Another joint enterprise, the Sebeka Cooperative Company, was established in 1919. Its early phases are described in a

brochure published in 1944, Of the People, By the People and For the People, which recalls that "on a certain day in February 1919 there appeared an advertisement in the Finnish newspapers reaching the community, and also in English in the Sebeka Review, urging interested persons to meet at the farm of William Hyrkkä to discuss the significance of cooperatives and the possibility of establishing one locally. The advertisement had been written by Benjamin Pantsari, at the request of Alex Kumpula." Some 10 persons appeared for the meeting, and after long discussion it was decided to start a cooperative whose name "would be short but whose business would be large." It was incorporated with L. S. Riikkula as president; Emil Hietala, secretary; Abram Pajari, vice-president; Benjamin Pantsari, treasurer; and William J. Salmela, Abram Siirilä, John Lilquist and Nestor Roiko as further members. There was opposition, of course, and one local businessman forecast that "such a business would die within three months," to which Pastor Matt Tauriainen replied laconically, "How can it die when it hasn't been born yet?"

In October 1919 the cooperative bought a building site from one Lincoln McCormick, at a cost of $950, of which $100 was paid in cash. Temporarily, however, a store was opened at the Cash Stores building, purchased from D. Palmer. A business inventory was purchased from William Leinonen, who became the first business manager of the cooperative. When Leinonen had to resign a few months later, his position was filled by John Jaakola. The new enterprise served its farmer members in numerous ways: in addition to the usual general goods and supplies, the cooperative was able to market wood pulp, railroad ties, hay, eggs, potatoes, veal, flax, and straw for packing, during its first year of business.

The initial difficulties were by no means insignificant. Business managers had to be changed time and again, and during the first three years of activity debts rose to $12,198, and discord began to disrupt the initial harmony among the members. In 1923, it became necessary to seek a loan for $1,500 from the Wilson Investment Company, with the business premises as lien, and at an interest rate of 10%. In the same year a 17-year old boy, Edward E. Aho, was hired as bookkeeper; he later became business manager, and under his direction the business began to stabilize, grow and flourish. Sales of $56,417 in 1922 grew to $140,927 in 1927. The growth required bigger premises,

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