The Stevens House hotel in Janesville was burned; one passage dates the fire April 1, 1853, others say it burned on the day of the first charter election.

The evidence

• “Hodson's residence, which contained a valuable library. Following this was the burning of the Stevens House on April 1. 1853. The old settlers often refer to this fire, as it occurred on the day of the first city election, and during a terrible windstorm.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/14-rock-county-ch08-janesville.md, PDF p. 568 / book p. 572

  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