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.

Eras	The Yost farm
Ring	1850	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1856	1857	1858	1859
The property		June 1, 1851 The raceway bank above where the Blodgett Mills are broke, and the released water swept across the river and flooded the opposite side, c…
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 thousan… +8 more	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 de… +6 more	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. +8 more	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. +8 more	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 +8 more	October 1855 A Beloit-area immigrant removed to Beloit from Rutland, Vt., bought a farm of fifty-six acres and farmed it. May 19, 1855 G. W. Walkly came to Wisconsin, locating in Beloit. October 1855 B. Crosby engaged in the banking business with the organization of the Rock County Bank. November 25, 1855 Water-Witch Engine and Hose Company No. 1 was organized (Beloit); Brown's account also places the Water Witch company's organization in 1… +8 more	1856 A Connecticut-born settler came to Beloit and bought Henry Waterman's property. November 5, 1856 Comstock came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit. 1856 Messrs. Wright and Merrill established the Beloit Paper Mills Company, the first paper mill in Beloit. February 16, 1856 P. Miller came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit. +8 more	Fall 1857 A man came to Beloit Township and bought seventy-two and one-half acres of land in Section 3. 1857 J. Pierron located in Beloit; he brought his family in the fall of the same year. 1857 Horace H. Brown came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit. 1857 Anson P. Waterman was elected the second mayor of Beloit. +8 more	1858 Churches: the Westminster Presbyterian Church was formed on the west side of Beloit; a cemetery association was formed and a one-acre cem… January 1, 1858 A marriage took place at Beloit (Louisa Love, to a husband born in Weathersfield, Vt.). May 1858 John M. Cobb came to Beloit and joined the Rock River Paper Co. October 10, 1858 Rev. Oliver Bronson was chosen pastor of the Beloit church, and installed October 24. +8 more	1859 A settler came to Beloit and bought eighty acres in Sec. 8, with improvements. 1859 A widow built the residence she occupied (with barns) in Beloit. 1859 A farmer bought 120 acres of land in section 28, Beloit township. September 1859 J. H. Hendley came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit. +8 more
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 C… 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. +8 more	January 6, 1851 The Rock County Agricultural Society (and Mechanics' Institute) was organized at a meeting of farmers and mechanics at the courthouse in … 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 Boa… +6 more	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. +8 more	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. +8 more	1854 Settlers and families arrived in Rock County and vicinity: the Baker family to Rock County ; Austin B. Burpee to Janesville ; an Irish fa… 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 +8 more	1855 Arrivals and settlements dated only to 1855: James Clark came to Canada from Scotland ; Judge Conger came to Janesville ; a lawyer came t… Spring 1855 A family came West, locating in the town of Union, Rock county. 1855 Mr. [Pease] helped organize the Rock County bank organized as a state bank in 1855. 1855 Banks organized in 1855: the Janesville City bank and Rock County bank ; Wadsworth, Clark & Co. ; a State Bank, of which a Janesville man… +8 more	April 6, 1856 A family arrived in Rock County and settled on land purchased from Benjamin Riddle. 1856 Mr. Guernsey wrote the first history of Rock County (350 pages), published with Joshua F. Willard under the auspices of the Rock County A… Spring 1856 A New England-educated settler came West and settled near Emerald Grove, Rock County. 1856 The Hugunin family moved to Rock County and settled on a farm in La Prairie, three miles south of Janesville. +8 more	May 1857 A man came to Rock County and located in Newark Township, buying forty-five and one-half acres in Section 14. 1857 A man settled on the farm he now owns of 325 acres in Rock County. 1857 Noah Button settled in Rock County, following his trade as tanner and currier. December 2, 1857 A man came to Rock County and commenced business, renting a shop from Mr. G. +8 more	1858 Arrivals and settlements in the county: Fisher moved to Rock Co.; a settler located in the township of Janesville; a Norwegian bought 300… Fall 1858 Mr. Huyke sold his Minnesota land, returned to Rock County, and bought a 120-acre farm in Magnolia township. 1858 Officials were elected or took office: a Register of Deeds (removing to Janesville), a mayor of Janesville (holding two years), a mayor o… 1858 Settlers and businesses in the county: Tompkinson and family moved to Southern Illinois; a drug/essence business was inaugurured by W. H.… +8 more	1859 A father brought his family to Rock county and settled on an eighty-acre tract in section 26, Clinton township. April 1859 D. and Martha D. Bliss came to Rock County. 1859 A settler (born in County Meath, Ireland, 1823) settled in Rock County. 1859 A miller moved to Milton, Rock Co. +8 more
