Churchbridge, Saskatchewan in 1909. Photo PP
Jónas Ari Sigurðsson emigrated to America in 1887 and settled in N. Dakota. He lived in Hamilton village in the beginning but moved later to Pembina. There he contemplated the future, he had graduated from the agricultural school in Olafsdalur in Iceland, living prior to entering that school with Rev. Jón Þorláksson at Tjörn in Vatnsdalur where he may have had discussions with Rev. Jón on Theology, possibly with study in that field on his mind. Making his mind up in Pembina was easy, he joined Björn B. Jónsson and together they traveled to Chicago where both registered in Theology in a new Lutheran Seminary. Both worked hard and graduated in the spring of 1893, both ordained by Rev. Friðrik J. Bergmann at a Church Convention in Winnipeg June 25,1893. A post awaited Jónas in N. Dakota to where he immediately moved. He served congregations in Akra, Pembina, Hallson and Grafton until 1901. At that time he had problems with his personal life, fell in love with another woman, separated from Oddrún Frímannsdóttir and moved west to the Pacific Ocean around the turn of the century. Men of the cloth had a difficult time dealing with this; let us consider Rev. Friðrik J. Bergmann’s own words (English version) who wrote his friend Einar Hjörleifson Kvaran a letter, dated in Garðar July 16, 1902: “We have been terribly unlucky of late. Rev. Jónas made the most dreadful mistake as you may already have heard. The young woman he has been seeing for years moved to him in Ballard where they wanted to marry, the same day she arrived there. They asked a Gen(eral) Council priest there to marry them. But once he had learned all the details he refused. This has been unexplainable ruin he left behind, everyone now convinced he has been an utterly immoral man, losing all self-control, giving in to passion at the same time determined to divorce his wife”. In 1918 Rev. Jónas received a call from the Konkordia congregation in Þingvalla Settlement in Saskatchewan, moving that same year to Churchbridge, Saskatchewan. There he served until 1927 then moved east to Selkirk, Manitoba where he served to his death.
Community service – Writer: Rev. Jónas was a decent pen, composed poetry and wrote essays. He was interested in social work in the Icelandic community and supported it wherever he could. He was President and Vice President of the Icelandic League in North America during 1821-1933. He attended the 1930 Parliament Celebration in Iceland and delivered greetings from the Icelanders in North America. He was secretary of the Icelandic Synod from 1895-1900 and assistant secretary 1929-1933. His poetry and essays were published in newspapers and magazines in America, for example Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélagsins and Sameiningin.
North Dakota: Þórstína Þorleifsdóttir wrote in her book “Saga Íslendinga í N. Dakota” published in Winnipeg in 1926 a brief account on Rev. Jónas Ari Sigurðsson. She probably based it on Þorleifur Jóakimsson’s, her father, research and notes. He passed away before his work was completed but, as pointed out above, his daughter finished it and got it published. Let us consider what was written about the pastor (English version): “In 1893 Rev. Jónas Sigurðsson from Gröf in Víðidalur in Húnaþingi was ordained a pastor for Vídalín-,Hallson-, Pembina- and Grafton congregations. He formed a new congregation west of Hallson naming it Péturs- congregation. Rev. Jónas was devoted to his work in this region for eight years. He had a knack for convincing non-congregational individuals to join one, strengthening the influence of the church by devoting much time and effort to Sunday Schools and social activities of youth. Residents in Dakota not only discovered a powerful preacher but also the constant enthusiasm for everything strengthening religious and civil activities. Many considered him the sharpest pastor among Western-Icelanders.”