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.
1850
Beloit
- 1850 The Fletcher family (William D. and Mary C.) settled at Beloit.
- 1850 A family came to the United States from Norway and settled in Beloit (later moving to Newark township).
- 1850 An individual came to Beloit in 1850 to work on paper mills.
- July 23, 1850 The first church edifice (First Presbyterian), at the southeast corner of Broad and Pleasant streets in Beloit, costing about ten thousand dollars, was dedicated.
Rock County
- November 19, 1850 Preliminary steps were taken toward the formation of an agricultural society in Rock County, with a call made on farmers to meet at the Court House in Janesville.
- 1850 An individual came to Wisconsin and located in Rock County, settling in Plymouth.
- 1850 An individual came to Rock County in 1850 and settled in Lima.
- 1850 The Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute was organized, with Mr. Willard elected President.
The region
- 1850 A willow tree was set out from a little sprout near a house in Waterloo (now Shopiere).
- 1850 An act of the Wisconsin legislature was passed regarding the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.
- 1850 Land that had been pre-empted in 1844 was sold.
- December 4, 1850 The Fort Howard military reservation lands were abandoned for military purposes by the war department.
Nation and world
- 1850 The Madison & Beloit Railroad Company was authorized by an act of the legislature to extend its road and its name was changed to the Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company.
- 1850 The town of Harmony was organized as a separate town.
- October 1850 A house of worship (built of brick during 1849 and 1850) was dedicated.
- 1850 Timothy O. Howe was elected to office.
1851
The property
Beloit
- March 10, 1851 The Beloit school board engaged Herman Belden (or Belding) to excavate the cellar for a new brick school house at nine cents per cubic yard.
- July 4, 1851 The school board contracted with Stephen Downer to lay up the walls of the new Beloit schoolhouse at $1.80 per yard.
- August 19, 1851 A loan of $1,500 at 10 per cent was obtained from Milton Harvey of Colebrook, N. H., for the Beloit school building.
- October 29, 1851 The late board of Union District No. 1 (Beloit) were complimented for having erected a school building with only half as much borrowed debt as authorized; the whole cost was $4,312.71.
Rock County
- January 6, 1851 The Rock County Agricultural Society (and Mechanics' Institute) was organized at a meeting of farmers and mechanics at the courthouse in Janesville.
- February 3, 1851 The second meeting of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute was held at the courthouse in Janesville.
- 1851 A man came to America in 1851, staying in New York until coming to Wisconsin in 1854; settled in Rock Co. in 1859.
- December 1851 A statement of Rock County assessed and equalized property values, tax rates, and delinquent county tax was published by order of the Board of Supervisors.
The region
- December 1851 The church (corner stone laid 1848) was occupied / first services were held in the building.
- January 8, 1851 The Oak Hill Cemetery Association was organized under an 1850 act of the Wisconsin legislature.
- January 8, 1851 The fourth session of the Wisconsin legislature commenced.
- March 1851 The Wisconsin State Agricultural Society was organized at a meeting in Madison on March 8, 1851.
1852
Beloit
- 1852 A settler came to Wisconsin about 1852, locating at Beloit.
- 1852 A contractor removed to Beloit and purchased a farm of 444 acres.
- 1852 E. W. Carpenter sold out the Avon water-power and store and returned to Beloit.
- 1852 A La Prairie resident moved to Beloit in 1852 and engaged in the printing business.
Rock County
- 1852 A farmer sold his Dane County land in 1852 and moved to Union Township, Rock Co., buying 243 acres.
- 1852 A machinist removed with his family to Rock County and settled on a new farm in the township of Janesville.
- 1852 A settler came to Wisconsin in 1852, locating in the town of Rock.
- 1852 A Roxburghshire Scot landed at New York in 1852 and came to Rock County the same year.
The region
- April 17, 1852 A law was approved granting Peter Myers the right to maintain a building in Rock river.
- February 18, 1852 The Beloit and Madison Railroad Co. was incorporated.
- Spring 1852 The mill (upper dam establishment) was re-built and enlarged after flood damage.
- 1852 A resident represented Rock County in the state legislature in 1852.
