Courthouse in Cavalier Photo: CA
Magnús Brynjólfsson received good preparation for life in his parents’ house because he always enjoyed teaching at home and in country schools during his early settlement years in Markland, Nova Scotia and in Mountain, N. Dakota. In 1887, it was noticed in the Icelandic settlement in N. Dakota that he had a good command of the English language. This led to his employment in the law office of G. H. Megquier in the village of Pembina where there was an opportunity to read law. In 1888 he was appointed assistant clerk at the district court and was there for two years. He continued to read law and was licensed as a lawyer on September 9, 1889. In the fall of 1890, he opened a law firm in company with his countryman, Daníel Jakob Laxdal in Cavalier. Daniel moved away from there, but Magnús continued to work there and made a very good living. He considered every problem uniquely and resolved most of them successfully. In her book “Saga Íslendinga í N. Dakota” Þórstína Þorleifsdóttir says about Magnús: “This is what I write about, in childhood I remember his behavior at public gatherings, how much of a man of elegance he was and how eloquent and vocal he was.” It was especially good for the poor countrymen to turn to him when they were in need, and Reverend Friðrik Bergmann said that the late Magnús: “One of the most beloved and friendly people from the group of Western Icelanders has passed away.”
English version by Thor group.