Bushnell undertook to build the Bushnell House in 1853 (completed 1854).

The evidence

• “Bushnell, at a sacrifice of his own cherished pursuits, yielded to much solicitation and the promptings of public spirit, and in 1853 undertook to build the fine hotel which was completed in 1854, and has since been known as the Bushnell House.”

  1856-history-of-rock-county/06-beloit.md, PDF p. 83 / book p. 65

  Guernsey, Orrin, and Josiah F. Willard, editors. History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute. Janesville, Wis.: William M. Doty & Brother, 1856. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871593.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources

  

• “It was commenced in 1853, and completed the next year, by Jackson J. Bushnell, who opened it under the name of the Bushnell House, the total cost, by that time, being $27,000.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/15-rock-county-ch09-beloit.md, PDF p. 626 / book p. 630

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources