The first Fourth of July celebration was held in Janesville.

The evidence

• “In the fall of 1838, his parents removed temporarily to Alfred Center, where he attended the Alfred Academy one term. January 30, 1838, he started, with his parents, for Wisconsin, coming the overland route, and arriving in Milton March 4. 1839. July 4, 1839, he attended, with his father, the first Fourth of July celebration held in Janesville, the only buildings visible being the double log house of Mr. Janes and the frame-work up for a hotel whore the Myers House stands.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/25-bios-milton.md, PDF p. 817 / book p. 821

  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