The Republican party was organized in Wisconsin and in Rock County, absorbing the Whigs

The evidence

• “Alden, and became sole editor and publisher. The politics of the Gazette were whig until the organization of the republican party in July, 1854, when it united with the organization.”

  1856-history-of-rock-county/25-city-of-janesville.md, PDF p. 207 / book p. 187

  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

  

• “Although in no sense a politician, his feelings and sympathies were with the Whig party from 18-33 to 1838, and he was always an outspoken and enthusiastic Abolitionist, and since the organization of the Republican party in Wisconsin, in 1854, he acted with it. He was at one time an active co-worker with Rev.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/11-rock-county-ch05-press-institutions-tragedy.md, PDF p. 435

  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

  

• “Beloit Journal. The Republican party, 1854. L.”

  1908-brown-rock-county/00-front-matter-vol-1.md, Vol. 1, PDF p. 15

  Brown, William Fiske, editor. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of Its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, Up to Date. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Co., 1908. 2 vols. archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon01brow, archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow.

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