USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. II > Part 2
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There was no store kept here at that time, but Dr. Heath had a small stock of goods for sale at East Wisconsin City.
Quite a number of other settlers came in 1837, among them being Seymour Stoughton, Harvey Storey, George II. Williston, E. J. Hassard, George R. Ramsey and Daniel A. Richardson and family.
Not all of these persons settled in what is now the city of Janesville, but they took up claims in Rock county, and were nearly all in Janesville on rainy days and Sundays, congregated at Stevens' hotel, so that they were accounted residents.
Richardson had a claim just east of Mt. Zion near the Menzies farm; Ramsey, a claim near the Brace place up the river. Has- sard had a claim near Milton; Williston was just east of the Spaulding claims. Harvey Storey had a little shelter built in the northwest corner of the courthouse park, and was sharpening plows and doing rough blacksmith work.
The first religious service was held here in July or the first of August, 1837, by an itinerant Methodist minister, who came in on horseback, and held service in the open air under a large oak tree.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
1838.
In 1838 a number of additional settlers arrived, among them Theodore Kendall and wife. Mrs. Kendall has just died (Decem- ber, 1907), having been a resident of Janesville for nearly seventy years.
In the fall of 1838 Charles Stevens erected a new hotel on the site of the present Myers house, called the Janesville Stage house. Under his able management this tavern was long known as the best publie house west of Lake Michigan. On going into the new hotel, he sold the old Janes hotel to J. P. Diekson.
In the winter of 1838 and 1839 Hiram Brown taught a few children in a log schoolhouse in the southeast part of the city, being the first school in Janesville.
1839.
February 13, 1839, a territorial act was passed organizing Rock county and separating it from Racine county, to which it had formerly been attached, and also reestablishing the county seat at Janesville. An election was held, in which Lucius G. Fisher was elected sheriff; W. II. H. Bailey, register of deeds; W. S. Murray, William Spaulding and E. J. Hassard county commissioners. There had been an informal election for justices of the peace before this, in which Daniel Smiley and Hiram Brown had been elected, and they had been serving for some time.
In the proceedings to locate the county seat, the little settle- ment had to be given "a local habitation and a name," and Gen- erals Dodge and Sheldon and Knapp suggested the name of "Janesville," owing to the county seat being located upon the fractional quarter section which Mr. Janes had entered, and be- eause of his tireless efforts in procuring the location of the county seat at this place, when it was opposed by all the other settle- ments in the county.
The first aet establishing the county seat (act 12, laws 1837-8, approved December 27, 1837) did not mention the name of "Janesville," but simply provided "that the seat of justice in Rock county should be on part of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 36, town 3, range 12," being the tract claimed by Janes. The name had been mentioned in the laws a year previous, how- ever. In aet 33, laws of 1836, approved December 8, 1836, a com-
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mission was appointed to lay out a territorial road from Lake Michigan to Rock river "to terminate at or near Janesville on said river." Mr. Janes, in a letter from California published in "History of Rock County," 1879, gives another account of the naming of Janesville, as follows: "I had first given it the name of "Black Hawk," it having been one of the old warrior's camp- ing grounds, and sent up a petition to the postoffice department for a postoffice of that name, and recommended myself as post- master. Amos Kendall, at that time postmaster general, refused to establish an office by that name, as there was one already bear- ing that name in what is now Iowa, but then a part of Wisconsin territory, and gave the names 'Janesville' to the postoffice."
The first session of the Rock county district court was held in Janesville in 1839, using as a courthouse one of the rooms in the Janesville Stage house, and as a jury room a small frame building adjacent thereto. Judge Irving presided, and Dr. Guy Stoughton was appointed clerk of the court.
In February, 1839, range 13, comprising the towns of Milton, Harmony, La Prairie and Turtle, was brought into the market, and in September of the same year, the fractional part of range 12 east of the river was also put into the market. This made all the location of Janesville subject to purchase.
In 1839 the first store in Janesville was started by Thomas Lappin, and a Mr. Ward, of Milwaukee, in a frame building erected by Volney Atwood, where the Jenkins store now is on South Main street; it was used as a carpenter shop when first erected for a short time, and then rented to Lappin & Ward. After being in business a short time, Lappin & Ward had some difficulty, and the store went out of business for about six months. Mr. Lappin then bought the corner where the Hayes block now is, and built a wooden store building, occupying it as a general store. When he started his store here, Mr. Lappin walked to Chicago to purchase his stock of goods; in those days the results had to be accomplished regardless of the hardships encountered.
