Benedikt “Ben” KRISTJÁNSSON (1872-1961)
Benekikt was born at Vopnarfirði, Norður-Múlasýsla, Iceland on 20 November 1872. He was the son of Kristján Kristjánsson (1841-?) and Guðrún Benediktsdóttir (1840-1934). His father died off the coast of Iceland while fishing at sea. Ben was educated in Iceland and came to Canada in 1893 with his mother and brother on the SS Lake Huron and they settled at Arnes for 13 years.
On 15 September 1901 in Arnes, he married Rögnvaldína “Ena” Olof Elinborg Sigriður Rögnvaldsdóttir (1883-1961) and they had twelve children: Olafur (1901-1901), Kristjan (1903-1986), Olof Augusta (1905-1980), Thorvaldur “Walter” (1907-1965), Gudrun “Runa” (1909-1986), Thorarin “Toti” (1911-1993), Haraldur “Harry” (1913-1972), Victor Johann (1915-1984), Thorgerdur “Gertie” (1916-1986, wife of Thorarinn Adalsteinn Brown), Bjorn “Barney” (1919-1971), Matthias “Matt” (1920-1982), and Arni (1922-2000).
Farmer, Fisherman, Pioneer
Ben spent his life farming and fishing in different areas of Manitoba. In 1906, he moved to the Narrows. About 1908, the search for more land had Ben, along with his brother and a friend walk along the western shores of Lake Manitoba until they came to a point where no one had settled. This seemed like a good place to settle, there was a lot of land and it was along the lake; it came to be known as Asham Point. In 1930, the search of land for his sons had them moving again and they moved to Red Deer Point. Due to ill health Ben and his wife moved to Winnipegosis in 1945.
He was a member of the Lutheran church.
Ben died in Winnipegosis on 22 November 1961 and was buried in the Winnipegosis Municipal Cemetery.
Sources:
- Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
- Iceland, Select Baptisms, 1730-1905,
- Family Trees,
- Obituary, The Dauphin Herald & Press, Dauphin, Manitoba, 29 November 1961, page 8.
- Winnipegosis History Book Committee (1990). Reflections From Little Muddy Water.
- Eddystone and District Historical Society (1983). Patience, Price and Progress. Friesen Printers, Altona, Manitoba.
- Grave Marker [Rogvaldina Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225349474.
- Grave Marker [Kristjan Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225239249.
- Grave Marker [Walter Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225524544.
- Obituary [Gudrun (Runa) Kristjanson], The Dauphin Herald, Dauphin, MB, 03 June 1986, page E7.
- Grave Marker [Thorarin Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225524807.
- Grave Marker [Harry Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225524670.
- Grave Marker [Victor Johann Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225525414.
- Grave Marker [Thorgerdur Brown] Find a Grave, Memorial #225218538.
- Grave Marker [Bjorn Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225524057.
- Obituary [Matthias Kristjanson], Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1982, page 32.
- Grave Marker [Arni Kristjanson] Find a Grave, Memorial #225525340.
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