The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-21
Rev. RJorn 3. Jonsson-
Immigrants from the Little Island Under Arctic Circle
Have Established Flourishng Colonies Manitoba,
Dakota Nginnesota-Many Wealth Prominence
One of the leading men,
bers of the Icelandic
colony at Minneota.

the public schools In Winnipeg, sold
papers, taught rural schools, worked
his way thru Gustavus Adolphus col
lege at st. Peter, studied law and was
admitted to practice in 1900. He is
q member Of the firm of Rothwell &
Johnson. solicitors for several large
financial concerns, and is a. coming
man.
Among the leading men in New
Iceland Is Sigtryggur Jonsson,
who represented the colony in the
legislative assembly of Manitoba for
several years. Gimli county is now
represented by Baldwin L. Baldwin
son, who, like his predecessor, Is a
native Of Iceland. Mr.. Baldwin came
to Canada in 1878 at the age Of II,
and to Winnipeg in 1882. He was
government immigration agent for
thirteen years. In 1898 he became
editor and manager Of Heimskringla,
one Of the leading .Icelandic papers
published in Canada.
sigtryggur Jonasson, who has been
a leader among his people since the
Muskoka settlement in 1872, was en-
gagged by the Ontario government as
an interpreter and in 1875 was chosen
one Of the delegates to investigate the
plan of the federal government for an
Icelandio settlement on the shore of
Lake Winnipeg. He brought 1900
Icelanders In 1873. He assisted in
founding the first Icelandic newspaper
and was its editor for time.
Mr.. Jonasson was the pioneer
steamboat man on Lake Winnipeg and
did fourishing business as lumber
man. Later he helped to start anoth-
er newspaper, the Logberg," and was
its editor for six and half years. His
services and ability resulted in his
election in 1896 to the legislative as
sembly, Of which he was a member for
four years. At present Mr.. Jonasson
is inspector of homesteads in the Win
nipeg district.
| The Icelandio colony in Pemb1na
county is one of the finest commune
| ties in Northt Dakota. It numbers sew
eral thousands Of intelligent people,
| Industrious and progressive, and good
citizens in every sense. Some Of the
best football players Of North Dakota
have come from this settlement.
! Among the representative men are
Daniel J. Laxdal Of Cavalier, state
land commissioner; Bardi G.. Skula-
son Of Grand Forks, a lawyer and ora
tor, and S. B. Brynjolfsson, whose full
name is Skapti Brynjolfur Brynjolfs-
son. The latter sat in the state SEN
ate from 1890 to 1894. He is a native
Of Iceland and came to America with
| ulS QtISlLS AL 10 ~. IIS w StS q lel1 AA1CA
and gold miner in Nova Scotia for six
years, worked in elevators and flour
mills in Duluth and Winnipeg, located
| in Pembina county in 1885 and re-
manned there until 1902, when he
moved to Manitoba.
The Minnesota Colony.
Minnesota's Icelandic colony in the
southwestern part of the state, Is a
4o{r oxo11 - hot
come In America. The Inhabitants
are progressive in farming, thrifty In
business, Godfearing and trustworthy
without exception, splendid patrons OF
the schools. In this settlement there
are four Icelandio Lutheran churches
There are about 800 Icelanders ir
Minneota, the chief market place OF
the settlement, and they lead in bust.
ness and politics. .'Vinland,' the only
Icelandic newspaper in the United
States, Is published at Minneota.
The late 0. G.. Anderson was fine
representative Of his race. He wen
there in 1879, enpty-handed, and a
his death last fall left a large, -four
fishing mercantile business and mucf
valuable real estate.
One Of the leading lawyers in thu
southwestern part Of the state is 9
i M. Gislason, the first Icelander to re
ceive diploma from the University O
Minnesota. He was graduated IL
1892.
i It will be observed that the Ice
landers are widely scattered, but the.
have at least one common bond and
, that is their church, the Icelandi'
Evangelical Lutheran synod, organ
ICED in 1885. It includes the various
Icelandic Lutheran congregations il
the United States and Canada At IT
! head stands the Rev. Jon Bjarnaso1
Of winnipeg, noted scholar AM
author. He was born at ALI
, tahrdi. Iceland, In 1916 AM
} was educated at the high schoo
and college at Reykjavik. Il
1873 he came to America, studied tw,
z years at DEBORAH college, did news
paper work Of a time on Budstikkel
in Minneapolis, and in 1878 went t,
New Iceland. He lived several year
:. In Iceland, but returned to Winnipeg
< In 18S5uand has since remained there
: Mr.. Bjarnason is also editor 0
: sameininguna, religious paper
) gymen In this country who deserv
Especial mention, but the lack of spac