Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Farm - Nýibær, Holt undir Eyjafjollum, Rangarvalla

The farm Nýibær, Holt undir Eyjafjollum, Rangarvalla is where my great grandfather Eyjólfur Eiríksson was born 26 February 1854. I visited the farm on 31 March 2010. There was no one living on the farm at the time.
Iceland’s volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted just two weeks latter. I never made it back to the farm but I would guess it was covered with ash from the eruption.


The old farm of Holt in southwest Iceland is the Parish where my great grandfather, Eyjólfur Eiríksson was christened in 1854. He immigrated to Utah in 1882. Bonnie and I visited this old farm in May of 2005 with our friends Þuríður Maggý Magnúsdóttir and Jón Jóel Einarsson. The monument in the photo was placed in 1938 in honor of the old church that once stood on this location and where Eyjolfur was christened.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

GUÐRÍÐUR ÚLFSDÓTTIR

GUÐRÍÐUR ÚLFSDÓTTIR

Gudridur was born 26 April 1858 in Vestmannaeyjar; her parents are Ulfur ___ and Valgerdur Jonsdottir, born 20 August 1832, died 7 October 1897. Gudridur married Markus Vigfusson, born 25 December 1851 in Kobenhavn, Denmark. He is the son of Vigfus Jonsson, formadur at Holshus, Vestmannaeyjar, born 6 October 1822 at Rimakoti, Vestmannaeyjar, died in April 1867; and Margret Skuladottir, born 11 November 1824 in Kornholl, Vestmannaeyjar, died 16 October 1859 at Holshus, Vestmannaeyjar.
Gudridur was baptized by Elder Einar Eiriksson 13 April 1886. Also baptized on the same date were Markus Vigfusson and Gudridur’s mother Valgerdur Jonsdottir.
Gudridur and Markus had three children: Margret Jonina 1879-1925, Sigridur Ingibjorg, born 21 July 1883 and Valdimar Einar 1885-1886. Markus and Gudridur and their three children and Gudridur’s mother Valgergur immigrated to Utah in 1886. Their baby Valdimar died two days before their arrival.
Markus worked on the railroad, as a farmer and at the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company factory. He and Gudridur became the parents of eight more children. Gudridur died 8 December 1933 and is buried in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. In Utah she was known as Gudridur W, Johnson and Gudridur Wolfsdottir.

Friday, April 1, 2011