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Information requested includes genealogical information for the settlers and their descendents (birth, baptism, confirmation, marriage, and death dates and places), homestead and land information (description, location, filing dates, etc), dispersal of the family and descendents (why and when the family and/or descendents moved to a new location), and any other information you would like included.
Should you wish to participate in this survey, please contact Arlan Steinolfson, 744 48th Street Southwest, Fargo, ND 58103. Phone 1 701 281 8824. email: arlans@aol.com
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The above is taken from a card which I have been distributing, not very widely, or perhaps wisely, for the past year+, describing an effort which has been ongoing for several years.
The goal of the survey is to identify all native Icelanders who emigrated to America and spent some time in northeast Dakota Territory or North Dakota. A complete identification would include who they were (their ancestry in Iceland at least 2 generations back), where they lived when emigrating, where they emigrated to, when they came to Dakota, where and when they lived in Dakota, where and when they relocated if they left North Dakota, and any other relevent information that can be accumulated.
An accompanying page soon to be posted will include a listing of all currently identified families.
The northeast Dakota settlement
Generally, the Icelandic settlement is considered to be the southwest region of Pembina County and the southeast edge of Cavalier County. It in fact includes this and several other areas. The following includes areas where there were known concentrations of Icelanders.
Icelandic Churches and Congregations
1. Pembina, in the south end of Pembina City serving the city and an area to the south and southwest
2. Peters, serving the community called Svold or Sandheidur, associated with the village of Akra and the surrounding area, includes parts of Cavalier, Advance, LaMoure (once Liberty), Park, in addition to a large portion of Akra Township.
3. Hallson, associated with west Akra Township, east Beaulieu Township, and north Thingvalla and Park Townships.
4. Vidalin, associated mostly with Park Township, but including portions of Akra, Beaulieu, Cavalier, and Thingvalla Townships
5. Vikur, associated almost entirely with central and north Thingvalla Township and the village of Mountain, but also includes portions of Beaulieu and Park Townships.
6. Thingvalla (or Eyford), associated with the community of Eyford in south Thingvalla Township, including north Gardar, southwest Park, and northwest Crystal Townships
7. Gardar, the village of Gardar and Gardar Township, with portions of Crystal Township and, in Cavalier County, Montrose Township and, in Walsh County, Lampton Township
8. Fjalla, in the Pembina Hills (Pembinafjöllum) of Cavalier County, located in South Olga Township and serving the northern portion of the Cavalier County Icelanders.
9. Grafton, in the city of Grafton and serving the surrounding area including the Little Salt, or Cashel, settlement.
Townships
In Pembina County: Pembina, Hamilton, St Thomas, Cavalier, Akra, Beaulieu, LaMoure (originally Liberty), Park, Thingvalla, Crystal, Gardar (originally the south half of Thingvalla)
In Cavalier County: South Olga, East Alma, Montrose, Alma
In Walsh County: Lampton, Grafton, Oakwood, Martin, St Andrews
Cities and villages
Pembina, Hamilton, Glasston, Cavalier, Akra, Hallson (originally Coulee), Mountain (originally Vik), Eyford, Gardar (originally Park), Canton (also called Hensel), Crystal, Milton, Edinburg, Grafton.
If you have Icelandic ancestors who lived in these or any other locations in Dakota, I would certainly like to hear from you.