The chronology
1839
113 published events.
Overview
In 1839, Rock County, which includes the land at the mouth of Turtle Creek, moved from territorial designation to functioning government. The Territorial Legislature approved the act organizing the county on February 13, and the county records begin April 1 with the first meeting of the county commissioners. Over the following months the commissioners divided the county into road districts, accepted the assessment roll, ordered a tax levy, divided the county into school districts, and elected a chairman. Courts also began operating: the first term of the District Court convened at Janesville in April, and a second term followed in October. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+12 more)
Settlement of Beloit and the surrounding townships continued through the year. Individual settlers including Russell Harvey, B. F. Murray, H. J. Murray, Merritt Bostwick, John C. Burr and Donald Bennett arrived; Norwegian settlers led by Ansten Natesta came in the spring, and Gullik Olsen Gravdal and Gisle Sebjornson Hallan set claim stakes in October and purchased land in November and December. In Beloit itself, a union Sunday school was begun, a school house was built by subscription, John Hopkins made the first recorded survey of the village, and the first marriage in the settlement took place between Margaret McEwen and James Murray. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+17 more)
Beyond the immediate locality, 1839 saw land sales and Native American affairs that reshaped the region and territory. The first public sale of Government lands in the Milwaukee land district brought land east of Rock River into market, and Range 13 was opened in February. The Stockbridge and Munsee tribes ceded the east half of their tract on Lake Winnebago in September, the Brothertown Indians became citizens of Wisconsin Territory, and the Winnebago had not yet removed west as agreed in the 1837 treaty. A steamboat traveled up the Rock River, a post route from Belvidere to Janesville via Beloit was established, and the Wisconsin school law was revised. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+8 more)
Month by month
- February 1839Range 13, comprising Milton, Harmony, and other towns south, was brought into land market.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 13, 1839The Territorial Legislature approved the act organizing Rock County.The regionGrade A · 2 independent sources
- February 19, 1839Rock County was fully organized (a different reading from the February 13 organization act above and the spring organization below).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 28, 1839An amending act was approved fixing the time for the election of county officers.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 1839The first Seventh Day Baptist meeting in Milton was held at Joseph Goodrich's house.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 1839The legislature's sine die adjournment took place (the passage prints the day as "the nth").The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 4, 1839An overland settler party (including the Carr and Pierce families) arrived at their new home on the prairie after a thirty-four-day winter journey.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 8, 1839An act of the Territorial Legislature set off all of Rock County as a separate town named Rock.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 9, 1839Henry Dodge was re-appointed (to territorial office).Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Rock County was fully organized (a third dating, alongside February 13 and February 19 above).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Mr. Barker purchased thirteen hundred acres of land near Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839The first public sale of Government lands in the Milwaukee land district was held, bringing into market land east of Rock River and Lake Koshkonong.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 1839Russell Harvey, of Connecticut, settled in Turtle.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Ansten Natesta, accompanied by Thore Holgerson, Kittle, Christopher Newhouse, Erik Skavlem and others, came, bought land and settled near Ole in the Norwegian settlement.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Solomon Head and Sarah Coon came to Milton and pre-empted 40 acres on Sec. 9.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Followers of Ansten Natesta emigrated on board the "Emelia."Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1839Deacon Abel F. Lewis returned, preaching to Baptists through the summer.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 1, 1839The records of Rock County begin; the first meeting of the county commissioners was held.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- April 2, 1839At the commissioners' session, Rock County was divided into two road districts by an east-west line.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 15, 1839The first term of the Rock County District Court convened at Janesville, Judge Irwin presiding, and adjourned April 17.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 1839H. J. Murray, of New York, settled in Turtle; J. Murray of New York also settled in Turtle the same month.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- June 1839Ward & Lappin opened the first store in Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- June 10, 1839Churchill and Ogden went to the mill at Beloit with a grist.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 12, 1839William Wyman located in Bradford on 560 acres.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 28, 1839The second meeting of the county commissioners was held, at which Rock County was divided into two road districts.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 1, 1839The commissioners held sessions; the assessment roll was corrected and accepted, and a tax levy of five mills on the dollar was ordered. The assessed value of Rock County in 1839 was $21,792.45.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 4, 1839The Revised Statutes of Wisconsin Territory took effect.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 4, 1839The first Fourth of July celebration was held in Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 1839The first election was held at the house of Samuel St. John, about one mile below Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 1839The Caswell family sold their claim for $125 in store goods to newcomer Peleg Carr.