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. +6 more	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. +4 more	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. +8 more	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. +8 more	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 +8 more	January 22, 1855 Mr. Crane executed a deed to Samuel B. Cooper covering Lots 6 and 7. 1855 Erastus and Theodore Hopkins bought the water right and erected a sawmill. April 23, 1855 Demmon conveyed Lots 6 and 7 to Paul Dillingham. August 1855 A meeting was held in the log meeting house near the residence of A. K. [Hatlestad]. +8 more	October 1856 Property came into the possession of James H. Hanchett (held until 1863). 1856 The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad operated the Beloit & Madison road from 1856, in connection with the Milwaukee & Mississippi, reachin… 1856 The Racine & Mississippi (later Western Union) was graded, with 20,000 ties delivered from Porter to Rockton. November 1856 The Fisher case was taken to the supreme court of Wisconsin on a writ of error. +8 more	December 1857 The secretary of war's agent sold the remainder of the reservation to claimants of lands on the west side, and the section in Wisconsin k… 1857 The Winnebagoes suffered considerably from chronic diseases, scrofula and consumption. 1857 The Milwaukee & Mississippi railroad was built to a village (later identified as Hanover/Shopiere area). 1857 The Galena & Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company was incorporated. +8 more	March 30, 1858 The First Congregational Church of Clinton was organized by a council of delegates from Beloit, Allen's Grove, Emerald Grove and Shopiere. 1858 A legislative committee investigated the La Crosse land grant bond matter. January 1858 The railroad line west from Janesville was finished to Monroe. 1858 Ritchie, Newcomb & Co. started the Frontier bank; the Producers' Bank (Gov. Barstow) did a small business during 1857–1858 and soon closed. +6 more	1859 Mr. and Mrs. Edwards bought the property from Elder James Rogers. 1859 The bond-holders completed the [rail]road to Freeport during the year. 1859 Mr. A. Thompson disposed of [the property he kept] to Mr. T. 1859 A returnee from Australia came West and made investments in Dodge county, Wisconsin, including a hotel. +5 more
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… 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. +7 more	November 4, 1851 At the general election, Leonard J. Farwell was chosen governor; Timothy Burns, Charles D. Robinson, Edward H. Janssen, and Experience Es…	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. +2 more	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 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 +3 more	1855 An act gave the Milwaukee & Mississippi Company authority to continue their Milton & Janesville branch to the Mississippi River. February 24, 1855 An act of congress formed the Fond du Lac land district. Summer 1855 A house of worship was erected (dedicated September 15). August 8, 1855 A dispensation was granted to establish a Masonic Lodge at Indian Ford (Fulton Center). +6 more	March 31, 1856 An act incorporating the city of Beloit was approved (chapter 452, private and local laws of 1856); the 1879 history dates the legislatur… October 3, 1856 An act of the legislature granted the unsold congress-granted lands, through the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement company, to trustees. October 1856 An act approved "on the nth of the same month" granted a portion of the lands to the La Crosse & Mississippi railroad company. 1856 A post office was established, with Mr. William Ranney as Postmaster. +5 more	March 3, 1857 An act of Congress was approved creating the Chippewa land district from portions of the La Crosse and Hudson land districts in Wisconsin. April 1857 The secretary of war authorized Hon. H. M. Rice of Minnesota to sell the unimproved part of the reservation in tracts not exceeding forty… March 3, 1857 An act was approved appointing James Hall, Ezra Carr, and Edward Daniels as geological commissioners. 1857 A church edifice was erected at a cost of about $1,800, with the dedicatory sermon preached by Rev. Thomas Eddy of the Northwestern Chris… +4 more	Summer 1858 A new church building was erected at a cost of about $1,700, following the April 7 resolution.	1859 A seminary building was finished and a school opened therein.