Manitoba Historical Society |
|
Memorable Manitobans: Gísli Ólafsson [Olafson] (1855-1909)
 |
Gísli Ólafsson
|
Produce merchant.
Born at Thingeyjarsysla, Iceland on 1 June 1855, son of Ólafur Ólafsson and Rannveig Sveinbjarnardóttir, he attended the Modruvellir School in northern Iceland and studied agricultural techniques in Scotland, acting as an advisor to Icelandic farmers prior to his emigration to Canada in 1886. After working on farms in Manitoba and Dakota Territory for three years, he moved to Winnipeg in September 1889 and started a flour, feed, grain, and produce business, eventually employing 18 people and occupying the three-storey Olafson Building at the corner of King and James streets. In 1890, he married Elín Sigrídur Jonsdottir (1857-1934) of Iceland and they had a daughter, Alpha Ólafsson (1895-1970, wife of Dr. Herbert John Scott). He was a member of the Winnipeg Board of Trade, Winnipeg Grain and Produce Exchange, and Independent Order of Foresters. He died at Winnipeg on 8 August 1909 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Olafsson House (539 William Avenue, Winnipeg)
Sources:
A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.
Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Found dead in his room,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 August 1909, page 4.
Obituary, Winnipeg Tribune, 11 August 1909, page 5.
Obituary [Elin J. Olafson], Winnipeg Tribune, 1 March 1934, page 8.
Obituary [Alpha Scott], Winnipeg Free Press, 8 December 1970, page 34.
We thank Nelson Gerrard for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 February 2020
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
|
For queries on the above page, please contact the MHS Webmaster. Home | Terms & Conditions | FAQ | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Donations © 1998-2023 Manitoba Historical Society. All rights reserved. |