[178] Situated in section 26 in Turtle Township. [179] H. L. Skavlem in _Scandinavians in the Early Days of Rock County_, a most interesting and valuable pamphlet, though very brief. The first Norwegians to buy land on Jefferson Prairie were Ansten Nattestad and Thorstein Nilsen, the date of whose purchase is December 25th, 1839.[180] On January 25, 1840, Anders Jacobson's purchase was recorded, and further in the same year those of Erik Gudbrandson (May 16) and Kittil Newhouse (Nyhus, June 15). The first three purchases were in sections 32, 30 and 22, respectively, while those of Gudbrandson and Newhouse were in section 20, all in Clinton Township. The latter made a further purchase in 1842 in the same section, as did also Tosten Olson. Ole Nattestad's purchase was recorded on November 25, 1842, while in September of that year Ole Newhouse (Nyhus) had bought three forties in sections 15 and 22, and Christoffer Newhouse one in section 30; others were now rapidly moving in and becoming owners of their choice of land on the "Prairie." Among these were Jas. Hilbeitson, Erik Hilbeitson, Tore Helgeson, Erik Gulbeitson, Gulbrand Gulbrandson, and Ole Pederson Bogstrandeiet, all in the fall of 1842. [180] The first Norwegian land owner in the county was however Gisle Sebjörnson Halland as shown by H. L. Skavlem's researches. The date of Halland's purchase was November 29th. In this connection it may be noted that Gulleik Gravdal's purchase of land in the Town of Newark (in section 1) was recorded December 12, 1839, and he made additions to his holdings in 1842 in sections 1 and 9. Mrs. Gunnild Ödegaarden purchased land in 1839 and 1840, Lars H. Skavlem in June, 1841, and Gudbrand Olson and Mrs. Gulleik Springen in October, 1841. During September of the latter year four purchases were also recorded in Plymouth Township, namely those of Paul Halvorson Skavlem, Nils Olson Vegli (Wagley) and Gunnel Holgerson, while in May, 1840, Gulleik H. Blakestad Skavlem had become the owner of forty acres in Beloit Township.[181] [181] In December, 1842, Mrs. Gisle Halland bought forty acres in Beloit Township. Her name appears as Margarett Nutes (Margrit Knutsdatter).