Property came into the possession of James H. Hanchett (held until 1863).

The evidence

• “James H. Hanchett, in October, 1856, in whose possession it remained until 1863, when it was purchased by the McKay Bros., of Janesville, together with the stores above which it is located, for $14,000. After the Douglas campaign, its walls echoed and re-echoed the voice of Abraham Lincoln, as it rose and fell in bitter denunciation and stern arraignment of the Democratic party.”

  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