The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2001, Page 17

Vol. 56 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
55
was named GuSfinna Oddsdottir from
BorgargerSi in ReySarfjorSur, Palsson farmer
at Dalir in MjoafjorSur. GuSfinna’s mother
was named Helga Johannesdottir. He was
called Johannes “stori” (big), because he was
considered the biggest man around that place.
He was also referred to as being from Fjallsel
in N. Mulasysla. Jon’s family tree has already
been traced beforehand.
SigurSur and GuSfinna moved to Canada
in 1883 from Hryggstakkur in SkriSdalur.
Their children went with them: Jon, Maria
and Anna. SigurSur had two more brothers in
Canada, Bjorn (in Winnipeg) and Jon (at
Grund in New Iceland). When this couple
arrived in New Iceland they were poor. Bjorn,
SigurSur’s brother, gave his brother a cow’s
value, and that was all they had to begin their
farming in this country. There was an aban-
doned farmstead in the north corner of
BrreSrahofn (where Hnausa now is) which
was named ASalbol. Jon from Grund helped
SigurSur and GuSfinna to acquire that place
for the winter 1883-1884. The house was in
very poor condition, but at that time there was
not much to choose from in New Iceland. The
following spring, SigurSur acquired a permit
to settle land north of ASalbol and named it
Ekru. There they lived until 1890. After five
years farming at Ekru, SigurSur’s health
failed him. He was a man of medium build
man, a strong man and hardy but tough on
himself, and he overexerted himself clearing
wood off the land. When he became sick he
wanted to go back to his country and die
there. Therefore SigurSur went back to
Iceland in the summer of 1890 and spent the
money he received for his livestock for the
fare. After one year in Iceland he dared to
come back to his wife and children in Canada
and arrived in the summer of 1891. Then their
daughter Helga came with him. SigurSur’s
son, Bjorn, came to Canada somewhere
between 1883-1890. Bjorn married Johanna
Antonlusdottir, the son of Ebukur from
StoSvarfjorSur and Antonius’ wife Ingvildur
Johannesdottir the poets Amason. They have
children and live in Shoal Lake District. In
1892 SigurSur died on his land, Ekru, sur-
rounded by his wife and children.
2. Chapter
Jon SigurSsson was bom on Sept. 1,
1870 at Myri in SkriSdalur. He lived with his
parents at many different places in that area.
Jon was physically and mentally precocious.
By the age of 9 he had studied his catechism.
When he was in his tenth summer, his father
allowed him to go to Eyjolfur farmer at
StuSlar in ReySarforSur as a sheepherder.
Eyjolfur offered to let him stay with him dur-
ing the winter and to learn to write. Jon was
there for a period of time the next few winters.
Eyjolfur’s daughter was named Kristin, she
taught Jon to write. She had a beautiful hand-
writing and was well educated for her time.
That was all the instruction Jon received in
Iceland. In the spring of the year when Jon’s
parents moved to Canada they asked and
received permission for him to be confirmed.
He was then in his thirteenth year. When Jon
arrived in Canada the only choice he had was
to work as a labourer for strangers. Although
Jon was just a child when he arrived, even
then he was more capable than most to with-
stand the severity and many stumbling blocks
John Harvard, MP Charleswood St. James-Assiniboia Chair, Northern & Western Caucus
II L 4 3050 Portage Ave. Room 774 Confederation Bldg.
Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y1 Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
fev Ph: (204) 983-4501 Ph: (613) 995-5609
Fax: (204) 983-4728 Fax: (613) 992-3199
www.johnharvard.com harvaj@parl.gc.ca