The chronology
1848
159 published events.
Overview
In 1848 Wisconsin moved from territory to statehood. A second constitutional convention finished a constitution in February, voters elected state officers including Nelson Dewey as governor in May, Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, and the first state legislature convened in June. The first legislature established the University of Wisconsin, created circuit courts, and incorporated the Madison & Beloit Railroad Company. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+12 more)
In Beloit, the Beloit Journal issued its first number in June, Beloit College advanced with Bushnell elected to the mathematics chair, Joseph Emerson arriving to take charge, and the preparatory department inaugurated in fall. Jackson J. Bushnell first came to Beloit in April. The Du Lac Academy was incorporated in February, and in December the Journal reported the village population as 1,678. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+14 more)
Across Rock County, Janesville gained a telegraph line from Milwaukee in December, its first Circuit Court term convened in September, and a census in March put its population at 1,812. New towns including Harmony, Fulton, Avon, and Plymouth held first meetings or were organized, and the year brought settlers, births, marriages, and deaths across the region. ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ ↗ (+11 more)
Month by month
- Winter 1848The first school in Footville was opened by Julius Gilbert in Mr. Foot's old log building.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 1, 1848Western Star Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M. was chartered.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- January 18, 1848An election was held at the Masonic Lodge.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 1848A farm of seventy-three acres in Rock County was purchased.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 1848Subscription books were opened for a railroad company associated with Randall.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 1, 1848The second constitutional convention completed the constitution and adjourned.The regionGrade A · 3 independent sources
- February 21, 1848The territorial legislature approved an act authorizing A. Hyatt Smith, Ira Miltimore and associates to erect a dam across Rock river.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- February 28, 1848An act of incorporation was obtained for the Du Lac Academy.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- March 1848A census showed the population of Janesville to be 1,812, in 318 families.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1848An unnamed settler came to Wisconsin and located at Beloit, where he farmed.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1848The Crossman family came to Wisconsin; one son settled at Beloit.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 1848The voters of Fulton held their first town meeting at the house of William B. Foster.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 1848The first town meeting of Avon was held at the house of William Crippen.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- Spring 1848James Sutherland opened a book and stationery store in Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- April 4, 1848The first town meeting of Harmony was held at the schoolhouse near Mount Zion.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 7, 1848Hodson's Brewery in Janesville was destroyed by fire, along with Hodson's residence.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- May 8, 1848William Pitt Lynde was elected Member of Congress for the First District.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 8, 1848State officers were elected, including Nelson Dewey for governor.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 8, 1848John E. Holmes, Thomas McHugh, Jarius C. Fairchild, James S. Brown, and Eleazer Root were elected to state offices.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 9, 1848An act of congress concerning the Wabash and Erie canal grant was approved.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 16, 1848The Rock County Bible Society was organized at a meeting at the Court House; a Treasurer was elected at its formation.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- May 23, 1848Bushnell was elected to the chair of mathematics in Beloit College.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- May 24, 1848Joseph Emerson arrived at Beloit and was invited to assume charge of the young college.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- June 1848Trinity Church in Janesville was finished and dedicated.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- June 5, 1848The first session of the State Legislature began; Lynde took his seat in Congress the same day.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 7, 1848A grand concert by the "original band of Ethiopian serenaders" was given at the Rock County Hotel.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 8, 1848Governor Dewey delivered his first message to a joint convention of the two houses; United States senators were elected the same day.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 22, 1848The first issue of the Beloit Journal appeared; passages give June 22, June 28, and June 29.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 23, 1848Dodge and Walker took their seats in the United States Senate.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- June 29, 1848An act providing for the election of judges and organization of the judiciary was approved.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- Summer 1848A minister was ordained at Schohairie, N. Y., and began pastoral duties in Chicago; his work had resulted in the organization of a Chicago congregation in 1848.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 1848The legislature elected statute-revision commissioners.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- July 26, 1848The legislature approved an act establishing the University of Wisconsin.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 1848The statute-revision commissioners commenced their labors.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 7, 1848Edward V. Whiton was chosen Judge of the First Judicial Circuit at an election held the first Monday of August.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 8, 1848An act creating a board of public works was approved.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 10, 1848An act exempting certain personal property from forced sale was approved.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 17, 1848Surveys were commenced in Rock county for the Rock River Valley railroad.