USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 45
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June 24, 1497. The mainland of North America was dis- covered by the Cabots and formed the basis of English claims to territory in the New World.
May 23, 1609. The present State of Wisconsin was in- "luded in the "Great Patent" of the Plymouth Company.
1634. Jean Nicolet visited the Indians on the shores of Green Bay and was the first white man to set foot upon Wisconsin soil.
October, 1665. Claude Allonez, a Jesuit missionary, built a small bark chapel on Ashland Bay, the first structure of any kind erected by a white man in Wisconsin.
December, 1669. The mission of St. Francis Xavier founded by Clande Allouez.
May 2, 1670. The Hudson's Bay Company chartered and its agents sent trappers and traders into what is now Northern Wisconsin.
June 17, 1673. The Mississippi River was discovered by Marquette and Joliet at the mouth of the Wisconsin. near the present City of Prairie du Chien.
April 9, 1682. La Salle laid claim to all the country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries in the name of France and gave the country the name of "Louisiana." The western part of Wisconsin was included in that claim.
October 10, 1699 .- A fleet of eight canoes bearing a party of
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
French explorers entered the mouth of the Root River to seek shelter from a storm on Lake Michigan. These explorers were the first white men to visit what is now Racine County.
February 10, 1763. Treaty of Paris, which concluded the French and Indian War. All the French territory east of the Mississippi was ceded by this treaty to Great Britain and Wis- consin thereby became a British possession.
June, 1763. Pontiac's War, in which some of the posts in Wisconsin were destroyed by the Indians.
September 3. 1783. Treaty concluding the Revolutionary War negotiated. By this treaty Wisconsin became the territory of the United States.
July 13, 1787. Congress passes the famous "Ordinance of 1787." providing for the government of the territory northwest of the Ohio River, in which Wisconsin was included.
August 15, 1796. The Governor of the Northwest Territory issued a proclamation creating Wayne County, which included the eastern part of the present State of Wisconsin.
July 4, 1800. Indian Territory was organized embracing all Northwest Territory except the present State of Ohio.
June 30, 1805. Territory of Michigan established.
March 2, 1809. Territory of Illinois created, including the present State of Wisconsin.
October 26, 1818. Illinois having been admitted as a state, Wisconsin became a part of Michigan Territory, and on this date Gov. Lewis Cass by proclamation established the Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michilimackinac west of Lake Michigan.
July 29, 1829. The first lands in Wisconsin ceded to the United States by the Indians in the treaty of Prairie du Chien.
August 2. 1832. Battle of Bad Axe, in the Black Hawk War, was fought in what is now Vernon County, Wisconsin.
September 26, 1833. Treaty of Chicago, by which the ter- ritory now comprising Racine Conty was reded to the United States.
November, 1834. Capt. Gilbert Knapp, accompanied by three men, came to the mouth of the Root River and made the first settlement in Racine County.
January 9, 1836. Members of the Michigan Legislature living west of Lake Michigan met at Milwaukee and prepared
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a memorial to Congress asking for the organization of a new territory.
February 25, 1836. Root River Postoffice established and A. B. Saxton appointed postmaster. This was the first post- office in Southeastern Wisconsin.
April 20, 1836. President JJackson approved the act creating the Territory of Wisconsin.
April 30, 1836. Henry Dodge appointed Governor of Wis- consin Territory.
July 4, 1836. The Territorial Government of Wisconsin went into effect.
October 25, 1836. The first session of the Territorial Legis- lature was convened at Bebnont, in what is now Lafayette County.
December 7, 1836. Gov. Henry Dodge approved the act creating the County of Racine.
December 29, 1836. First wedding in the City of Racine solemized. The contracting parties were Alfred Cary and Mary Knight.
April 4, 1837. First election of county officers in the County of Racine.
January 2, 1838. The first civil townships in Racine County were established by act of the Legislature.
January 19, 1838. The Racine & Rock River Railroad Com- pany incorporated by act of the Legislature - the first charter granted to a railroad company in Racine County.
February 14, 1838. The first number of the Racine Argus, the first newspaper in the county, issued from the press.
