The Nikko family
Eliina Ollie and Matt Nikko were born in the same area of Finland. When he immigrated to the United States in 1902, she waited for him to make his fortune and send for her. The fortune was put on hold, but Matt and Eliina were married in Issaquah in 1910.
They were married at the Barlow homestead, which stretched from Lake Sammamish to Cougar Mountain in the area of today’s Mark Frisby Tennis Academy. The Nikkos bought a piece of the homestead and built a house that still stands near Newport Way.
Matt was a jack-of-all-trades. Most of the time he either farmed or worked in the mines. His handiwork can still be spotted in small pockets, like the stone wall north of the pool. At one time the Finnish Church stood on that spot, and the Nikkos were active members.
They had five children, all of who remained in the Issaquah area. Larry married Ellen Wakkuri. Toivo married Elsie Lundell. Helen married into the Mattila family, while Wilma wed Earl Hill. Arvo died at a young age.
Today, about two dozen Nikko descendents still live in the area. But Matt Nikko also had two brothers (full brothers, although the names differ). Descendents of Ed Nikko and Herman Peltola also live in the area.
