Once Upon a House

The chronology

1845

97 published events.

Overview

In Beloit, 1845 saw the third college convention meet on May 27 and the fourth on October 21, the latter adopting a charter and appointing a Board of Trustees that first met October 23; the college was located at Beloit, and Rev. Henry Barber of Dutchess County, N. Y. presented 160 acres as the first donation outside of Beloit. David Noggle became Postmaster; a merchant from Buffalo commenced business; a tavern-keeper bought eighty acres in Section 4 and built a log house; Alvin B. Carpenter came to Beloit; a large brick house with a Corinthian-columned portico was built; the first bridge across Rock River at Indian Ford was built by private subscription with Stephen Allen as builder; and a Methodist Episcopal committee estimated the cost of a church, circulated a subscription list, and commenced a building. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+5 more)

Elsewhere in Rock County, Janesville gained institutions and industry: the Janesville Gazette was first published August 14 by Alden & Stoddard; James McClurg was engaged to erect the Big Mill; Thomas Shaw and John M. May conducted the first agricultural implement manufactory; Mr. King's shop produced the first buggy; a flouring mill; the Janesville dam was considered finished by Hanchett Brothers; a select school was started and the Janesville Academy building erected on Division street; 273 school children were counted; the First Congregational Church of Janesville was organized February 11; and Moses S. Prichard came to associate with A. Wyatt Smith in law practice. The territorial legislature's act of February 24 set Rock County apart as an election district, and the town of Lima was set off from Milton, holding its first town election April 1. Guy Stoughton contracted to build a dam at the foot of Lake Koshkonong; a post office was established at Bachelor's Grove (Footville), where the first store was opened by John D. Chambers; the free-school act was ratified by a small majority in the fall; and numerous settlers arrived and took up land throughout the county. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+13 more)

Beyond Rock County, the wider region saw the first free school in the state legally organized, and Halvor H. Husemoen came to Rock Prairie with his father, where the first church organization on Rock Prairie was made by Diedrichson. Henry Dodge was appointed governor of Wisconsin Territory in April. Nationally, Milwaukee grain exports commenced, amounting to 213,448 bushels; lead production attained its maximum, nearly 25,000 tons; the wheat crop of 1845 commenced the blight; Lewis Cass was the Democratic nominee for president; and Uriah Goodrich died September 2. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+3 more)

Month by month

During 1845

Events the sources date only to the year.