Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.05.2007, Blaðsíða 11

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. maí 2007 • 11
Svanfridur Jonsdottir Kristjansson was born in
Ytra-brekkum, Langanesi, Iceland, October 17, 1855. Her par-
ents were Jon Benjaminson, “Hreppstjori,” in Langanesi, and
his wife Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir. Svanfridur had four broth-
ers and eight sisters.
She spent her childhood in her parental home, in a
small sea-coast village. Here she came in contact with people
from the outside world, for frequently tourists and seamen
came to her home while the ships stopped in the harbor,
called “Thorshofn.”
Often these visitors brought gifts or delicacies for
the children. In return the guests were hospitably received
and often royally entertained.
The Lutheran Church of which she was a member
while in Iceland was built at Saudanesi by her father who
was a carpenter. In this church she was baptized, confirmed
and married.
June 7, 1877 she married Kristjan Gumilogur Krist-
jansson from Stokkahlodum, Iceland. For the following year
they resided at Hlid. Next year, having waited three weeks in
the nearest seaport, Vofnafjord, for the arrival and repairing
of the ship, they embarked for America. Crossing the Atlan-
tic Ocean was a tedious task in those days, but finally they
reached Quebec. Here they took the train to Toronto, thence
to Duluth. From here they travelled by boat or on land until
they came to Fisher’s Landing on the Red River.
By way of the Red River they went by boat to River-
ton, Manitoba, where they spent the winter. March 16, 1879
they, with a baby daughter, Rosa Gudrun, accompanied by
two other couples, namely Mr. and Mrs. Eymundson, and Mr.
and Mrs. Sigurdur Jonsson Raykdal, left for Pembina.
As these three couples had but one ox for hauling
their belongings they were all forced to travel on foot. They
took turns carrying the baby. There were no roads to speak
of, slush and mud to wade through, blustery cold winds to be
faced and food and shelter to be obtained only occasionally.
During this trying journey Svanfridur never faltered
nor complained but marched bravely on trusting a brighter
future. After travelling for sixteen days they reached Pem-
bina. Here their first task was to build themselves a home, a
sod hut for temporary use. By August a log cabin was com-
pleted. A wet season and poor roads made it impossible to cut
down the logs and bring them from the woods sooner than
that. During the following winter the three aforementioned
couples lived in this rustic abode. During those pioneer days
many a hungry and weary traveller stopped at this log cabin
where he was assured of a hearty welcome and such refresh-
ments as the meager means allowed.
In 1883 they moved to a farm about three miles east
of Mountain. Here they lived for four years, then moved to
their farm three miles south from Mountain, where they
have lived since.
During pioneer days especially, Svanfridur fre-
quently aided her neighbors, nursed their sick and lightened
their tasks in various ways. She is exceedingly industri-
ous, thrifty, a loving wife and mother, always ready to make
self sacrifices. She has taken active part in community and
church affairs.
Mrs. Kristjan G. Kristjansson
Lögberg-Heimskringla features this series of photographic mysteries
in conjunction with the Nel-
son Gerrard’s “Silent Flashes”
project, which explores early
photography among Icelandic
immigrants and their descen-
dants in North America during
the settlement period — from
1870 to 1910.
All unidentified photo-
graphs featured in this series
were taken in Icelandic settle-
ments in Canada and the United
States during this era, and your
input is invited if you can pro-
vide any clues as to who these
people are.
Any successful solutions
will be published, but more
importantly these old photo-
graphic treasures can then be
archived for future generations.
Some may also be featured
in the upcoming book Silent
Flashes.
To obtain further informa-
tion on the “Silent Flashes” proj-
ect or to provide input, contact
Nelson Gerrard at (204) 378-
2758 or eyrarbakki@hotmail.
com, or by mail at Box 925,
Arborg, Manitoba R0C 0A0.
Check out the “Silent Flash-
es” website and photo archive
at www.sagapublications.com.
Questions on your own
photographic mysteries are
also welcome.
Photo
Mystery: Do you know these people?From the Pioneer Daughters
In 1940, The Pembina County Pioneer Daughters began collecting information on North Dakota’s homesteading period in the late 1800s in the
form of memoirs and genealogical data. Recently
George Freeman of Grand Forks, ND compiled all of
the accounts on the early Icelandic settlements into
one volume.
For more information on the Pembina County
Pioneer Daughters Biographies, contact George
Freeman at 2091 27 Ave. So., Grand Forks, ND,
58201, by phone at (701) 772-3397, or e-mail
gfreeman@gra.midco.net.
This photo of Icelandic children in Winnipeg was taken about
1895 and came from a shoebox of old photos saved from the
burning barrel. These pictures had belonged to Sigtryggur and
Rannveig Jonasson of Winnipeg.
The Icelandic National League
of North America
2007 CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE
CONTACT THE INL OF N/A OFFICE
103-94 First Avenue
Gimli, MB R0C 1B1
204-642-5897 or inl@mts.net
OR AN INL CHAPTER/SOCIETY NEAREST TO YOU
Only $10
plus shipping and handling
(Call for 204-642-5897 for shipping costs)
View a sample at http://www.inlofna.org
Registration $25
(Includes T-shirt from Iceland & medal, snacks and refreshments)
Register by May 22 to guarantee T-shirt and medal
Proceeds to CancerCare
18th Annual Kvennahlaup
Icelandic Women’s Walk
TO REGISTER PLEASE CONTACT
Gunnvör 284-1535 /
gunnvor.daniels@utn.stjr.is
or Ainsley 896-6706 /
vbloomer@shaw.ca
Join
us!
Saturday, June16, 2007
Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg Gimli Park, Gimli
This year, on the same day as women walk in Iceland,
Kvennahlaup will be held in two locations in Manitoba
TO REGISTER PLEASE CONTACT
Margaret 667-4134 (Wpg) /
mkernested@mts.net
or Marlene 895-8328 (Wpg) /
marl4bes@skyweb.ca
Editorial and ad deadlines for the next few issues of Lögberg-Heimskringla are as follows:
June 1, 2007, Issue 11: deadline is May 14
June 15, 2007, Issue 12: deadline is June 4
July 1, 2007, Issue 13: deadline is June 18
July 15, 2007, Issue 14: deadline is July 3
Deadlines for Lögberg-Heimskringla