Nearly 200 years after the first group of Norwegian immigrants sailed to American shores, a 1.5 ton piece of rock has made the same journey in honor of a pioneer couple who settled in Napa.

The monumental effort is the work of Keith Wheeler, 67, whose interest in genealogy led him to a modest grave at Napa's Tulocay Cemetery, where his great-great grandparents are buried.

Learning that Jacob and Serena Anderson were among the very first group of Norwegians to settle in the United States in 1825 after a hazardous transatlantic trek, the Trinity County resident and his wife Peggy felt the grave site should boast a more elaborate marker to celebrate their courage and place in history.

"We felt recognition was needed about the role these pioneers had in the history of both Norway and the United States, as well as California," the couple write on the Web site dedicated to the effort.

According to historians, the pioneering Andersons -- who changed their names from Slogvig after arriving in the United States -- settled further west than any of the 50 other people who sailed to the United States on the slooper "Restoration" and paved the way for later waves of Norwegian immigrants. Only Ireland had a larger percentage of its population emigrate to the United States in all of Europe.

"All over New England there are huge monuments in memory of the pioneers who came here on the Mayflower. This was the 'Norwegian Mayflower,'" Wheeler said of the small group of Norwegian Quakers aboard Restoration who sought religious freedom in the New World.

Last week, the Wheelers visited Napa and Tulocay Cemetery, where they compared notes with local historian Floyd Stone, a board member of the Napa County Historical Society.

On Friday, Stone played guide to the couple as they roamed south Napa, where Keith's ancestors once owned five parcels of land.

Keith Wheeler also wanted to take a closer look at the Villa Romano restaurant on Soscol Ferry Road. A popular inn and stage coach stop known back then as the Suscol House, the restaurant employed Serena Anderson for some years after her husband's death, according to Stone's research.

The couple said they hope local Norwegian-Americans and historians will join in their attempt to honor the pioneers who are buried in Napa.

A celebratory event is planned for the spring, when the large natural rock will be raised alongside the current headstone.

The rock originated at the farm Jacob Anderson left behind in Norway. The current owners of the farm suggested that the 9-foot stone should be used as a monument fashioned after traditional Viking grave markers. Local Norwegian municipalities and a historical society helped pay for the cost of the transatlantic shipment, to the Wheelers' delight.

The stone arrived in California last month, and is currently being worked on by staff at Turlock Marble & Granite Works in Turlock.

"It has grown from this...fantasy to something that is actually going to happen," Keith Wheeler said enthusiastically.

The retired therapist said a string of serendipitous events have helped the project along. In Napa, it turned out that Stone is a Norwegian-American as well, and his ancestors hailed from a community near where the Andersons lived. Upon further comparison of their heritage, Keith Wheeler and Stone found that they were distant relatives.

"The connection is definitely there," Wheeler said.

Together they will try to get the Vallejo Sons of Norway chapter and the Napa County Historical Society involved in the monument project.

For the Wheelers, learning about Keith's ancestors has become much more than just a hobby.

After several trips to Norway, Keith Wheeler said they have formed strong friendships there.

"Some of the people we consider our best friends are Norwegians," he said.

Peggy Wheeler, 62, does not have any connections to the Scandinavian country. However, the recently retired English teacher admitted that her husband's interest in the topic has been contagious.

"I feel half Norwegian being married with Keith," she said. Both are taking language classes and the couple is even considering relocating from Mad River to the country of Keith's ancestors.

"We have been looking into the immigration laws," she said.

Listening as her husband, dressed in a traditional knitted Norwegian sweater adorned with souvenir pins, discussed the intricacies of his family tree with Stone, Peggy Wheeler smilingly shook her head.

"He's a bit obsessive," she said laughing.

Keith Wheeler admits that the hobby, which started after he suffered a heart attack a few years ago, has taken on grandiose proportions, including appearing on Norwegian television and in newspaper articles. But he is enjoying every second of it.

"Going through the process and understanding the connection with my Norwegian heritage has been invaluable. It has led to all sorts of fun things," Wheeler said.

On the Net: www.wheelerfolk.org/sloop.htm