The chronology
1846
181 published events.
Overview
In Beloit, 1846 brought the incorporation of the village by the territorial legislature, followed by the first election of village officers, and the organization of the town of Turtle. The Beloit College charter was granted in February, campus lots were deeded in October, and Beloit pledged a ten-acre site plus a $7,000 subscription for the first building; the trustees voted in April not to accept the charter as amended. The Beloit Messenger was first issued in September, an Odd Fellows lodge and a Masonic lodge were instituted, a Congregational society was organized in December, and the Methodist society erected a church edifice; the first recorded Catholic services in Rock County were held in a private house in Beloit. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+8 more)
Elsewhere in Rock County, the legislature organized or incorporated several towns (Oak, Magnolia, Spring Valley, Newark), the town of Center was divided, and a June census counted a county population given as 12,405. Janesville saw a flour-mill begun, the Janesville Academy opened, the Janesville Gazette began its second volume, the Rock County Democrat was established, and a stage line to Milwaukee commenced. A Rock County crop of 700,000 bushels of wheat was reported, and settlers arrived through the year in Beloit, Janesville, Newark, Milton, Magnolia, Harmony and other townships, many buying government land. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+16 more)
In the wider region and nation, Wisconsin moved toward statehood: an enabling act was approved in January, Congress passed it in August, a constitutional convention assembled at Madison in October and completed its work in December, and early efforts toward a State Agricultural Society were made during the convention session. Congress also granted capitol lands and land for improving the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. The Mexican War began, reported in the Janesville Gazette in May. Carroll College was established at Waukesha, and the American Missionary Association was organized at Albany. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+6 more)
Month by month
- January 1846Services of a Janesville church (later consecrated 1848) were held, from January 1846, in the stone building known as the Janesville Academy.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 1846Until January 1846, another Janesville congregation held services in the small brick school house on the corner of Milwaukee and Bluff streets.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 1846The Janesville Academy was opened (the passage says "about January 1"); a 1908 biography likewise states that an academic school was established in Janesville in 1846.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 13, 1846Ground (ice) was broken for a flour-mill at the south end of the race at Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 14, 1846Morgan L. Martin, territorial delegate, introduced in the House of Representatives a bill to enable Wisconsin to adopt a constitution and form a state government.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 17, 1846A report was made by A. Power (Beloit village business).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 18, 1846The trustees of the Beloit "Church and Society" resolved to purchase the present site, and $100 was paid for it.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 2, 1846A charter was granted to Beloit College by the Territorial Legislature.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 2, 1846The town of Spring Valley was organized by act of the Legislature (see the conflicting 1846–47 reading above).The regionGrade A · 2 independent sources
- February 2, 1846The town of Turtle was organized by act of the Legislature.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 2, 1846A town in the northwestern part of the county was incorporated by the name of Oak (its boundaries and name were changed the next year).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 2, 1846The town of Newark was organized by act of the Legislature, including the present town of Avon.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 2, 1846The town of Magnolia was organized/set off from Center; a conflicting 1879 reading places the setting-off of Spring Valley and Magnolia in the legislative session of 1846–47.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- February 24, 1846The territorial legislature passed an act incorporating the village of Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 1846A tri-weekly stage line owned by Frink & Walker commenced running between Janesville and Milwaukee.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 1846A Janesville man was elected Justice of the Peace (held the office about three years).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 5, 1846Peck came to Wisconsin and settled on his present homestead (Milton area), having visited Wisconsin the previous year.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 13, 1846Gullek Olsen bought the S.E. ¼ [of a section, Rock County land].Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1846A settler located at La Prairie, Sec. 11, purchasing a 160-acre farm from the Government.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1846A Rhode Island-born carpenter came to Wisconsin and located in Rock County, buying 160 acres of government land.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1846A law student was admitted to the bar by the District Court of Walworth County.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1846A settler was elected Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1846Jonathan Cook took up 160 acres in what is now Magnolia Township and built a log house.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 1, 1846The town of Newark held its first town meeting at the house of I. D. Marvin and elected its first officers.