during 1846, the eielsen synod, a norwegian lutheran church body, was founded at jefferson prairie by a group led by elling eielsen. in 1853, the norwegian evangelical lutheran church in america (the "norwegian synod") was organized at luther valley. the organizing meeting of the augustana synod was held at jefferson prairie in june 1860. today a historic marker near wisconsin highway 140, four miles south of clinton, marks the former location of the jefferson prairie settlement and highlights the role of the nattestads in its development.