Jefferson Prairie Settlement

Ole Knutson Nattestad, the first Norwegian settler in Wisconsin, came to Clinton Township on July 1, 1838. In his native Numedal, he had been a farmer, peddler, and blacksmith. In 1836 he and his brother Ansten visited Stavanger and heard for the first time about America. Early the next year they secured passage to Massachusetts, and a few months later worked their way to Chicago. In the spring of 1838 Ansten returned to Norway while Ole explored northward and eventually reached Clinton Township. The following year Ansten organized more than a hundred emigrants and led them to Wisconsin. Some joined Ole Nattestad on Jefferson Prairie, while others went west to Rock Prairie, also known as Luther Valley. Although the groups organized different church congregations and were separated by settlers of different nationality, they are usually regarded jointly as the first Norwegian settlement in Wisconsin and the fourth in America.

Clinton, Wisconsin · United States