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 7, 1846The first election of village officers was held in Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 7, 1846The first town meeting was held at Shopiere (Turtle), with James Chamberlin chairman and Horace Rice clerk.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 14, 1846The Beloit College trustees voted not to accept the charter as amended.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 1846[Merrill] came to Beloit about the middle of May and took charge of the Beloit Seminary.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 1846At a vestry meeting during Mr. Millett's rectorship, it was decided to erect a church edifice.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 16, 1846The Janesville Gazette announced editorially that hostilities in Mexico had actually commenced.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 19, 1846Thomas Sherlock, M. W. [title and action cut off in the passage], acted in connection with the organization of the Beloit Odd Fellows lodge.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 1846A census of Rock County was completed, its schedule published on the 27th of the month; the 1856 history gives the county's 1846 population as 12,405.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 1846John P. Fonda came to Turtle, settled on one and a quarter acres, then bought forty acres.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 7, 1846A tract (N.E. ¼ of Sec. 21, T.1, R.11) was registered to Mary Goun.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 1846A Norwegian settler in Newark took up forty acres of Government land in Section 8.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 1846Mr. Buckley/Bulkley's supply of the pulpit ended; the 1879 history says he was succeeded by Rev. Hiram Foote in July; the 1856 history says "the summer of 1846."BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Summer 1846The lands within the town (on Rock prairie) were mostly taken up and settled by emigrants from New England and New York.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 8, 1846A Vermont-born settler came to Rock County and bought ninety-five acres on Sec. 1.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 31, 1846Rev. Clausen arrived as resident minister of the Luther Valley Church, accepting a call tendered December 29, 1845.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 1846George W. Crabb established the Rock County Democrat at Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 6, 1846The congressional enabling act for Wisconsin statehood became law.Nation and worldGrade A · 2 independent sources
- August 6, 1846Ten entire sections (6,400 acres) of "Capitol Lands" were donated by act of congress for completing/erecting public buildings at the seat of government.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 8, 1846Congress approved an act granting land to aid the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and to connect them by canal.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 9, 1846[Burdick] came to Wisconsin and settled in Johnstown, Rock Co.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 11, 1846E-ne-we-shin-e-gras Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Beloit (renamed Myrtle in 1847).BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- August 22, 1846The second volume of the Janesville Gazette was commenced with increased facilities and an improved appearance.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 1846Mr. Tompkins sold out his interest (in a Beloit newspaper) in the latter part of September, and Mr. Alden became sole proprietor.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 4, 1846The Beloit Messenger, published by Cooley & Civer, was first issued.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- September 19, 1846The Gazette co-partnership with Levi Alden (begun December 13, 1845) ended.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 1846A settler came to Beloit (he moved to Avon in May 1849).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 1846Campus lots were deeded to the college board, and a visitor to Beloit was shown the stakes marking the ground-plan of Middle College.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1846Mr. Stevens began the construction of the Stevens House on the corner of Milwaukee and Franklin streets, Janesville West Side.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1846An event concerning the Milton M. E. Church (the passage breaks off before stating the event).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1846Mr. Loss stopped conducting the Beloit Seminary and was succeeded by Sereno T. Merrill, who reorganized the seminary (the 1908 passages give the year only).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1846A. and Abigail A. (Nye) Palmer came to Wisconsin with two children and settled on Sec. 9, Milton.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 5, 1846The first Constitutional Convention assembled at Madison to draft a state constitution (the act specified the first Monday in October). One 1908 passage instead states that the convention met in December 1846.The regionGrade A · 2 independent sources
- November 1846Dr. Chittenden settled in Janesville and began practice.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- November 28, 1846Elder Charles Button was engaged as pastor (remaining until 1849).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 1846The earliest efforts to establish a State Agricultural Society were made at Madison during the convention session; a constitution was adopted.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 2, 1846Morning Star Lodge No. 10, F. and A. M., was organized at Beloit under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 6, 1846The Congregational Society was organized in Erastus Dean's kitchen.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 16, 1846The constitutional convention completed its labors; the constitution was adopted in convention and the convention adjourned.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
During 1846
Events the sources date only to the year.
