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.
Nation and world
- November 4, 1851 At the general election, Leonard J. Farwell was chosen governor; Timothy Burns, Charles D. Robinson, Edward H. Janssen, and Experience Estarbrook were also elected to state offices.
- June 18, 1851 Levi Hubbell, judge of the second circuit, was elected chief justice of the supreme court by the judges present, pursuant to statute, at the commencement of the next term.
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
- 1853 Tompkinson erected a three-story brick building in 1853.
- 1853 Col. Ezra Miller was a member of the Senate from the 17th district for the years 1853 and 1854.
- March 25, 1853 An act providing for a geological survey of the State was approved.
- 1853 A gentleman served as Deputy City Clerk in 1853.
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