Gudny Erasmusdottir Haflidasson

Gudny Erasmusdottir Haflidasson, daughter of Erasmus Eyjolfsson, was born October 10, 1794, in Iceland. She was a widow, when she left for America, having been married to Arni Haflidasson of Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, and was the mother of two daughters, Helga and Gudny, both of whom came to America. After her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 1855, she decided to accompany a small Icelandic group bound for Utah, the gathering place for members of the new-found church. She was a religious woman and was promised by the elders that the majority of her family would follow. According to a letter written by her grandson, Jon Thordarsson, who knew her and listened to her story, "She, Gudny, left Iceland early in 1857 and landed in Spanish Fork, Utah, late in September. The group was delayed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, waiting for the handcarts to be finished. Magnus Bjarnason pulled the cart for one thousand miles and his first wife and Grandma Gudny pushed." (Letter on file in Daughters of Utah Pioneer Library.)

Gudny's descendants tell us she married Magnus Bjarnason as his second wife and lived at his home during her years in Utah. Her grandson remembers the family called Magnus, "Grandma's husband." She became interested in genealogy and gathered from her native land a record of her family. She and Vigdis Holt were responsible for temple ordinances being performed for many of their kinsmen. Gudny died June 14, 1888, and is buried in the Spanish Fork Cemetery. Thus ended the life of this woman whose name appears in the list of eighteen Icelandic pioneers who made their way to Utah before the railroad in 1869.

Gudny Arnadottir

Gudny Arnadottir was born December 26, 1834, in Iceland, the daughter of Gudny and Arni Haflidasson. Her mother was a Utah Pioneer of 1857. Gudny was a widow and, like others of her family, had become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She came to Utah in 1882 bringing with her a six year old daughter, Caroline. Gudny was the mother of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Two daughters, Margret and Jorunn, remained in Iceland. Thus during the years four of her lovely daughters came to Utah, namely, Caroline, Johanna, Jonina and Christine. Gudny was a modest and humble woman and the first years of her life in Utah were spent helping in the homes of her Icelandic friends. When Petur Valgardsson was called on his mission to Iceland, Gudny became the companion of Mrs. Valgardsson. Her last twenty-two years were spent at the home of her daughter, Hannah Johnson, where she was lovingly cared for until her death December 7, 1916.