The Icelandic Canadian - 01.08.2001, Page 23

Vol. 56 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
105
ident and held that position guiding the
Co-op through its formative years until
1935. The Association purchased the exist-
ing Sigurdson and Thorvaldson Store and
in October, 1919, the Arborg farmers Co-
operative Store was opened for business.
This store was a significant and exceptional
success for the Arborg community.
According to the article in A Century
Unfolds the Arborg Co-ops financial state-
ment for 1984, shows annual sales of
almost six million dollars and saving of
$50,000.00. For sixty-five years of opera-
tion total sales were over 64 million with
savings of 1.3 million.
The Arborg Agricultural Society was
established in 1924. Several farmers from
Vidir were active directors. Jon Sigurdsson
was one of the directors and he served for
several years. One of the main functions of
the Society was to hold an annual fair. This
has, from the beginning, served an impor-
tant community purpose.
Jon’s skill as a speaker in both Icelandic
and English and his organizational abilities
led him to politics where he felt he could
serve the community more effectively. The
new area of Vidir as well as the entire area
of New Iceland was in the Municipality o
Gimli. In 1908, it was divided into two
municipalities, the Northern part compris-
ing the area of Hnausa to Vidir, including
Arborg and Riverton, became the
Municipality of Bifrost. Jon was elected
councillor for 1913 to 1914. He served as
the Reeve of the Municipality of Bifrost
from 1915 to 1920 and again in 1921 to
1922. He again served as councillor from
1928 to 1930 and in 1935. He had a signifi-
cant influence in the development of the
Municipality.
Researching, discovering and writing
life stories, not only provides information
about one’s own background, but clearly
enunciates the formidable task facing
immigrants who had to face the hardships
of a new land. They were pioneers in devel-
oping the needs of a community such as
Vidir, by building roads, drainage ditches,
schools, post offices, community halls,
churches, cemeteries and numerous other
needs. It is with great pride that I discov-
ered that my father was one of these pio-
Frank Sigurdson
neer leaders.
As I strive to write, I constantly keep in
mind the quotation that I have heard and
read many times, “Everyone has a story to
tell.” The almost two hundred descendants
of Jon Sigurdsson, his first wife, Kristin
Jonsdottir and his second wife, Sigrun
Sigvaldadottir, and everyone interested in
the history of pioneers and the develop-
ment of pioneer communities will have this
story to read.
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