Dear Anna
Our Paananen come from Kivijarvi & Viitasaari, Finland. Please let me know the name of John's father or his children, & I can hopefully send you more info re your particular family.
Our direct ancestor is Arvid b 1872 Viitsaari & lived in Kivijava (owned a grocery store), son of Abraham & Kristina Narhi, w Abraham having been b 1842.
Arvid's cousins included John, Ernest & Carl b in Pihtipudas about 1876-1882.
Carl remained in Finland, brothers John & Ernest Immigrated to US. John to cousin Djerf in Quincy MA> Ontario, Canada>Cromwell MN where he had 6 kids, incl Arvo. Ernest lived primarily in Ohio & NY.
Also, "Heikki"--Antinpoika Heikki (Henrik Andersson) Paananen, 1805-1859 married Anna Liese Kinnunen & they had 7 children, with son Juho being born 04/10/1841.
I'm still trying to connect all of the Paananen's in Kivijarvi, too.