|
J. P. Hallsson J. P. Hallsson was born in 1823, in Skagafyrdi, Iceland. In 1845 he married and in 1876 settled in New Iceland. There he lived for one and one-half years, when he came to Dakota in 1878. As previously referred to, our subject and M. Stefansson were really the first men in the Lake Winnipeg colony to take active steps towards emigration. Hallsson's short experience in New Iceland convinced him that the fruits of toil would be few and insignificant, since the people lacked the capital necessary in the preparation of the land before agriculture could become a succcessful and remunerative occupation. The connection of our subject with the first Icelandic settlement in Pembina county has been partly given in another chapter. His cabin was the first built by Icelanders in the state. It furnished shelter to many settlers who came later. It was frequently a meeting place, and in it assembled the men who organized the congregation near the Tongue river in 1881. The post office created by the government in 1881 was first named Coulee, but two or three years later the name was changed to Hallson, when the office was moved to the home of OUr subject. Hallson's energy and foresight as a farmer were no greater than the avidity with which he supported all undertakings for the general good of his community. Aside from his activity in the organization of the church, his liberality did much to render the church building at Hallson the most handsome structure in the Icelandic settlement. He was respected by all who knew him for his sound sense and his kindness of spirit. He died in 1899. In his last years his fondest hope had been to see a conference of the synod in his home town, and in 1899 arrangements had been made for the conference to meet there and at the same time dedicate the church he had labored so much to have built and furnished. But he died just before the delegates had assembled, as a result of over-exertion in making the arrangements preparatory to their coming, Genealogy Village and Access Genealogy This page was last updated Sunday, 12-Jan-2014 23:11:37 EST.
|
