Jóhann Júlíus and Helga Photo: Gimli Saga
Jóhann Júlíus Sólmundarson was born in Reykjavík on July 31, 1883. He died in Gimli on January 19, 1940.
Spouse: May 26, 1904 Helga Jónatansdóttir b. July 1, 1876 in Skagafjarðarsýsla, d. January 5, 1940 in Gimli.
Children: 1. Lára Helga b. January 16, 1905 2. Franz Júlíus b. July 20, 1907 3. Guðný Guðrún b. October 30, 1908 4. Bára Isabelle b. October 5, 1910 5. Oscar George b. December 3, 1912.
Jóhann came west in 1888 with his parents, Sólmundur Símonarson and Guðrún Aradóttir. He lived with them in Mikley and later on their land near Gimli. He moved to the village at a young age, which grew rapidly when a railway was laid there. He worked as a fish transporter for a while, but finally settled in Gimli and acquired the Gimli Hotel around 1910. Then he also ran a butcher’s shop there. Constantly alert to the needs of the residents, he sold ice and wood, and for a while ran a cottage rental. Helga was very involved in the social affairs of her countrymen, but devoted herself to her growing family when the children were born.