December 22, 1838. Act of the Legislature authorizing the building of a territorial road from Racine to Madison.
March, 1839. Publie sale of Government lands in Raeine County conducted at Milwaukee.
August 31, 1839. The first Government Lighthouse at Racine went into operation. It stood on the bluff at the foot of Seventh Street and was torn down in 1876.
January 24, 1841. A great fire in Racine destroyed the furniture and fixtures of the Odd Fellows' Lodge and the pro- bate records of the county were burned.
February 13, 1841. Racine incorporated as village.
February 18, 1841. Board of County Commissioners abol-
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ished and a Board of Supervisors created by act of the Legis- lature.
April 12, 1841. First meeting of the Board of Village Trus- tees, elected a few days before.
January 22, 1843. The Racine Fire Department organized, the first volunteer company being accepted by the Board of Vil- lage Trustees.
June 8, 1844. The propeller "Racine" arrived and was presented with a stand of colors by the people of the village.
June 17, 1844. The first steam dredge arrived from Chi- rago and began the work of improving Racine Harbor.
July 4, 1844. The first celebration of Independence Day in the Village of Racine.
July 14, 1844. The first steamer - the "Chesapeake," Cap- tain Kelsey, master - entered the harbor at Racine.
-, 1844. The first threshing machine built by Jerome 1. Case in Racine County.
May 6, 1845. Congress Hall, Racine's new hotel, was opened for the accommodation of guests.
January 27, 1846. Marshall M. Strong's residence was de- stroyed by fire. His wife and two children perished in the flames.
April 30, 1846. A charter was issued to the first Odd Fel- lows' Lodge in Racine County. It was organized the fall be- fore.
August 6. 1846. President Polk approved the "Enabling Act," authorizing the people of Wisconsin Territory to adopt a constitution preparatory to admission as a state.
October 5, 1846. The first constitutional convention assem- bled. The constitution framed by this convention was rejected by the people.
November 2, 1847. The first Masonic Lodge in the county was organized at Racine "under dispensation."
December 15, 1847. The second constitutional convention met at Madison. It completed its work and adjourned on Feb- ruary 1, 1848.
March, 1848. On the second Monday of this month the constitution adpoted by the convention was ratified by popular vote.
May 8, 1848. The first state officers were elected.
Til
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ON STATE STREET BRIDGE LOOKING EAST. RACINE
FOURTH STREET BRIDGE, RACINE
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
May 29, 1848. Wisconsin admitted as a state.
June 5. 1848. The first State Legislature met at Madison.
August 8, 1848. Gov. Nelson Dewey approved the act of the Legislature providing for the incorporation of Racine as a city.
October 6, 1848. First meeting of the Racine City Council. 1850. The first city directory of Racine was pub- lished by Mark Miller.
September 27. 1851. The board of supervisors voted to purchase a tract of land in the Town of Yorkville for a poor farm.
November 18. 1851. Norman Clark and James Kinzie sold to the city thirty acres of land for Mound Cemetery; the re- mainder of the ground was purchased from Dr. M. R. Teegarden.
May 5, 1852. The cornerstone of the first Racine College building was laid.
June 5, 1852. Mound Cemetery formally dedicated.
February 9. 1853. Wisconsin State Agricultural Society incorporated.
March 4, 1853. State Historical Society of Wisconsin was incorporated. The members from Racine County were I. O. Bennett, Dr. B. B. Cary, John W. Cary, Champion C. Chase, Michael Frank, Marshall M. Strong. Philo White and Frederick S. Lovell. The last named was vice-president of the society at one time.
November 15, 1853. The first bank in Racine County was chartered by act of the Legislature.
March 10, 1854. Joshua Glover, a negro living in Racine County, was kidnaped under the "Fugitive Slave Law." Great excitement followed and Glover was liberated.
February 24, 1855. The Racine Gas Light & Coke Com- pany was incorporated.
December 24, 1857. A class of ten was graduated in the Racine High School. This is said to have been the first high school class ever graduated in the state.
October 18, 1858. The City Council voted to establish a police force for Racine.
