Once Upon a House

The chronology

1844

228 published events.

Overview

In Beloit itself, the year was marked by continued building, institutional founding, and manufacturing growth. A settler built and moved to the second residence on the west side of Rock river in April; Ira Mersey, John Atchley and another began a dam across the river in spring; and the dam, built by Hanchett & Lawrence, was completed in fall. Mr. Gaston arrived with his family and father-in-law in September, moved to Beloit and established his scale works, building a stone scale manufactory on Race street — the first manufacturing structure on the west side. Rev. John Trowbridge began his service June 1, a Congregational society meeting was held April 27, a Methodist Church was organized with twelve members, St. Paul's Episcopal church bought a brick school edifice for its first church building, Elder Moses Pickett was re-engaged to preach every other week, and Beloit Seminary was begun. A. Bulkley commenced stated preaching in spring. The first convention to consider organizing a college met August 6 in the old stone church with delegates from Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa; a committee of ten met in October (with fifty members from Illinois and Wisconsin) and affirmed the purpose of a college. The first brick block was erected on Main street; John Gault came from New Hampshire and made brick east of the city; John Chamberlin took up 160 acres in Sec. 8; Bennett Wooster began farming three miles east; Judge John M. Keep settled at Beloit; J. M. Everett of New York settled in Turtle; J. Dole of New Hampshire settled in Turtle; a lawyer began practice and acted as a land agent; a stone-mason went from Canada East to work at his trade; Mr. Strunk died in the new stone house near Beloit; Rev. C. L. Clausen preached at the house of Hellik Brekke; McClure & Felton failed in their store venture and were succeeded by Stoughton, Lawrence & Co.; officials listed included J. Chamberlin, John L. Kimball, a Sheriff L. G., and Lyman Catlin; E. Stone appeared in an early settlers' list; A. B. came from Canada West; the Carpenter family moved to Beloit; a man removed to Beloit; and a man united with the Whitewater Church. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+28 more)

Across Rock County and the region, 1844 was a year of continued settlement. Families and individuals entered Government land and established farms throughout the county: in Turtle (Josiah on fifty-five acres, Roswell Bruce on 250 acres, a family near Shopiere on 280 acres, a settler who first located at Janesville and then moved), in Milton (Geo. and Esther Frink; a settler at Milton Junction), in Magnolia (Jonathan Cook; a farmer who sold his Michigan farm and bought a quarter section; a settler buying 160 acres), in Newark (a settler on 120 acres in Sec. 23; the Cleophas Holverson family on forty acres; a Scottish settler who was the second in the Newark/Brodhead area; Nathaniel Strong, J. B. Chase and others who made purchases and erected houses; a family moving from Rockton, Ill., to 120 acres in Section 22; Mr. Andrewson on eighty acres), in Harmony (Freeman Bacon's family on 360 acres; a family on 120 acres; Andrew Barlass), in Porter (a Scottish settler entering Government land; a teacher/surveyor; Horace Fessenden), in Clinton (Cyrus on 240 acres; Mr. Lake on 160 acres; Benjamin Wooster; Brynihd and Eli Duxstad on a quarter section), in La Prairie, Plymouth, Fulton, Emerald Grove (Frances Chesebrough with her parents), and elsewhere. Ole Andrewson located at Jefferson Prairie, ministering to his countrymen, and P. H. Gaarder moved to Spring Valley and bought 240 acres. Quite a number of natives of Voss, Norway, came and settled in the county. Julius Gilbert and Francis Smith 'shantied' on the s. e. qr. of section 34 in winter; A. B. came from Canada West to Beloit in May; and a boy came with his father to Sec. 25 (Turtle) in winter. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+67 more)

A Mississippi steamboat 130 feet long arrived at Janesville July 4 and made an excursion to Jefferson, stopping at villages along the river. Regional religious and educational events included Dietrichson's arrival at Milwaukee August 5 and at the Koshkonong settlement at the end of August, where he preached his first sermon in Amund Anderson's barn; Rev. Clausen's first visit to Rock County in winter; the establishment of St. Catherine's Catholic Church at Clinton; a Lutheran Church organized in Newark; a church edifice erected elsewhere; the Methodist Episcopal Church organized at Summerville; Milton Academy established and erected by Jos. Goodrich at his own expense, with a select school started in December; the red frame schoolhouse of the joint Rock and La Prairie districts erected; and the idea of Beloit College originating with ministers returning from a June convention at Cleveland, Ohio. John Cook sold out to John Shepard, who began erecting a grist-mill. Illness and death appeared: two children died of fever at Otter Creek in February, a bilious malarial fever epidemic attributed to the turning up of the soil passed through the state, Louisa died at home in Clinton, and Mr. Strunk died near Beloit. Weather and commerce included rain beginning May 10 and continuing about fifty days, Mr. Love's fanning-mill manufacturing at Rockton, and another effort to construct a railroad line from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+31 more)

Month by month

During 1844

Events the sources date only to the year.