- 1846The first Catholic services recorded in Rock County were held in Beloit by Rev. Father McKernan, who celebrated mass in the house of Captain Powers.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The Chamberlin family moved to Beloit, to a farm a few miles west of Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1846Some 1,250 Winnebagoes came back from Iowa and settled along the Fox and Wisconsin, Kickapoo and Lemonweir valleys.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Beloit pledged a ten-acre site for the college and the erection of the first building, raising a subscription of $7,000.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A town (not named in the passage) that had been part of Union was organized into a separate town by legislative act.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The first church of the town (Bradford per the 1879/1908 histories) was organized by the Methodists (called "Episcopal Methodists" in 1856).Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Rev. Stephen Peet of Beloit organized a church (called Union church).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A Walworth-county resident was elected judge of probate.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The last wild turkey in the eastern portion of the state was seen/killed.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Rock County officers for 1846 included Sheriff Volney Atwood, Register of Deeds George H. [surname cut off], and Ira Jones [office cut off].Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846John J. Van Kirk came to Rock County and located in Harmony Township.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846From 1846 to 1856 [Andrewson] organized congregations at Mission Point, Lisbon, Leland and Fox River, Ills., and at Racine, Milwaukee and Muskego, Wis.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A town (not named in the passage) was organized; it had previously been part of the town of Newark.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The state university lands (seventy-two sections set apart in 1838) were selected, in 1845 and 1846.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A church edifice (Beloit) was erected — the Methodist society's building.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Erastus C. Smith came to Rock County from Oneida Co., N. Y.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846B. Carpenter conducted a small exchange banking business (buying drafts of grain-dealers, cashing checks).BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846As early as 1846, Catholic missionaries labored in Janesville; Father Morrisy, one of three Catholic priests in Wisconsin, was the first to visit Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The first school in the vicinity of Orford was taught by Miss Clara Sprague.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A Methodist church was organized with nine members by Rev. Matthew Bennett.Nation and worldGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1846In the year 1846, it was reported that 700,000 bushels of wheat were raised in the county.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Carroll College was established at Waukesha by the Presbyterian church.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846On the first Sunday in Advent 1846, the Luther Valley Church consisted of sixty-five families, 171 communicants and 250 members.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A business (Eiker and associates) sold out to Bates & Jenkins.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The American Missionary Association was organized at Albany.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The financial management of Alfred Academy (New York) was placed in [Greenman's] hands.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Rev. Jeremiah Murphy's preaching to a congregation of thirteen persons ended some time in 1846.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Settlers came to Janesville in 1846: Mr. Alden (grocery business), Haselton, Mr. Jeffris, a Cattaraugus Co. N. Y. settler, and a Monroe Co. N. Y. settler.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Emanuel Corker/Canker arrived from Whitewater, erected a frame house, and (about 1846) built a mill.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The first wooden bridge across the river at "this place" was built by private subscription.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846William Stewart received 101 votes in a town election.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The dam in the river broke, flooding a meat-market basement on West Milwaukee street, and the owner moved his business.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846An act of the legislature of 1846 amended the Janesville dam act, providing for a head of four feet and a lock.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846Macloon built his residence, the first substantial frame house west of the river (Janesville).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The Episcopal Methodists organized a small class at Mr. Youngs' (town of Rock).Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846W. Trask/Frask conducted a furniture factory (on Main street opposite the public square, Janesville).Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1846Rev. Zadock Hall supplied the desk from September 1845 to 1846.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846The town of Center was divided into Center, Spring Valley, Plymouth, Magnolia, etc., according to the government survey of townships.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1846A Whig nominee (later a Janesville judge) was nominated for Congress and elected.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources