Of the events leading up to this, _Billed-Magazin_ for 1870 gives a circumstantial account, pages 58-60, 66-67, and 75-76. Reierson's book seems to have been a leading factor in promoting emigration from Valders. Among the earliest to leave this region were Nils Hanson Fjeld and family of South Aurdal, Valders, who emigrated in 1847. He says, page 236 of _Billed-Magazin_ for 1870, that before him only two or three single men had gone to America from that region. The "America-fever" had not yet taken hold of the people, "many would not give credence to mere hearsay, but after a while a couple copies of Reierson's book about Texas came to the district. 'Now we have the printed word to go by,' it was said, and many of the doubters soon were converted to the orthodox faith in the land of promise beyond the great ocean." And as a result, many began to emigrate. As early as 1848, emigration from Valders on a considerable scale was already in progress. I shall here also mention Ansten Nattestad, who wrote a similar book, which he took with him on his return to Norway in 1838, and had printed there; this became a factor operating toward emigration, especially in Numedal. Reverend J. W. C. Dietrichson's _Reise blandt de norske Emigranter i de forenede nordamerikanske Fristater_, Stavanger, 1846 (124 pages), gave much valuable information about the settlements, but was not calculated to exert much influence toward emigration. The first three that I have mentioned, however, had an influence which we today can hardly fully appreciate. Finally, curiosity and the spirit of adventure have doubtless prompted some to cross the ocean. To sum up, the chief influences that have promoted Scandinavian emigration to the United States in the nineteenth century have been in the order of their importance: first, the prospect of material betterment and the love of a freer and more independent life; second, letters of relatives and friends who had emigrated to the United States and visits of these again to their native country; third, the advertising of agents of emigration; fourth, religious persecution at home; fifth, church proselytism; sixth, political oppression; seventh, military service; and eighth, the desire for adventure. Fugitives from justice have been few, and paupers and criminals in the Scandinavian countries are not sent out of the country; they are taken care of by the government. CHAPTER IX _Growth of the Fox River Settlement. The Immigration of 1836. Further Personal Sketches._