The land through time

Beloit

• 1858 Churches: the Westminster Presbyterian Church was formed on the west side of Beloit; a cemetery association was formed and a one-acre cemetery located; a church parsonage was built (1858–59) at a cost of $670; pastors took office or ended service (Rev. Robert Blackburn; Rev. Mr. [Frink's successor]; D. O. Jones and Daniel Stansberry; L. G. [successor of M. Pascoe]; B. Hatch from 1858; Rev. Galusha Anderson's term ended 1858; Rev. J. Goodspeed began 1858).
• 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.

Rock County

• 1858 Arrivals and settlements in the county: Fisher moved to Rock Co.; a settler located in the township of Janesville; a Norwegian bought 300 acres in Beloit; Goodwin went to Moline; Hamelin came to Beloit; Kehoe came to Rockford, Ill.; Ledell returned from Norway; a family settled in Rock County (Lima Center); a Prussian came to America, locating at Milwaukee; a family settled in Rock Township; a family came to Wisconsin settling in Rock County; a family settled on a farm (Sec. 2) in Rock Co.; a family located in Porter; the T. Fisher family came to Wisconsin; a family came to Wisconsin (Brodhead area); the Weirick family settled at Shopiere; the Hutchinson family moved to Janesville; a family came to Rock County settling at Beloit; a Scottish father settled in Harmony township; the Gould family settled in Lima township; a Paning family located in Janesville Township; the West postmastership ended (1855–1858); a family moved to Porter (1857 or 1858).
• 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 of Beloit (Anson P. Waterman, re-elected for 1858), a district attorney of Rock county, and a clerk of the circuit court (serving to 1866).
• 1858 Settlers and businesses in the county: Tompkinson and family moved to Southern Illinois; a drug/essence business was inaugurured by W. H.; a grain-brokerage shanty was erected at the corner of Jackson and Milwaukee streets; the Rock River Paper Company was inaugurated; the East Side paper mill was started; Lawrence & Atwood enlarged their hardware business; a physician ended his drug business (1853–1858); a Janesville man turned to the insurance business; Eldred established a grocery business; Carle settled at Janesville opening a grocery store; Van Kirk began the grocery business; Smith opened the first jewelry store in Edgerton; Croft bought the house from Julius Burdick; Dr. Simon Lord came to Edgerton as the first physician to remain long; a merchant located at Edgerton; a Myers building was finished; a Third-ward square building was begun (completed 1859); a man was elected county judge in 1857 serving from 1858 for twenty-eight years.

The region

• 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.

Nation and world

• Summer 1858 A new church building was erected at a cost of about $1,700, following the April 7 resolution.
• 1858 Another fourth of a fund was given to the drainage fund.
• 1858 The legislature adopted amendments to the banking law, later approved by the people at the fall election.
• July 14, 1858 Judge Keep tendered his resignation, to take effect August 17.

Beloit

• 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.

Rock County

• 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.

The region

• 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.

Nation and world

• 1859 A seminary building was finished and a school opened therein.
• 1859 A sketch's subject (later Governor) was elected Secretary of State.
• Spring 1859 A sketch's subject returned to Magnolia and bought eighty acres.
• 1859 The great debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas came on in Illinois (per this passage), and Douglas was chosen senator again.

Beloit

• April 5, 1860 First issue of the consolidated Journal and Courier appeared.
• December 1860 C. Mann bought out Bristol and started the "Rock County Republican."
• January 1, 1860 The Beloit Herald's name was changed to the Beloit Courier, and the firm became Perkins & Smith (P10 says "about January 1"; P208 says "on January 1").
• October 7, 1860 Edward Franklin Hansen was born at Beloit.

Rock County

• March 8, 1860 The Milton Anti-Horse-Thief Association was organized (P217 says "Early in 1860").
• October 20, 1860 Mr. Gray retired from the Rock Qovnty Badger and was succeeded by Gen.
• September 1860 The "Janesville Democrat" weekly was started.
• December 1860 The "Janesville Democrat" was changed to the "Rock County Republican."

Nation and world

• November 6, 1860 A sheriff took office (listed as Alden, November 6, 1860).
• November 16, 1860 There were twenty-four paupers in the Poor House.
• Fall 1860 Business, industry and institutions:

Beloit

• April 4, 1861 The vestry of the Episcopal society in Beloit met and purchased a lot on Court Street, contracting for construction of a church building.
• October 31, 1861 Christ Church in Beloit was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop.
• 1861 The Bank of Beloit discharged its liabilities, divided its surplus among stockholders, and sold its franchise to William C. Ritchie.
• 1861 Value's Battery was organized in Beloit.

Rock County

• May 6, 1861 Company D, Second Regiment (the first company of volunteers enlisted for the war in Rock County) left Janesville for Camp Randall at Madison.
• 1861 The first Morgan House was built in Milton Junction.
• April 2, 1861 Amos P. Prichard became County Judge.
• September 17, 1861 A fair was held (at Rock County).

The region

• 1861 A cemetery was located on two acres of ground donated by Ephraim Sayre.
• April 11, 1861 The Wisconsin legislature approved an act declaring Rock County to be the Seventeenth Senatorial District and establishing six Assembly Districts.
• April 17, 1861 The proclamation of Governor Randall was published, calling upon all good citizens to join against the common enemy.
• 1861 The company was authorized to build from Madison to Portage City and from Columbus to Portage City.

Nation and world

• July 2, 1861 Rock County soldiers participated in the fight at Falling Waters (Virginia).
• 1861 A post office was established at the place later named for J. Cain, with Mr. Howell appointed to take charge.
• March 4, 1861 Timothy O. Howe's term as U.S. Senator began (he was elected for a six-year term from this date).
• November 7, 1861 The Journal and Courier was transferred to Barrett H. and Lathrop B. Smith.

