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