ole knudsen nattestad and ansten nattestad, two brothers from the valley of numedal in southeastern norway, emigrated in 1837. numedal is a traditional district located in the county of buskerud, norway. together the nattestad brothers played a key role in promoting immigration from norway and for directing immigrants to southern wisconsin and northern illinois. ole knutson nattestad first came to the town of clinton in 1838. ansten nattestad returned to norway to have the letters of ole rynning published. ole rynning (1809-1838) had been an early immigrant living in beaver creek, iroquois county, illinois. rynning's work was published as "true account of america" (norwegian: "sandfærdig beretning om amerika").