Saga - 1975, Page 156

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BERGSTEINN JÓNSSON
Joining the first large contingent of emigrants from Iceland in
the summer of 1873, Jón and his family sailed for the New World.
They traveled on with the smaller part of the group to Milwaukee,
remaining in Wisconsin for the next few years. While there, Jón
homesteaded in Shawano County in the fall of 1874, as did many
of those who came with him, though all the Icelanders from this
settlement moved again, in the summer of 1880 — by far most of
them to Pembina County in North Dakota, where Jón homesteaded
for the second time. He farmed there until 1886, and died in July
of 1909.
Jón’s diary proper begins with entries dating from the year 1853,
though various events that happened in Mjóidalur since 1841 are
reviewed in an introduction. From the start, these accounts reveal
the special interests and idiosyncrasies of the writer: for instance,
he pays more attention to different affairs and to farm work than
to people. Although a regular church-goer, he reports the succession
of preachers without mentioning the names of the clergymen in-
volved; similarly, he tells of the weddings of his brothers and sis-
ters, while omitting the names of the individuals that they married.
In the fall of 1852, the livestock to be kept for the winter in
Mjóidalur consisted of 194 sheeps, 9 goats, 6 horses, and 2 cows —
a sizable farm operation by the standards of that day — though
winter grazing must have been depended on to supplement the hay-
Mjóidalur is known for good winter pasture.
In the winter of 1853, the farmer of Mjóidalur engaged a man
to come there and hold school for his children and a few other young-
sters, providing instruction of a more formal kind than was possible
without such help.
Already in 1853, Jón junior had started a practice that was to
occupy him to a greater or lesser extent every winter — that of
going to other farms to weave. In addition to this, he did a g°°a
deal of weaving at home.
In 1854, a readers’ society — a library of sorts — was founde
by 30 men of Lundarbrekka-parish; and Jón the diarist was an
enthusiastic participant in this organization at all times.
In the beginning of 1854, Jón went to Akureyri, the largest town
in the North, staying there until March 10 — probably to leain
bookbinding. While there, he writes in his diary an account o
methods whereby ink may be produced.
From 1855 on, entries dealing with personal- and farm accou ,
ing loom ever larger in the diary. For the first few years, J°n
chief outlays of funds were for books and materials for boo