The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-21

Letfur, son Of Eirtkur the Red, dis
covered America in the year 1000.
America. This was back In the Saga
times, when the northern Vikings In
their narrow open boats sailed boldly
to all parts of the civilized world and
across the Atlantic to America.
Leifur, known in history as Left
the beauties of Vinland (now Massa-
chusetts) that his brother Thorsteinn
Ericsson made an expedition to the
new world the next year. He failed
to find Vinland, however. Another
brother, Thorvaldur Ericsson. and
Thortinnur Karlsefni had better sue
cess in the summer Of 1902, landing In
Vinland with a considerable following.
They built houses and tried to found
q colony, but in five years the majority
returned to Iceland or Norway and the
others disappeared. . ...-.... ....-..
For hundreds Of years the iceland
ers did not go to America It was
only in 1870 that modern Icelandic
immigration began, but In the few
years since then this sturdy and intel
ligent people has established num-
Der of exceedingly progressive colo
MES and acquired an influence and
prosperity quite remarkable. While
the Icelanders were the latest branch
of the great Scandinavian race to turn
their steps toward America, their Sue,
cess in every line Of advancement has
been every whit as great in proportion
to their numbers as the other
branches and they have fully contrib
the great northwest. The Icelandio
colonies in southwestern Minnesota
and northeastern North Dakota might
we'll stand as models for any tnlmi-
grant race. 49,. -.-=-. s". -.
Altho small colony of rcelanders
settled in Utah as early as 1855.
steady immigration from the cold
island under the Arctic circle did not
begin until 1870 when Jon Gislason,
Arni Gudmundson, >Gudmundur Gud-
Milwaukee. All except the last named
are now living in well-earned pros
perity on Washington Island, Wis.
Two years later a number of other
young men came, among them Pail
Thor1aksson, who was afterward or
dained as a clergyman and came to
Milwaukee. While this city was the
rendezvous for several years, no Ice
1andic settlement was made in Wis
consin except the small one on Wash
ington Island.
Gunlaugur Peterson led the way to
Minnesota in 1875, settling on the
banks of the Yellow Medicine river.
Others followed and the Icelandic set
Element in Lyon, Lincoln and Yellow
Medicine county, with Minnesota as
the center now numbers nearly 1000,
and Is as prosperous and advanced
community as any in the northwest.
In the early seventies, immigrants
from Iceland founded settlements in
Canada, one in the Muskoka district
in Ontario and another in Nova Scotia.
These proved but temporary abiding
places, the settlers moving on to New
iceland, on the western shores of
Lake Winnipeg, the largest Icelandic
in arina This q cfa rto
In 1875.
The Rev. Pail Thorlaksson. previously
mentioned, led a party OF colon1sts
from Manitoba in 1879 and located
them in Pembina county. North Da-
kota, where they grew in numbers
largest Ice1andio colony in the new
world.
New Iceland, Penbina county, N
D., and the settlement about Mime.
ota, Mimi, are the three principa
colonies in North America There are
however, a number Of smaller colo.
MES, as, for instance, at Argyle II
siniboia, Alberta and British Colun1
bia, and across the line at Ballard
Whatcom, Marietta, Point Robert
and Blaine in Washington. A con
siderable number are located In Utal
and scattered groups. may be found
III SSfSId1 Ol Tie Clues u lu6 ulluult
west.
Winnipeg is, however. the center o
Icelandic wealth and culture in tn
new world. Several thousands resid
there permanently and most Of tn
immigrants go there before scatter
ting to the farming communities. Their
are three Icelandic churches In Win
nipeg, number Of societies and sever
papers and periodicals are pubhshet
In the Icelandic language. Giml
county Is well named New Iceland
for it is typical of old Iceland Tn
names Of the villages and postoff1ce
are Icelandic In a district fifty mile
thru, and the settlers are exclusivel
Icelandic.
In Winnipeg there are many Of tn
race in business and some Of them ar
growing wealthy. They are begin
ming to win prominence in profes
sional and civic life also. A good ex
ample is Thomas II. Johnson, an at
torney Of recognized ability. Mr.. J ohm
son came to America with his parent
In 1873 as a boy Of s. He attends