Looking for GUDMUNDSSON / GOODMAN from Iceland
kdschlehr
I am looking for information on Helgi GUDMUNDSSON and family. They immigrated from Iceland in 1881. Helgi with his wife Helga EYVINSDOTTIR, dau. Ingeborg (from a prior marriage to Solveig Jonsdottir), step-son Jon JONSSON, and sons George, Gudbjorg, Jonas, and Ernest. I am interested to know on what ships they travelled on and the port they departed from in Iceland. I do know that the first ship leaked so badly that upon landing in Liverpool England the captain was imprisoned due to gross negligence. The family gained passage on another ship that took them to Montreal.
I have an article written by Helgi and another by Jon in which Jon states that the family moved to Elk Rapids, Michigan, lived there for 2 years, then in 1884 moved to Akra, North Dakota. They became naturalized and changed their surname to GOODMAN. In 1886 Helgi, Jon and 4 others set out of foot to look over the Mouse River Valley near Upham North Dakota. Helgi found employment and the others returned to their families nearly persihing in a blizzard enroute. The following spring of 1887 Jon went back to the Mouse River valley and assisted Helgi in building a log house. Once the home was ready Helgi moved his wife and children to the area and they became the first permanent Icelandic settlers in the area.
Also, concerning the dau. Ingeborg-- I have information on a daughter born in 1863, her name is Emma and she married Hugh ABERCROMBIE. It may/may not be that Ingeborg and Emma are the same daughter, as she could easily have changed her given name. Helgi's first wife, Solveig, died in 1861(before Emma's birth) and he did not marry Helga until 1869. Although, it seems to have been fairly common for unmarried women become pregnant in order to give a man a child... whether or not they were joined in marriage.
by kdschlehr
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Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2010-07-23 16:20:24
kdschlehr has been a Family Tree Circles member since Jul 2010. is researching the following names: GOODMAN, BURTON, ABERCROMBIE and 6 other(s).
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Raniknits on 2010-08-26 20:17:59Did you get my last response? I can't seem to find a record of whether or not I sent it. I had some information about Helga.
Randi Arnar
Raniknits on 2010-08-26 20:32:52Darn it. I had written a long message to you, but it's not posted. I'll start over.
Helgi was married to my great great grandmother's sister Helga - my great great grandmother being Sigridur Eyvidsdottir.
Sigridur had five children with Jon Jonsson but I believe only two survived - Jon and Gudmundur (Gudmundur later became George Freeman*) both came to American and settled in North Dakota.
Strangely enough, Jon Jonsson and Helga Eyvindsdottir also had a child together in Iceland. There seems to have been no family strife over the matter... The two sisters remained close to the end. Both emmigrating to North Dakota. It gets even more strange. George Freeman then married one of Helgi and Helga's daughters Gudbjorg Helgasdottir Goodman.
I have quite a long memorial written about Helga by her sister Sigridur on the occaision of her death. If you do not have a copy, I can scan this for you. Most of what I have was collected by George Freeman of North Dakota who is very active and really, a rockstar when it comes to documenting the Icelandic immigrants of North Dakota and elsewhere. He would be a great contact for you if you haven't already spoken with him.
If you would like me to send you the memorial, let me know. Or anything else you'd like to know. Likewise, I am collecting stories, photos of the Icelandic settlement of the Mouse River near Upham and would appreciate anything you would share! There were about 30 families, I believe.
Hope this was helpful.
You can reach me directly at r_arnar at yahoo dot com
Thanks!
Randi Arnar
rtroedsson on 2010-12-27 12:56:02All very interesting! I have early memories of my great grandmother talking about her family living on the Mouse River. My great grandmother is the daughter of Emma Goodman and Hugh Abercrombie.
I have sent you an email in regards to additional information of this family member. I am so excited to see that someone else is posting as we have so little info on Emma. Also interested in the info on the Icelandic settlement of the Mouse River.
Thank you for your research,
Rebecca Troedsson
kdschlehr on 2011-03-06 21:11:22How very interesting my Great Grandmother is also the daughter of Emma Goodman and Hugh Abercrombie, which leads me to ask, what was your great Grandmothers name? Mine was Margaret Irene Abercrombie.
I'm not sure what happened but I did not receive your email, could you please resend I am very interested.
Hugh and Emma are buried in the Musselshell cemetary, Musselshell MT.
helgar on 2011-05-18 14:32:01Hi all, I live in Iceland and are related to Helga Eyvindsdottir. My g-g-grandfather was her brother Jonas who emigrated to Canada and died there. Helga and her family with her brother Gisli and his family emigrated on the same ship as my 3 relatives, children of Jonas Eyvindsson. The ship's name was "Camoens" and they left Iceland on Aug 6, 1881 from the small town of Bor?eyri and sailed from there to Akureyri, Husavik and Berufj?r?ur heading to Granton in Scotland. It is interesting to hear about that they changed to another ship in Scotland.
rtroedsson on 2012-04-02 16:20:54My Great=Grandmother's name is Sylvia Pearl Marie Abercrombie Howey. There is debate over the "Sylvia" and some think she took on "Marie" when she joined the Catholic church. I know that most of the records I have list her as Pearl Marie, as well as her headstone in the Musselshell cemetery in Musselshell, MT.
Thank you for all the additional info regarding Emma/Ingibjorg.
stewgoodman on 2016-05-08 09:25:05I would be interested to hear about his brother George which would be my Great, Great Grandfather. If anyone has any information I would love to hear it. My name is Stewart, I am the oldest of 3 son's from Gene Goodman, who's father was Marvin Goodman. I grew up in the Bantry / Upham area and left for the US Army. I retired in West Kentucky but I do get back to North Dakota about once a year. Would also like to hear about any relatives that might be still living in Iceland? I am hoping to take my family there next summer. Thank you in advance for any help.
MLGR on 2017-03-10 21:01:41Hi, I am very interested in any information or stories of the Helgi Goodman family. I am the Great Granddaughter of Jon Jonsson Goodman, Jon's son Svein is my Grandfather.