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- August 19, 1848A charter was granted the Madison & Beloit Railroad Company by an act of the first legislature.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 7, 1848The Milwaukee and Galena Telegraph Company was organized, with A. Hyatt Smith as president.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 18, 1848The first term of the Circuit Court for Rock County convened at the Court House in Janesville, Judge Whiton presiding.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 20, 1848The first civil case was tried by a jury, "Benjamin Cheeney vs. Daniel Blodgett and Herman Hill," returning a verdict for the plaintiff.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- September 28, 1848A meeting of railroad commissioners was noticed in the Beloit Journal.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1848The preparatory department of Beloit College was inaugurated.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1848Two unnamed lawyers resolved to remove to the West, later settling in Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1848The Beloit Seminary school was moved to the Middle College building.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1848Gen. Crabb's paper changed hands after he was nominated as the Free-soil candidate for Congress; the Rock County Democrat was suspended following the presidential election.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- Fall 1848J. R. Briggs bought out his partner's interest in the Beloit Journal and continued publication alone.BeloitGrade A · 2 independent sources
- October 7, 1848Mr. Miltimore commenced building his house in "Miltimore's addition," or Monterey.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 12, 1848A new hotel in Janesville was opened by landlords Churchill and Sibley.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 13, 1848Cassoday arrived in Janesville and located there.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- October 18, 1848The Menomonee nation ceded all their lands in the state to the United States at Pow-aw-hay-kon-nay.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- October 18, 1848The Archaean Society of Beloit College was organized.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- November 7, 1848Robert C. Cowan was elected Sheriff; at this election a vote on "equal suffrage to colored persons" was taken.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- November 24, 1848A supplementary treaty was made with the Stockbridges.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 6, 1848The Beloit Journal published an issue reporting the population of the village of Beloit as 1,678.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- December 15, 1848The telegraph line reached Janesville from Milwaukee and began operating.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- December 20, 1848A meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Madison & Beloit Railroad Company was held at Janesville, with stock subscriptions agreed to.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
During 1848
Events the sources date only to the year.
- 1848Mr. Millett bought 240 acres of Government land in Section 9.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The earliest school on the west side of the river in Beloit was taught by Miss Foot.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The lower water/dam was improved and completed by Ira Miltimore.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848An unnamed citizen was a member of the first legislature.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Farmers' Mill was built near West Milwaukee street, Janesville; passages credit it to Eli Jones and to Andrew B. Johns.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1848From 1840 to 1848 six companies of United States soldiers had been kept in Wisconsin to protect citizens and remove renegade Winnebagoes.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848James Sutherland became the first superintendent of schools in Janesville township.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Excelsior Mills were built by Hamilton Richardson.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848H. Hyatt Smith and others purchased a tax title of Wisconsin City for $800.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Madison & Beloit Railway Company was incorporated at the first session of the legislature.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Circuit Courts were established under the new constitution; Levi Hubbell and Charles H. Larrabee were elected circuit judges in 1848.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848A Free-Soil supporter was elected to the legislature, one of thirteen Free Soilers in that body.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Spaulding brothers divided their land, Joseph taking 480 acres and William 560 acres.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848William Hodson operated the first brewery in Janesville; during the year the building was struck by lightning and destroyed, and Hodson rebuilt.Rock CountyGrade A · 2 independent sources
- 1848The first state legislature passed school laws creating the office of state superintendent, district boards, town superintendents, town libraries, and school-fund distribution.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The first telegraph wire running into Janesville came from Milwaukee.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848A new school building was erected (replacing one used until 1848).Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848William Winston built and occupied the first store in the place north of Union, shifting business from the village of Union.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848A Norwegian brick church was built in the town of Clinton at a cost of $800.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848Dr. Babcock was elected to the state legislative assembly from the Milton district.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848John King owned and operated the first carriage and wagon factory in Janesville.Rock CountyGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848Sinsinawa Mound College was founded through the labors of Father Mazzuchelli.The regionGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad was built through the town.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848A lawyer (unnamed) was appointed United States Attorney by President Polk.Nation and worldGrade A · 1 independent source
- 1848The Beloit College library was begun; Prof. Bushnell secured books from Eastern friends and obtained the Saybrook scholarship of $500.BeloitGrade A · 1 independent source