The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1984, Qupperneq 41

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
39
ICELANDIC SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH
AMERICA 1870-1880
by W. Kristjanson
1870 — Commencement of continuous Ice-
landic immigration in North Amer-
ica .. . four settlers on Washington
Island, Lake Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, U.S.A.
1872 — First permanent Icelandic settler
in Canada. Sigtryggur Jonasson
lands in Quebec, September 12,
1872. Proceeds to Ontario.
1873 — First Icelandic group settlement in
Canada, at Hekla P.O., near
Rosseau, in the Muskoka dis-
trict, Ontario.
— 135 Icelandic people in Mil-
waukee, Wisconsin.
1874 — The Kinmount group, Ontario.
— An Icelandic Association formed
in Milwaukee.
— August 2, an Icelandic celebra-
tion held in Milwaukee.
— A few young men of the Kin-
mount group proceed to Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
— The Shawano, Wisconsin settle-
ment commenced. (Ljosavatn-
sherad).
1875 — Icelandic settlers in Lyon and Lin-
coln Counties, Minnesota.
— Icelandic settlement — the Mark-
land settlement — on Mooselands
Heights, Musquodoboit, Nova
Scotia; some 200 people.
— The first Icelandic Lutheran con-
gregation formed at Shawano,
Wisconsin, founded by Rev. Pall
Thorlaksson.
— The first Icelandic people in Win-
nipeg. Some 50 people. October 11.
— The New Iceland settlement com-
menced. Landing at Willow Point,
October 21.
1876 — January 4. Gimli Village Council
organized; the first organized self-
government in the Icelandic settle-
ments in North America.
— The New Iceland settlement ex-
tended to Icelandic River and Big
Island (Hecla Island).
— The beginning of an Icelandic
community life in Winnipeg.
Shanty Town, on the Hudson’s
Bay Flats, close to No. 6 ware-
house, south of Broadway, later
extended towards Water Street.
— August 23. The first Icelandic
divine service at Gimli, conducted
by Reverend Pall Thorlaksson.
1877 — February 5. Provisional constitu-
tion or laws and regulations for a
government of New Iceland. Four
districts: Vidinesbygd, Amesbygd,
Fljotsbygd, and Mikley; and a
Colony Council for New Iceland
(the Lake Region or Vatnsthing).
— Two groups of Icelandic Lutheran
Congregations formed in New Ice-
land:
a. The Icelandic Lutheran Synod
in America (Hid Lutherska
Kirkjufelag Islendinga i Ves-
turheimi Reverend Jon Bjama-
son — 5 congregations.
b. The Icelandic Lutheran Con-
gregation in New Iceland —
Reverend Pall Thorlaksson — 3
congregations. (Hinn Islenski
Luterski Sofnudur i Nyja Is-
landi).
— September 6. the Icelandic Society
formed in Winnipeg.
— September 10. The first issue of