Nation and world
- 1852 The Beloit and Mississippi Railroad Company was chartered in 1852, with a capital of three millions of dollars.
- July 30, 1852 An act of congress was approved creating the Stevens Point land district.
- 1852 The Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company was chartered in 1852 and organized the same year.
- April 1852 Town officers were elected.
1853
Beloit
- 1853 The Henry Knile family came to Beloit in 1853 and bought the east half of Sec. 29.
- October 5, 1853 The Supervisors of the town of Beloit passed a resolution to issue bonds to the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company.
- May 1853 Mr. Ritcher came to Wisconsin in the latter part of May, 1853, and located in Beloit.
- March 28, 1853 The Beloit Board of Supervisors dated a notice regarding the railroad-stock subscription election.
Rock County
- 1853 The Synstegard parents came from Norway about 1853, walked from Milwaukee to Rock county, and bought 220 acres in Avon township.
- Fall 1853 Mr. Rogers came to Rock Co. in the fall of 1853 and settled on Section 33.
- 1853 The Gibbs family settled in 1853 in Porter Township, Rock Co.
- Spring 1853 William (of the Bradford farm family) moved to Bradford, Rock Co., and settled on 480 acres.
The region
- 1853 George Crossman purchased eighty acres (Sec. 34) in 1853.
- January 19, 1853 An Agricultural Convention was to be held at Madison, to which the Rock County society was asked to send delegates.
- 1853 The removal of the Winnebagoes was continued up to 1853, when from 700 to 900 still remained.
- 1853 George W. Parker and Ole Evenson sold their plow-shop site in 1853.
Nation and world
1854
Beloit
- Fall 1854 An Irish-born settler came to Beloit
- July 1854 A town was laid out at the junction of Bass (Afton) creek with the Rock river
- 1854 The first Catholic church at Beloit was built by Father Norris
- April 6, 1854 The Murray block in Beloit burned
Rock County
- 1854 Settlers and families arrived in Rock County and vicinity: the Baker family to Rock County ; Austin B. Burpee to Janesville ; an Irish family to Center Township ; a settler to the town of Lima ; a settler to Harmony ; a settler to the town of Rock ; a settler to La Prairie ; Wilden Hughes moved to La Prairie ; a settler located at Shopiere ; a settler purchased land at La Prairie ; a young resident of La Prairie ; a settler located at Milton ; Elijah Bullock settled in Wisconsin ; a banker removed to Argyle, Lafayette County ; a settler located in Union Township ; a settler located at Bradford ; a settler located in Bradford ; a family bought land on Section 10, Harmony ; the Dillenbeck family located in Harmony Township ; the Wilcox family settled on a 110-acre Harmony farm ; a physician came to the village of Milton ; a gunsmith located in Beloit ; Simon Nolan came to Janesville ; the Grinnell family settled at Johnstown ; the Fillingham family landed in Buffalo, N. Y. ; the Hansen parents were married in Janesville and moved to Beloit ; John Murray moved to Wisconsin and engaged in stonecutting ; a father returned and bought a Clinton township farm ; the Leonard's wife (a teacher) died ; a family removed to Fulton township ; a Norwegian father emigrated and settled on a farm in Dane county ; Mr. and Mrs. Finney/Hutson-related English families moved to Edgerton [P366, cited above]
- Fall 1854 Almeron Eager came to Rock County and bought eighty acres in the town of Union
- 1854 Rock County was visited by a light choleraic epidemic
- March 22, 1854 The Rock County Board of Supervisors purchased the county poor farm
The region
- 1854 Another congregation built a house of worship at a cost of $1,500 on a lot given by Peter McEwen
- 1854 The Bushnell House was completed
- 1854 A Congregational society built a small chapel on section 34
- May 12, 1854 A supplementary treaty was made with the Menomonee nation
Nation and world
- 1854 Rev. John M. [Baker] served by appointment following Judge Doolittle
- 1854 Hudson & co. conducted the American House from 1854 to 1858
- December 15, 1854 Congress approved an act granting seventy-two sections of land in aid of the state university
- 1854 A seventh judicial circuit was formed by act taking effect that year