The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-11-06
HEARD FROM BROTHER
after TH|RTY-F|VE YRS
E. J. Isliefson, Minot Barber, Hears
From Brother From Whom He
Was Separated in Iceland
Years Ago.

cars fASOs
f. j. Isliefson, we'll known barber,
who owns shop on West central ave
nue., heard from his only brother, who
lives in Iceland, the place Of his birth,
and from whom he was separated 35
years ago, after the death of his
mother.
E. J. Isleifson was then only a lad
of six years and his brother was a
year younger. From the day they
were separated, the brothers had
heard nothing from each other and
did not know that either was alive, un-
til their sister, who spent some years
in America, returned to her old home
recently, meeting the brother and in
forming him Of the whereabouts of
his long lost brother.
1t will be remembered that the sis
ter, who was but six months of age
when the mother died, did not meet
her brother, E. J. Isliefson, for thirty
years. She came to America and acci-
dentally learned that E. j. Isliefson
was living in Minot. She made trip
from her home in Nevada five years
ago to visit with her brother.
E. j. Isliefson was seventeen years
Of age when he left Iceland. He says
that now that he has learned of his
brother, he will likely go back for a
visit within the next year or two.
A translation Of the letter follows:
Eyrabakka, % Sept, 1919.
Dear Brother:
When was little boy / was told
| had brother and it seems to me
that l got letter from you when you
was at Vallanesi, Iceland. l was then
not yet Is years of age. Since then
have not heard of you until our faith
er came home from America short
time ago. He told me of you and our
sister, but could not give an address.
This spring in May our sister Gud-
run came home and she gave me your
address.
will be 40 years Of age December
ID next, am married and have six
children, one girl and five boys. My
wife's name is Sesselyn Magnusson.
She was born and raised in this town.
She is a good woman and gentle. My
girl is the oldest of the children, she
is seventeen. The boys are all below
confirmation age. was raised at the
home of our aunt Helga. She lives at
sArba Holtum. was with her until |
was Is then ! came to this town
Eyrarbakka-and learned the carpen-
ter's trade. have been here ever
since and have done fairly well up to
the time of the war. had then just
bought motor boat and rugged it up
for fishing but i'll luck would have it
I lost it during storm at sea. ! had
invested all I had in the world, so this
left me penniless. Since this happen
ed it has been an uphill pull for me
to provide for my family, especially
since the years of war have added to
the burden of raising large family
in this country. On the other hand,
the producers, and especially the mer-
chants here, have become wealthy. |
have heard that some merchants in
Reykjavik have declared that they
have become millionaires, but all can't
be merchants.
Since have come here I have own
ed a little home, but I sold it this
spring. had to do it for several
reasons. I intended to move to an
other place and build new house,
but could not get around to do it
this summer, so when sister came she
found us knocking around unsettled.
I have now got lot and will build
there as soon as can.
Ever since l can remember | have
been very healthy. have never had
sick day and that is worth a great
deal. would rather have good health
and be poor, than to be wealthy and
have bad health. Still there is no de-
nying that money is a power, and
those who are poor have to deny them
selves of many things they have a
longing to do if they had the emans.
I have always been satisfied with
my circumstances, altho they have
been up and down and am free from
melancholy that some people seem to
contract when things go wrong.
I imagine you have had about
enough of this letter and l hope you
will overlook the weak points.
I wonder if we will ev6 meet. It
is long distance between US and a
costly trip-but it is tough to have
only one brother and not be able to see
him.
want to emphasize that hope you
will not be offended by receiving these
lines from me and will ask you not
to let very many see them. ! will close
with best wishes for your well being.
Your sincere brother,
SIGURDUR ISLIEFSON.
Eoup Yoar.Old nauvhtar nf g. a.