Beloit

• May 1862 Rev. Parmely came to Wisconsin, locating at Beloit.
• 1862 Enlistments and service during 1862 without documented days: Mr. Morse enlisted in the 21st Wis.; Oscar enlisted in the 1st Conn. Heavy; Mr. Tilton resigned his chaplaincy in August; a man enlisted in the 17th Mass.; the 33d Wis. promotion in the fall; John W. West taught school in 1862; George Hayes served in the Thirteenth; a transfer to the 22d Wis.; the Twelfth battery recruited; Dr. Palmer made surgeon of the Iron Brigade; a captain joined the Thirteenth at Fort Henry in October; a man enlisted for sixty days; Rev. Charles Lemuel Thompson began his pastorate in April; the Beloit "Journal and Courier" file ends March 27; the "Register" published from 1862; a man graduated from Hamilton College; another ordained a Congregational minister; Edward Searing later state superintendent associated with the county superintendency; a man married and entered Beloit College graduation.
• January 14, 1862 The Shopiere Cemetery was laid out.
• 1862 In Beloit the first regular lecture-course was maintained under the auspices of the Archean Union.

Rock County

• July 26, 1862 A citizens' meeting was held in the public square at Janesville to devise means of raising Rock County's quota of 250 men.
• January 1, 1862 The county superintendency (replacing the office of town superintendent) went into operation in Rock County.
• 1862 Elections and appointments for 1862: county officers elected April 1 in Janesville; district officers, assembly representation fixed at 133 since 1862; Thomas Earle and others serving districts; a mayor elected in Janesville; a Register of Deeds elected in the fall; a State Senator elected; an assessor elected and re-elected; a district attorney elected; a collector of internal revenue appointed by Lincoln; a Trustee of the State Hospital appointed.
• 1862 Business ventures begun or changed in 1862: a tinsmith went into business for himself; a contractor went into business on his own account; a physician bought 180 acres; a grocery store opened in Lima; the livery business started in Edgerton; a man entered the drug business in Evansville; the First National Bank of Janesville obtained a charter (July); the feed mill of Henry A. Doty started; tobacco lath sawing began; a round house and railroad bridge built at Janesville.

The region

• 1862 The Morgans: Thomas purchased a half-interest in the eating-house/hotel, the brothers purchased thirty-four acres from Silas H. Crandall which was platted into village lots, and William gave the place its name of Shopiere.
• September 2, 1862 The Twenty-second regiment (Companies raised largely in Rock County) was mustered into service at Camp Utley, Racine.
• September 29, 1862 Companies E and F of the Thirty-third went into camp at Racine; Company E of the Third Regiment left Janesville for Racine.
• 1862 The Kenosha–Genoa railroad line was constructed; another road was extended to Fort Howard (Green Bay).

Nation and world

• September 24, 1862 Militia statistics of Rock County (draft-eligible men, exemptions, enlistments) were compiled to this date; W. Hale died at Washington.
• 1862 The Thirteenth Wisconsin garrisoned Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in 1862; a Rock County man's regiment went to Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Lawrence and Fort Riley in 1862.
• 1862 Congress approved acts granting lands to Wisconsin for railroad construction (April 25) and donating lands for agricultural colleges (July 2); the legislature approved a matching act June 16.
• March 29, 1862 An act reinstating the geological survey was approved.

Beloit

• 1864 Judgments were obtained against the Sugar River Valley railroad company, and its right of way, grading and depot grounds were sold.
• June 20, 1864 Beloit College boys of Company B were in camp at Camp Ray.
• 1864 The Beloit College Commencement of 1864 was omitted because the entire senior class and the professor of rhetoric were in camp.
• January 6, 1864 Beloit Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, was chartered; the two histories disagree on the date.

Rock County

• 1864 Families settled in Rock County and the region, including the M. Benson brothers on 600 acres at Clinton, and Caleb Snashall, who came to Wisconsin and entered the hardware business in Evansville.
• 1864 Rock County men were elected to office, including Mr. Richardson to the legislature and a mayor of Beloit.
• 1864 The Janesville milling property fell into the hands of Barnes & Hodson.
• 1864 The Janesville telegraph wires later owned by the Western Union Company were erected by the Illinois & Mississippi Company.

The region

• 1864 The Beloit branch railroad was pushed through to Madison, reaching that city.
• July 2, 1864 The Second regiment was mustered out of service at Madison, and the remnant of Company D returned to Rock County.
• November 17, 1864 The acting commissioner of the general land office, by order of the war department, offered the Fort Crawford reservation at public auction at La Crosse.
• September 1, 1864 The railroad of the consolidated Galena and North-Western companies was completed to Madison.

Nation and world

• October 5, 1864 Rock County soldiers of the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery were killed and wounded at Allatoona, Georgia, including Marcus Amsden, C. Fogle, W. Bartow, David C. Davy, Alva P. Hamilton, W. Chase, Joseph W. Chase, Samuel H. Doolittle and others.
• September 20, 1864 Alexander Kerr, Sterne Rogers, H. A. and others acted on the agitating questions of their day.
• November 19, 1864 Officers and men of the Second Wisconsin (including Captains Edward Ruger and Edwin E. Woodman and Lieutenants James L. Murray and George C. Brown) were mustered out.
• 1864 Congress made a land grant to Wisconsin to aid in building a railroad from Berlin, Doty's Island, Fond du Lac, or Portage, by way of Stevens Point, to Bayfield or Superior.