The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1967, Síða 57

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
55
SKAFTI ARASON
by Jack Baldwin
Skafti Arason
Having been asked to write a short
history of Skafti Arason’s farming oper-
ations in the Argyle community where
Icelanders settled in the early ’80’s, I
am doing so in the conviction that my
father-in-law would rather be remem-
bered as just one of the many brave
and energetic early Icelandic settlers
in this or any other district where Ice-
landers chose to build a home in a
strange land, than be remembered by
his worldly possessions or his ac-
complishments. He was a very modest
man. Though energetic, he was not a
robust person. He never sought noto-
riety or praise though he helped many
settlers who fallowed him. He was a
devout believer and lived accordingly.
Like so many of the early settlers,
he never really felt he was coming to
a strange land as most, if not all, knew
Leif Erickson’s history and felt they
had a stake in his discovery. He had a
strong sense of loyalty to Canada and
was anxious to learn the English lan-
guage.
The early history and hardships of
Icelanders at Girnli are well known.
Skafti Arason left Gimli March 15,
1881, and reached Argyle March 31st.
Because of bad weather, he did not
get to the homestead for which he had
made application in the fall of 1880.
He had $3.00 cash and personal effects
loaded on three sleighs. One sleigh
was covered and used as their living
quarters. He had a few cattle, one
pony, and a yoke of oxen.
His first crop in 1882 was the yield
from 12 acres. In 1883 he sowed 47
acres. In 1884 he suffered a set back
as the grain was frozen—and again in
1885 there was drought. The disastrous
prairie fire of 1886 swept over a large
part of the district and many settlers
lost their grain and hay stacks.
In the fire, Skafti Arason lost a stable,
all his hay, a new wagon, a mower
and rake, 20 head of sheep, 15 out of
23 head of cattle, and a yoke of oxen.
The year 1887 was the most reward-
ing—his crop yielded 1500 bushels of