I have been involved with DNA genealogy for a while. Working on White Sea Karelia DNA project I discovered that several DNA- tested individuals from Laitasaari proved to be DNA-related to one individual in Viena (White Sea Karelia). One of the tested is a man from the Pelo family. I contacted June Pelo, contact person of the test and she e-mailed me that her family comes from the Keränen farm in Laitasaari and one of the forefathers is a man by the name Lauri Keränen. June authorized me to write about her family and roots in Laitasaari. Lauri Keränen is the very man who is seen as an inhabitant of Laitasaari in 1548 ”näbbeskattsmör” taxpayers’ list (old tax collected by Church in the olden times of the Swedish rule). Had there been no DNA-tests this connection might have remained in the dark.
Old main building of the Keränen farm, since demolished. Source: Album of Taisto and Hilkka Ranta née Keränen.