Biography of Jóhann Hannibal Schaldemose
Early Life in Denmark
Jóhann Hannibal Schaldemose was born on 28 April 1814 in Vor Frelsers Kirke Sogn (Our Saviour’s Church Parish) in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of Hannibal Bendix Schaldemose, a grocer in the city, and Olea (or Olie) Funch. His parents were married 27 May 1812 in Homens Sogn (Homan’s Parish), Copenhagen. Jóhann was baptized on 29 May 1814, at his parish church. (1)

Tragically, Jóhann lost his mother, Olea, at a young age; she passed away on 15 March 1817 and was buried at Helligånd Sogn (Holy Spirit Church), Copenhagen. (2) Eleven years later, on 12 December 1828, his father, Hannibal, married Sophie/Sofie Magdalene Bohn in Vor Frue Sogn (Our Lady Parish), Copenhagen. (3)
Jóhann had eight siblings — two from his father’s first marriage and six from his second marriage. They were Sophie Marie Christine, (4) Henrik Josva, (1) Emilie Marie, (1) Cathrine Elisabeth, (5) Vilhelm Herman, (1) Frederikke Juliane Bendix, (4) Hannibal Jørgen, (1) and August Magdalene. (1) His father, Hannibal, died on 17 April 1866 in Helligånd Sogn, (2) while his stepmother, Sofie,passed away on 10 January 1886 in Tikøb Sogn, Frederiksborg. (2)
On 13 April 1828, Jóhann was confirmed at Trinitatis Sogn (Trinity Parish) in Copenhagen. He was residing in that parish at the time. (4)

Migration to Iceland
Jóhann immigrated to Iceland before 1840. He appeared in the 1840 Iceland census, as a höndlunarfactor (merchant responsible for managing import/export, etc.) at a trading post in Grafarðsi, Hofssókn, Skagafjarðarsýsla. (6) At the age of 26, he was living with an assistant, Guðmundur Stephensen (54); a worker, Guðmundur Jónsson (20); and two waitresses: Setselía Sæmundsdóttir (23) and Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir (20).
Jóhann began relationships with both waitresses. Guðrún gave birth to his son, Jóhann Hannibal Schaldemose, Jr., on 18 July 1841 at Grafarós. (7) The next day, Setselía gave birth to his daughter, Jóhanna Marín Schaldemose, on 19 July 1841 at Hofssókn, Höfðaströnd. (17) Both children were baptized on the same day, 16 August 1841, at Hofssókn. (7) (17)
Setselía Sæmundsdóttir, who was born on 18 October 1816, in Minna-Holt, Fljólt, Holtshreppur, Skagafjarðarsýsla, (18) married Jón Pétursson on 17 October 1844. (19) She passed away on 01 January 1899. (18) Jóhanna Marín appears in the 1850 census, but is absent from the 1855 census, suggesting she died between those years, although no record has been found.
Life and Relationships in Iceland
On 05 November 1844 in Féll, Skagafjördur, Jóhann married Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, who was born on 10 May 1821 in Svalbarði, Eyjafirdi, Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla. (11) They had four children: Jóhann Hannibal, Jr., (7) Regína Vilhelmína, (7) Ólína, (7) and Karl Hermann. (7)
By 1845, Jóhann was working as an assistant to C.C. Graa Örum, the factor at Grafarós. The household included Mr. Örum’s daughter, Wilhelmína Kristína (27), and three workers: Anna Margrét Steffánsdóttir (21), Hólmfriður Halldsdóttir (20), and Sigurður Björnsson (19). Jóhann‘s wife, Guðrún, and their children, Jóhann Hannibal (5) and Regína Vilhelmína (2) were not living with him, but residing at Vatn, Höfðasókn. (6)
By 1850, Jóhann had left mercantile work to become a farmer at the Þorgeirsbrekka farm in Hofssókn. The household included his wife, Guðrún (29) and their children Jóhann, Jr. (9), and Regína (6); as well as, a servant, Hólmfríður Þorleifsdóttir (19). (6)
In the 1860 census, Jóhann can be found farming at the Nýlendi farm in Grafarðsi. He lived with his wife, Guðrún (39), and children; Jóhann Hannibal, Jr. (20), and Regína (17); along with several farmworkers, Guðrún Helgadóttir (42), Jón Haldórsson (56) and María Sigurðardóttir (76). (6)
On 13 May 1864, Jóhann, Jr. married Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir (12) who was born 28 December 1834 in Viðvíkursókn, Skagafjarðarsýsla. (11) They had ten children, including Guðrún, (11) Sigurbjörg Ólína, (11) Kristjana Guðrún, (11) Kristjana Guðrún, (11) Ingimar Gunnlaugur, (11) Gunnlaugur Hannibal, (11) Jónas Ingimar, (11) Konráð Jón, (11) Jóhann Valmundur, (11) and Geirlaug Una. (11)
By 1870, Jóhann, Sr., aged 56, had passed the farm to his son. He and his wife, Guðrún (49), along with her mother, Sesselja Mattíasdóttir (79), lived there with his son and his family. Jóhann, Jr. worked the land and resided with his wife, Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir (36), and their children: Ólína Regína (4) and Guðrún (1). Also, living there are three farm workers: Björn Jónsson (21), Jón Steingrímsson (17), and Solveig Sigurðardóttir (33) and an orphaned child, Hallgrímur Ólafsson (7). (6)
