In the last decades of the 19th century, there was a huge population boom in North America. The migration of people from Europe to the west by sea was enormous, cities and towns were created and grew at an unprecedented speed. North American society was being formed in the United States and Canada, opportunities to create a better livelihood there than in the homeland were many and varied. Most westerners brought with them some experience and knowledge from their homeland and chose to find their way in the West. But many of their children were born in a new environment and grew up in a world that underwent major changes almost daily in times of new discoveries and progress. All Icelandic parents in the West wanted the best for their children, and they realized early on that the key to a new society and all the opportunities there was good English skills that facilitated education. In the Icelandic colony in N. Dakota, the settlers strove to build schools in their countryside and villages, and the teachers were often Icelandic who had followed the educational path, e.g. at the University of Grand Forks. No doubt they played a part in the decision of some students to follow in their footsteps and choose other than agricultural work. Guðbrandur Jónsson from Dalasýsla was 6 years old when he came to the newly founded Icelandic settlement in N. Dakota with his parents. He enjoyed home education at his parents’ house for the first few years and had begun to read well when he sat down in a new school in his hometown of Garðar in 1882. Then he was fortunate enough to enjoy the teaching of Reverend Friðrik Bergman, who had a unique way of arousing his students’ interest in their Icelandic origins, something that lived with them all the time. This was one of Guðbrandur’s advantages at all times, but below is what was said about him in Þórstína Þorleifsdóttir’s book, “Saga Íslendinga í N. Dakota”:
Father and son traveling: Jón Brandsson, his son Guðbrandur and Thomas Leonard. Photo: SÍND
“Dr. Brandur J. Brandsson
Few people have dedicated themselves more to the general welfare of Western Icelanders in recent times, than Dr. Brandur J. Brandsson, the good doctor in Winnipeg. He is the son of Jón Brandsson from Hvoli in Dalasýsla and Margrét Guðbrandsdóttir Sturlaugsson in Hrútadal. At a young age, he came with his parents to the town of Garðar in 1880, and enjoyed a public school education there, while he studied at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. In medicine, he graduated with a decent certificate from the medical school in Winnipeg (University of Manitoba: Ins. Jónas Þór), and he has mainly practiced medicine in that city, and is considered one of the top surgeons in Canada. Icelanders from all over the scattered villages look to him with trust and confidence, which has proven to be good for them. Despite his extensive work as a doctor, Dr. Brandson devoted himself to various social issues. He has given strong support to the first Lutheran congregation; has been for many years one of the main pillars of the old people’s home in Gimli. He has supported the Jón Bjarnarson School in various ways and has proven to be a helpful friend to Icelandic students. The Icelandic Student Association in Winnipeg has found in him an older brother who has always been ready to contribute. Dr. Brandsson is well-versed in both English and Icelandic, and always means what he says. His calm and straight-forward demeanor is certainly a big factor in the trust that the public usually has in him.”
More about Guðbrand Jónsson:
“He was homeschooled by Reverend Friðrik Bergmann growing up, then enrolled in Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and graduated from there with a B. A. degree in 1895. Also during his summer vacations, he taught youth in his hometown and thus worked for his education. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1900. First practiced medicine in Edinburgh, N. D., then went to Europe and spent a year in post-graduate studies in Dublin, Vienna and London, and then settled back in his hometown in N. Dakota, until he moved to Winnipeg in 1905. He had an early reputation as a surgeon. Appointed a lecturer at the Manitoba Medical College in 1910, and in the years 1927-34 he was Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and President of the Faculty. Furthermore, in the years 1926-1934, he was chief physician at the Department of Surgery at the General Hospital in Winnipeg. He held various positions in Icelandic social life in Winnipeg, was very involved in the establishment of the Elderly Home in Gimli and worked diligently on the congregational affairs of the First Lutheran Church and was president of the congregation for a long time. Attended the 1930 Parliamentary Festival and was then made an honorary doctor of medicine at the University of Iceland. Grand Knight of the Order of the Falcon in 1910. He was made an honorary Doctor of Laws at the University of Manitoba in 1944.” (VÍÆ4 and AC The Icelanders of Minnesota)
English version by Thor group.