. For instance Jurmu, the name of your ancestor, is a Lappish word for a deep basin in a river.

For finding out about your ancestors please contact the Genealogical Society of Finland at http://www.genealogia.fi/indexe.htm

Professor Jouko Vahtola at the University of Oulu has written about the history of Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski and Jokijärvi. His e-mail address is jouko.vahtola@oulu.fi

Parts of Kalle Päätalo's autobiographical novel series about Iijoki and Koillismaa are probably translated and they might be possible for you to get a hold on. You can contact the library of Taivalkoski directly by e-mail: kirjasto@taivalkoski.fi