Antoníus Eiríksson

Vesturfarar

In his book Frá Austri til Vesturs (From East to West), which is a continuation of the settlement history of New Iceland and was published in Winnipeg in 1921, the author Þorleifur Jóakimsson (Thorleif Jackson) says this about Antoníus, pages 145-146:

“Antoníus Eiríksson lived in Steinaborg on Berufjarðarströnd, moved from there west across the ocean to New Iceland in 1879, took up land in the eastern part of Fljótsbygð and named it Þykkvabær. He was well-to-do when he came west, so he was able to buy more property than it was common for settlers to do in those days. In addition, he was helpful and also appreciated what was done for him. He is mentioned in Framfari, 2 Aug. 1879, issue 32, and the article about him is printed here”:

Needed man in the village. Antoníus Eiríksson from Steinaborg by Berufjörður in East Iceland, who came from home this summer, has bought 8 cows from various people in this village for 26-33 dollars, and some of them have been loaned back to poor people. This has especially come in handy for those who sold in the money crunch that is here. In addition, the same man has loaned various villagers about 350 dollars, so the contrubution from him in this village is just under 600 dollars. – At a congregational meeting here in Lundi (in Riverton: insert JÞ) 21. th.m. (this month) he gave several bushels of lime to the congregation’s house of worship.”

“In the same issue as this article, Antoníus expresses his gratitude to the man who welcomed him when he came from home and gave him shelter for a while”:

Thank you note – I would like to publicly mention that when I came from home in Iceland this summer with my people, a total of 6 people, it was the best possible welcome, when we came to Þorstein Antoníusson at Ás in this village. In addition to the fact that he welcomed me and mine with the greatest care, who were so needy and tired from the journey, he has since given us the best treatment and hospitality in all respects, as it can be seen from the fact that none of my people have been sick, unlike so many others who came from home this summer, more or less infected. For this I express my deepest gratitude to him and wish him all the blessings and charms.”

 

English version by Thor Group.