the return trip of ansten nattestad to norway was instrumental in promoting interest in america. ansten nattestad organized more than a hundred emigrants and led them to wisconsin, arriving in september, 1839. some joined ole nattestad at jefferson prairie; others settled in nearby rock prairie. the jefferson prairie lutheran church was organized in 1844. pioneer lutheran minister, claus lauritz clausen, accepted a call during 1846 from norwegian-settlers at jefferson prairie. he relocated from the muskego settlement and made rock county the center for his activities among the settlements in southern wisconsin and northern illinois, remaining until 1853. clausen based part of his efforts from rock prairie, which he rechristened luther valley.