The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1974, Page 41

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
39
THE LEGEND OF JDE STEFANSSON
Joe Stefansson was a brother of the
internationally renowned explorer, Vil-
hjalmur Stefansson, who was born at
Arnes, Manitoba, in the early days of
the New Iceland settlement. Later the
family moved to Saskatchewan to farm
in the vicinity of Wynyard and Elfros.
According to Mr. James Barnett, an
elderly Welshman of the district, the
Icelanders named Elfros, and at first
the name was pronounced Elfro.se or
Alfaros. This lore is hard to track
down, however. It is true, though, that
the spinning wheel once owned -by the
mother of Vilhjalmur and Joe Stefans-
son is now in the Museum of Western
Development in Saskatoon, Sask., and
greatly treasured. Mr. Barnett, said
that Joe Stefansson was famous in a
large area of the prairies for his long
red hair, which he used to braid and
wind around his head.
In early pioneer days Joe filed on
a homestead near the site of the pres-
ent city of Nekoma, N. D. He wore
his long red hair in flowing waves. As
a salesman of hair tonic, he travelled
his territory by horse and buggy, but
braided it and wound it around his
head for cattle punching.
Mrs. Elizabeth Oakland of Grand
Forks, North, Dakota, heard the leg-
end of Long-Haired Joe and has writ-
ten the verses below. With Joe on the
accompanying picture is an uncle of
Mrs. Oakland’s husband,
When the wind whispered over the prairie
Where the acres once rippled with grass,
The thoughts of the oldtimers tarry
On legends; to make the time pass.
Long Haired Joe was a favorite subject
When pioneer stories were spun.
He filed on a claim near Nekoma,
On the range where his cattle could run.
In summer he herded for hire,
At so much a head was the deal.
Through whirlwinds, around prairie fire,
How he and his pony would wheel!
And sometimes he peddled hair tonic,