October, 1859. The first carload of coal was brought to Racine. "to see if it could be used for fuel."
February 24, 1861. A great "War Meeting" was held in
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the Courthouse at Racine. Resolutions were adopted condemn- ing secession and pledging support to Lincoln's administration.
May 2, 1861. Racine's first military company left for Camp Randall at Madison.
January 4, 1866. A fire near the corner of Fifth and Wis- consin Streets destroyed property worth $150,000.
October 1, 1867. The first steam fire engine was purchased for the Racine Department.
March 14, 1870. The Racine County Old Settlers' Society was organized at a meeting in the Courthouse.
December 25, 1870. The Racine Woolen Mills were de- stroyed by fire, causing a loss of $50,000. The mills were im- mediately rebuilt.
January 14, 1871. A great snowstorm throughout lowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin; the snow drifted in places to a depth of six or eight feet and travel was impeded for several days.
JJuly 17, 1872. The Taylor Orphan Asylum at Racine was opened.
-, 1875. In the fall of this year the first vessel was wrecked upon the Racine reef. The vessel was the "Merchant," the first iron propeller built for the navigation of the Great Lakes.
July 4, 1876. The cornerstone of the present Courthouse was laid with appropriate ceremonies.
February 13, 1877. The Baptist Church, on the corner of Main and Sixth Streets, was destroyed by fire.
May 2, 1882. A great fire destroyed practically all the property in the district east of Main Street, from Third Street to the river. The loss was nearly half a million dollars.
May 18, 1883. A destructive tornado passed over part of the City of Racine. Property was wrecked, eight people killed and a large number injured.
May 23, 1883. A franchise was granted by the City Coun- eil to the Belle City Street Railway Company. This was the beginning of Racine's street railway system.
July 4, 1884. Racine Soldiers' Monument was dedicated.
March 18, 1886. A franchise was granted to the Racine Water Company by the City Comeil.
February 1, 1887. The people of Racine first supplied with water by the new waterworks.
Jume 20, 1887. An ordinance was passed by the City Coun-
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cil granting to John Rodgers the use of the streets and alleys for the purpose of establishing an electric light plant. This was the first move toward electric light in Racine.
December 15, 1893. The present County Jail was com- pleted and accepted by the Board of Supervisors.
July 22, 1895. A franchise was granted to the Wisconsin Telephone Company to establish an exchange in Racine.
May 28, 1898. The first company left Racine for service in the Spanish-American War.
May 1, 1903. The Racine County Medieal Society was or- ganized.
February 19, 1904. County Insane Asylum destroyed by fire.
January 25, 1905. The first Board of Park Commissioners was appointed by Mayor Peter B. Nelson.
June 26. 1915. Laving of the cornerstone of the Young Men's Christian Association Building, southeast corner of Fourth and Wisconsin Streets. .
June 30-July 4, 1916. Home Coming and Reunion of Spanish- ish-American War Veterans at Racine.
POSTSCRIPT - IN LIEU OF A PREFACE
To write of the good and true: to preserve some record of by-gone days: to record the deeds and achievements of our an- cestors: to keep green their memory, that we may emulate their good examples and profit by their mistakes, is a duty that every- one owes to a common humanity.
It was with thoughts such as these in mind that the present History of Racine County was undertaken. Our task is done - how well it has been performed the reader must determine. But in saying good-by, the editors and publishers desire to state that no effort has been spared to give to the people of Racine County a history that is both authentic and comprehensive. Authentic, because, so far as possible. the official records have been used as sources of information: and comprehensive. be- vanse, it is believed, no important event in the county's history has been neglected.
The work has been one involving great care and labor, and much credit is due to old residents for their ready and willing co-operation in the collection of data relating to early events.
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The division of the work into topies and the arrangement of these topies into chapters is, we believe, the best that could have been made for the convenience of the student of local history, by making it easy for him to find readily any desired subject.
The editors and their assistants take this opportunity of acknowledging their obligations to the county and city officials and their aids in the different offices, and especially to thank the attaches of the Racine Public Library for their uniform con- tesies while the work was in course of preparation.
THE END
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