The chronology
The land through time
Every documented event, from the property outward: Beloit, Rock County, the region and the world. Each one links to the page of the source that records it. The record so far covers 1820–1864; more years are being added.
1840
Beloit
- 1840 The Hanchett family came to Beloit, bought forty acres in Sec. 34, and Mr. Hanchett built the dam across Rock River at Beloit.
- August 7, 1840 Caleb Blodgett, the first white settler at Beloit, died.
- 1840 By fall, the Rock Prairie Norwegian settlement was established, consisting of five homesteads: Gravdal, Hallan, Odegarden, Lars Skavlem, and Gullik Halvorsen Blakstad (Skavlem); Gisle Hallan had taken possession of his new home in Sec. 6, Town of Beloit, and Gullick Halvorsen Blackstad (Skavlem) located on Sec. 28 during the spring and summer.
Rock County
- September 1840 The parents of Paul M. Green came to Rock Co. and purchased 120 acres on Sections 4 and 5 (Milton).
- 1840 Easton and Gusta Johnson arrived in Rock county and settled in Avon township.
- Fall 1840 A church and parsonage were erected on a lot at the southwest corner of Section 36, known as the First Congregational Church of Rock County, at a cost of about $500.
The region
- 1840 The lands in Rock and Jefferson Counties came into market; the sale was at Milwaukee; settlers could first obtain title to the land that year.
- Summer 1840 An organized school was set up in the shanty first occupied by the Ogdens.
- 1840 Rock County members served in the Fourth (extra) Session of the Second Legislative Assembly (James Maxwell, Edward V. Whiton, John Hackett, Hugh Long).
Nation and world
- August 5, 1840 James D. Doty was re-elected Territorial delegate.
1841
Beloit
- October 1841 A settler came to Beloit, which then had about three hundred inhabitants, all on the east side of the river.
- April 4, 1841 A settler arrived in Beloit on a Sunday morning, having walked from Racine in the spring of 1841.
- 1841 A Beloit settler went to Michigan in 1841 and then came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit.
Rock County
The region
- 1841 The Government sent a military detachment to enforce the removal of the Rock River Winnebagoes beyond the Mississippi.
- October 22, 1841 Quarter-section entries were recorded for Margaret Oles Dater (Mrs. Gullik Springen) and Erek Gulbeitson.
- July 12, 1841 A quarter-section entry was recorded for Geesley Saberson Hollen.
Nation and world
- September 13, 1841 President Tyler appointed James Duane Doty governor of the Territory in place of Dodge; another passage gives the appointment date as September 30, 1841.
- January 25, 1841 Dunn was commissioned as secretary of the Territory in place of William B. Slaughter.
- December 7, 1841 Henry Dodge took his seat in Congress for the first time.
1842
Beloit
- Summer 1842 The central bridge at Beloit (a toll bridge built by a private company, a timber trestle structure framed by John P. Houston) was built over Rock River; it was later given to the village in 1844.
- February 17, 1842 The town of Beloit was constituted by an act of the territorial legislature.
- July 6, 1842 The corner stone of the "old stone church" (Congregational) was laid at the northwest corner of Broad and Prospect streets, Beloit; the edifice was erected in 1842 (built in 1842 and 1843).
Rock County
- Fall 1842 A house of worship was constructed on the northeast quarter of section 35, town of Milton, and the congregation became known as the First Congregational Church of Rock County.
- July 1842 Adrien Bassett and Annie Gates came to Rock County.
- February 17, 1842 The town of Rock was organized into a separate town.
The region
- February 19, 1842 Goelick (Goelicke) Holt (Gravdal) was registered as the purchaser of land.
- September 26, 1842 Land was registered to Ole Newhouse (several parcels) and Kittel Newhouse.
- September 29, 1842 Land was registered to Abram Hobartson (Herbrand Halvorson Skavlem).
1843
Beloit
Rock County
- November 1843 James Sowle came to Rock County and settled on Sec. 26, purchasing 240 acres; the land was deeded to him from the Probate Court in the fall of 1843.
- 1843 The subject's father moved to Rock county and settled on land his father had purchased.
- 1843 E. Bowerman came to Wisconsin and settled in Fulton Township, Rock Co.
The region
- April 12, 1843 An act was approved appointing commissioners to alter the Beloit–Madison road and lay out roads from Janesville to Ellis's Mill and to Mineral Point.
- 1843 The log schoolhouse at the "big ford" of Rock river was used until 1843, when another log house was occupied by the school.
- 1843 Surveyor Willard Barrows noted Black Hawk's wigwam and grave while surveying.
Nation and world
1844
Beloit
Rock County
The region
Nation and world