In 1880, Jóhann was 66 and widowed; Guðrún had died on 21 May 1879 at Nýlendi. Jóhann was still living on the farm of his son and his family — Jóhann, Jr. (39 and the master of the farm); Kristín (45), their children: Sigurbjörg Ólína (14), Guðrún Kristjána (11), Gunnlaugur Hannibal (8), Jónas Ingimar (8), and Jóhann Valmunder (2); along with their maid, Bergljót Jóhannsdóttir (27); a farm worker, Ólafur Stefánsson (28), and Ólafur‘s child, Ingibjörg Stefanía Ólafsdóttir (2). (6)
Migration to Canada
In 1883, Jóhann emigrated to Canada with Jóhann Jr, Kristín, and four of his grandchildren: Sigurbjörg Ólína, Gunnlaugur (Lui) Hannibal, Jónas (Joe) Ingimar, and Geirlaug Una. The family might have travelled on the same voyage as Jóhann‘s daughter, Regína, and her family who arrived in Canada in 1883, as well. Regína had married Sigfús Skúlason on 18 October 1865 in Flugumýri (13)and immigrated with three of her children: Guðrún (Runa) Ingibjörg, (7) Skuli, (7) and Jóhanna María. (7) They arrived on the SS Phoenician in Quebec City on 22 August 1883, (14) eventually settling in the Riverton area of Manitoba. Regina passed away on 23 March 1942 in the RM of Bifrost and is buried in the Riverton Cemetery. (15)
After arriving in Manitoba, Jóhann, Jr. first settled in Selkirk where his wife, Kristín, died 29 February 1904. (15) Kristín is buried in the Mapleton Anglican Cemetery in Selkirk. Jóhann, Jr., then, followed his two sons, Lui and Joe, to Winnipegosis where he died 19 April 1914 and is buried in the Winnipegosis Cemetery. (15)
Death
Jóhann passed away on 4 May 1887 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (15) He was buried the next day in the Brookside Cemetery, in plot 329 of section O. (16) His death was registered by his grandson-in-law, Bjarni Pálsson, the husband of Ólína. (15) Ólína was living in Winnipeg since her arrival in 1883 and Jóhann may have been living with her during this time.
Family Tree
Below is a genealogical chart showing the family of Jóhann Hannibal Schaldemose:
Historical Context
Born in 1814, Jóhann, lived through an era of great change in Europe. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) had just ended, leading to the Congress of Vienna (1815), which reshaped European borders and nationalist movements across Europe, including Denmark. (17) Denmark had recently lost Norway to Sweden (Treaty of Kiel, 1814), a major blow that fostered national introspection and a cultural revival.
When Jóhann settled in Iceland around 1840, the island was experiencing early stirrings of nationalism. The re-establishment of the Alþing (parliament) in 1845 symbolized Iceland’s cultural awakening, echoing European trends of self-determination. (18) The Romantic movement, which emphasized folklore and national identity, also influenced Icelandic literature and culture.
Jóhann’s marriage to Guðrún, in 1844, came amid shifting family structures and economic migration. Rural Iceland faced harsh living conditions and limited opportunities, prompting many to emigrate by the late 19th century. (19) Jóhann‘s eventual move to Canada, in 1883, aligned with this broader Icelandic diaspora, which saw thousands settle in Manitoba due to promises of land and stability. (20)
In rural Iceland, farming was the backbone of society, but harsh weather and limited resources made life difficult. While some adopted modern techniques, many — including families like Jóhann‘s — relied on tradional methods. (21)
Surname Origins
The surname Schaldemose was of Danish origin. It was a toponymic — derived from geographical features. It likely refers to marshy or bog-like areas, combining “schade“ (a type of wetland) and “mose“ (marsh or moor). This suggests the family‘s name originated from regions characterized by such landscapes in Denmark. (22)
The first use of the surname can be traced back to 1730 when a family was living in a home called ‘Skallemosehus‘. It was a tenant house under the Søndergårde farm which was part of the Erholm estate, which again was part of the Wedellsbog estate of Rørup, Fyn, Denmark. Skallemosehus was located by a cross road southeast of the farm Kelshøj. (23)
This is where the name Schaldemose originates as it was a custom to name the owner of the house ‘The Schaldemose Man‘. The original family was Niels Mogensen and Maren Sørensdatter and their chidren were known by their given name, followed by Skallemosehus (i.e. Anna, Skallemosehus). The descripton soon became Schaldemose and the name survived generations, as a surname, and several residents gave their children it as a middle name.
References
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- City of Winnipeg. Jóhann Hannibal SCHALDEMOSE. Brookside Cemetery. [Online] May 05, 1887. [Cited: December 02, 2024.] Section O, Grave #329.
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- Dansk Navneleksikon. Dansk Historisk Fællesråd, 2001.
- Larsen, Karl Schaldemose. Familien Schaldemose. 1967.
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