Some of the below was digested from Golden Jubilee, 1905 - 1955, Upham, North Dakota and McHenry County: Its History and Its People, 1885-1985 and also further researched by Mike Peterson.
 Stefan was born in Iceland on 21 June 1870 to Stefan Einarson and Margret Jonsdottir, farmers. Stefan lived at home until the age of six years when he went to live with an uncle, Josef Einarson, where he grew to manhood. He had two brothers, Einar and Jon, a sister, Ingibjorg, and a foster sister.
At 18 years of age he joined a group of emigrants bound for America. The first destination was Winnipeg, Manitoba. From there he went to Mountain in Pembina County where he worked for area farmers.
In Mountain he met and married Elizabeth Kristjanson daughter of Gudfinna and Geirhjorter Kristjanson on 8 November 1894. She was born 10 July 1874 in Iceland. They married at Gardar, Pembina County where they lived for two years and where their oldest child, Gunnar Johann, was born.
In 1896 they moved, along with other families, to the Mouse River area and homesteaded on land about four miles northeast of Upham, land which is now included in the Salyer Refuge. From there they moved to a farm four miles north of Bantry near the Sand Hills which is in Elm Grove District.
Stefan was self-educated. He was fluent in the Icelandic language, gifted as an extemporaneous speaker and very popular as master of ceremonies at church and social gatherings. It was not unusual for him to be called on to take the place of a minister. He was especially fond of old Sagas, folk lore, history, and the Bible. Stefan gave freely of his time and energy in helping others. His home was always open to one and all at any time.
He revived the Temperance Union and was its leader working hard for a good cause and many were his followers. Later, Temperance Union presented him with a gold watch with an inscription of thanks to him for his work. At present (1985) this watch is owned by Einar Einarson, Jr.
Stefan was foremost in helping establish and maintain a public library. He served on the school board for many years in Elm Grove township and a few years in Meadow after moving to Upham. He urged young people to go to institutions of higher learning and displayed an active interest in their future.
Stefan was a member of the church council for many years; instrumental in starting a Sunday School and was one of its first teachers. He was a leader and teacher in family and community Bible study and in Sunday School. No church or Luther League Convention was complete without a speech by Stefan Einarson. Stefan was a proud man when he was twice successful in bringing the Icelandic Church Convention to Upham. He was one of the founders of the first church established in 1897, the Upham Melankton Church, west of the Freeman Bridge and later in Upham.
Elizabeth passed away from acute leukemia at the farm home in December, 1922. Ten children were born to them, two of whom are still living (1985): 1] Gunnar Johann 1895-1919, died in France during World War I;
2] Einar (1897);
3] Magnus (1898);
4] Gudrun (1900) died in infancy;
5] Oddur (1901);
6] Joseph (1903);
7] Hoskuldur "Husky" (1906);
8] Margaret (1907);
9] Hilda (1909); and
10] Gudfinna (1913).
In 1924 Stefan was married to Thorunn Johnson (1880-1961), who for many years had taught school in the eastern part of the state in Upham. They continued farming until they moved to Upham. He passed away at this home in Upham in January, 1952. Thorunn continued living in Upham until she moved to the rest home at Mountain where she passed away in 1961,
1] Gunnar. Born 22 July 1895 in Garder, Pembina County, he was baptised at the Icelandic Evangelical Church, Pembina, on 20 May 1896. While working at John Swanson's Bantry Automobile Garage he enlisted on 2 March 1918 as a Private serving in World War I, in Machine Gun Company B, 59th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On 6 March 1919 he died of Broncho Pneumonia and Endocarditis. He was buried in Mayen, Germany. In September 1920 his father had him reinterred at Melankton Cemetery in Upham.
2] Einar. Einar was born on 25 February 1897 at Eli [unknown], North Dakota. He attended school in Eim Grove District and at Fargo Agricultural
College. He worked on road construction for many years. Einar's home was located in Deep River Township, about 9 miles northwest of Upham, where he engaged in farming for his entire life. On 21 June 1931 he married Olive Hillman. She was born on 13 April 1900 at Eli [unknown], North Dakota. Olive attended grade school at Elm Grove School District and Minot State College. She taught school for several years at Elm Grove, Berwick Public School and at Roosevelt School in Minot. Einar served as a director of the Upham Elevator Board and was also active in church affairs. They had five children: 1] Shirley Mae (Mrs. George Darrel Hofmann), Denbigh (1985) - they also have five children, Laurel Elaine, Bradley Carter, Jodell Eileen, Jacqueline Arlene, and Rebecca Sue; 2] Faye Marlene (Mrs. Donald Earl Lewis Aipoalani), West Covina, California (1985) - they have three children, Dundy Lane, Dori Lonn, and Derrick Lewis; 3] Stephan Rognvaldur (married Judith Stock) and they live at Upham (1985) - they have two children, Corey Lynn and Gail Marjean; 4] Olive Yvonne (Mrs. Bruce Baker) Kent, Washington (1985) - they have three children, Jeffrey Bruce, Karen Yvonne, and James Forrest; 5] Einar Einarson, Jr., who married Elaine Lunde and lives in Grand Forks (1985) with three children - Michael Todd, Mark Allan, and Kristin Dawn. Einar passed away in 1974 and Olive passed away in 1982.
6] Joseph. Joseph L. was born on 4 September 1903. He lived with his parents and farmed for his father until 10 June 1937 when he married Sophie Arnason. Sophie was born 27 December 1910 to Sigurberg and Greemur Arnason, farmers east of Upham. She attended the Upham School through high school. She attended Minot State College and taught for a number of years in country schools. After their marriage, Joe and Sophie moved to a farm south of Kramer, Bottineau County and later moved to a farm east of Bantry where they raised cattle and did a little farming. Sophie's parents lived with them for many years. Sophie was very active in church, school and community affairs. They moved to Upham about 1967 until, due to illness, they moved to Mohall, Renville County to live with their daughter, Marilyn. They had two children, 1] Lowell [see below], who died in Vietnam in 1966 and 2] Marilyn, (Mrs. Stanley Witteman), of Mohall (1985). Sophie died 6 January 1974 in Minot and Joe died in Mohall on 18 December 1974.
Lowell was born on 18 May 1938 Rugby, Pierce County.
Lowell died in Vietnam on 1 September 1966. He was a Metal Shipfitter 2nd Class Petty Officer and had served 10 years in the U. S. Navy.
Burial, Photos.
Lowell's profile from the Virtual Wall.
Virtual Wall.
9] Hilda. John 0. Almquist was born on the McHenry family farm on 25 June 1904, and lived there all his life. His elementary education was gained in a rural school west of the farm and high school in Upham, graduating in 1925. He taught a short time in a rural school but preferred farming to teaching so he joined his dad in his farming operation. They ran a diversified operation in that they had wheat, farming, feed and hay crops, cattle, sheep, hogs and chickens. In 1936 he married Hilda Einarson of Bantry. They had four children (1985): 1] Gordon, Hawley, Pa., 2] Ronald, of Minot, 3] Karen (Mrs. Hjalmen Carlson, Jr.) of Minot, and 4] Mary (Mrs. Charles Gossett) of Manistee, Michigan. John farmed with his father for many years, later taking over the farming on his own. He served on both the school and township boards in Deep River Township and was a member of the ASC Committee for many years. John passed away in 1976.
Elizabeth's Burial, Tombstone Photos Gunnar's Burial, Tombstone Photos Einar's Burial, Tombstone Photo Magnus' Burial, Tombstone Photos Gudrun's Burial, Tombstone Photos Oddur's Burial, Tombstone Photos Joseph/Sophie's Burial, Tombstone Photo Husky's Burial, Tombstone Photo Margaret's Burial, Tombstone Photo Hilda's Burial Gudfinna's Burial
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