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 1, 1839A Baptist meeting was held at the house of William Smith; six brethren covenanted to unite in maintaining worship.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 3, 1839A treaty was made at Stockbridge by which the Stockbridge and Munsee tribes ceded the east half of their tract on Lake Winnebago.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1839John Hopkins came to Beloit and made the first recorded survey of the village of Beloit for Horace White and others.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 1839Gullik Olsen Gravdal set his claim stake on the southeast quarter of Sec. 1, Town 1 north, Range 11 East; the next day Gisle Sebjornson Hallan set his claim stake nearby.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1839The Union school house was built by private subscription at the northeast corner of School and Prospect streets, Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 1839A union Sunday school was begun in Beloit, with surveyor John Hopkins as first superintendent.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1839The town of Union was first settled by Charles McMillan, Samuel Lewis, Stephen Jones, Erastus Quivey, John Rhinehart and Rev. Boyd Phelps.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 7, 1839The county commissioners met at Janesville and elected William S. Murray chairman.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 12, 1839The commissioners divided Rock County into two school districts and appointed inspectors.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 21, 1839The second term of the District Court for Rock County convened in the unfinished hall of the Janesville Stage House.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- November 1839The first child baptized in the Beloit church was the infant son of Deacon Hobart, Horace R.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- November 1, 1839Horace White, elected judge of probate in 1839, dated notice for the county court.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- November 29, 1839Gisle Sebjerson Hallan became a freeholder in Rock County; on the same date Gooneal G. Doctor (the widow Odegarden) took title to her first land.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1839A school of about twenty scholars, taught by Miss Olive Hall, was held at Milton Junction at Henry B. Crandall's residence.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1, 1839The county court of Dr. Horace White was held at Beloit (and at Janesville on the first Monday of June).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 12, 1839Gullik Olsen Gravdal made his first purchase of land at the Milwaukee land office; on that date Goelicke Holt (Gravdal) became owner of land.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 25, 1839Ansten Knudsen (Natesta) and Thorsten Nilsen took title to their Clinton lands — the earliest Scandinavian freeholds there.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
During 1839
Events the sources date only to the year.
- 1839A post route from Belvidere to Janesville, via Beloit, was established; John Hackett took charge of the new post office.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839John C. Burr came to Beloit in company with Alfred Field and started a tin shop.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839A steamboat made a trip up the Rock River, taking on passengers and pushing as far up as Jefferson.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The Winnebago, by October 1839, had not yet made a general effort to remove west as agreed in the treaty of 1837.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The Brothertown Indians broke up their tribal relations and became citizens of Wisconsin Territory.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The public land sale of 1839 ended the practice of claim "gouging"; a numerously attended meeting was held on Jefferson Prairie beforehand to arrange claim protections.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839Miss Margaret McEwen and Mr. James Murray were married by the Rev. Daniel Smith — the first marriage in the settlement.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839Rock, with Walworth, Green and Dane counties, was made the Second Judicial District, to which Justice Irwin was assigned.The regionGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1839A school house was built by voluntary offerings/subscription of the settlers.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1839A mill on Black River was successfully erected by two brothers named Wood, with Jacob Spaulding as millwright.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839Messrs. Carter, Fletcher, Cammell and Hill settled on the location of a village (Clinton Junction) and built the first house.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The first cemetery enclosure in Milton, an acre and a half, was donated and laid out by Joseph Goodrich.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839An act was passed incorporating the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company of Milwaukee.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839An enterprising individual appeared in Janesville, raised a small sum of money, and constructed a neat little steamer at the mouth of the Catfish adapted to Rock River.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839A number of families came into the town (Milton) from Alleghany/Allegany County, New York, among them Joseph Goodrich.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839John A. Fletcher concluded that his February land purchase in Johnstown would make a good townsite.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The Wisconsin school law was revised, making the family the basis of town organization.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839The Milton post office was established, with Joseph Goodrich as first postmaster.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1839An individual appeared in Janesville proposing to build a steamer (one passage says 1839, the other 1839 or 1840).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source