In August, 1839, Mr. Janes removed from Janesville west- ward, as there were getting to be too many settlers here, and he found that the county could take his preemption. Janes was a typical frontiersman, and his name is perpetuated in Janesville, Minn., and Janesville, Iowa, as well as in Wisconsin, and perhaps in places farther west. On December 17, 1866, he wrote a letter
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
to the "Gazette" from Camp Curtis, Cal., which was published in the "Gazette" of January 31, 1867, in which he gives his expe- rience in settling Janesville, and ends up in the following words : "In the fall of 1849, the Pacific coast put an end to my further progress towards the setting sun, and as I never varied much from north to south, my wanderings are at an end. I managed to keep ahead of all railroads and telegraphs, and now, in my sixty-third year, I have never yet seen a railroad or a telegraph."
1840.
Under a law of congress, a county could secure a preëmption to any quarter section of land upon which a county seat should be located; so that when the land was put on the market, the board of county commissioners, consisting of W. B. Sheldon, J. J. R. Pease, James Bemis, S. P. Stoughton, Guy Stoughton, Charles Stevens, Volney Atwood and Theodore Kendall entered the quar- ter section which had been platted by Mr. Janes. Mr. Janes was ignorant of this law until he found himself simply a tenant, as was each of the others to whom he had sold; but friction was avoided by the commissioners deeding back to the claimants for a nominal consideration, the portions which they were occupy- ing.
In May, 1840, the county commissioners made a new plat, sup- posedly, but which in fact had very few changes from Mr. Janes' plat. This plat became "the original plat of the village of Janes- ville."
As showing the importance at that time of river communica- tion, two public landings upon the east side of the river were laid out, but their intended use has not materialized in the years following.
In 1840, the cemetery was located in the block where the Third Ward school now is, and burials were made there until 1851 or 1852.
The first public school was opened during the summer of 1840 in a log building near north Main street near General Sheldon's residence, which was taught by Miss Cornelia Sheldon, his daugh- ter.
1841.
In the month of February, 1841, the county commissioners took measures looking towards the erection of a courthouse. The
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contract was let to D. A. Richardson, but not much work was done upon it during that year.
The postoffice had changed hands upon the removal of Janes, D. F. Kimball holding the place for a short time afterwards, and J. L. Kimball being appointed upon his resignation. The last appointee held for a number of years, not being removed until January, 1849.
In the latter part of 1841, a select school was opened by Har- rison Stebbins.
1842.
In January, 1842, the courthouse was raised and roofed, but was not completed for occupancy until December of this year. This courthouse was back of the present courthouse, and near South First street or St. Lawrence avenue. It was nearly oppo- site the Morris Smith residence.
A log jail was also built on Main street opposite the Lewis Knitting Company's building; it remained here but a few years, however, when another jail was built in the courthouse park.
In 1842 the first bridge over Rock river was built by Charles Stevens, Thomas Lappin and W. H. H. Bailey. It was a private enterprise with them, and was operated as a toll bridge for near- ly ten years. It was erected where the Milwaukee street bridge now is, at a cost of $2,000.
In December, 1842, A. Hyatt Smith located in Janesville, coming overland from Chicago with team and farm wagon con- taining his family, servant and baggage. There was consider- able snow on the ground, and they had much trouble in getting through the drifts, but finally arrived safely by the help of Mr. Sears, a resident who was returning from Chicago after purchas- ing some goods. From the time of his arrival, Mr. Smith took a prominent part in the business enterprises of Janesville.
1843.
In the spring of 1843 the first permanent Methodist church was organized by Rev. Boyd Phillips; it had nine members, and Mr. John Winn was appointed leader.
In this year a census taken showed the population to be 333 persons.
In 1843 the territorial legislature authorized by a charter granted to A. Hyatt Smith, Charles Stevens, W. H. H. Bailey and
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Lewis E. Stone, the building of a dam across Rock river at a point where the upper dam now is. Nothing was done under this charter until the latter part of 1844.
In 1843 the first lumber yard was established at Janesville by Elbridge G. Fifield, near the west end of where now the Court street bridge is situated. Mr. Fifield had moved to Wisconsin from Vermont in June, 1837, and had preëmpted a claim about three miles above Jefferson; he worked winters in getting out logs and in a lumber mill at Bark river, and in the spring rafted the lumber down the river, going as far south as Dixon, Ill. Prior to the establishment of this lumber yard, the lumber was bought from these rafts when they floated through Janesville, as the parties desired the lumber. From the time of the establish- ment of this yard in 1843, a lumber yard has been operated in Janesville by the same Fifield family until the present time; the three brothers of E. G. Fifield, Thomas B., Leavitt and David, were associated together at various times, and now the yard has been owned for some years by the son of Elbridge. Other lum- ber yards were established soon after by Uriah Schutt, A. P. Lovejoy and others.
1844.
The first brick block for business purposes was erected by Daniel A. Richardson; this was three stories high and known as the Commercial block, and was a portion of the block where J. M. Bostwick & Sons store now is on Main street. There was a house and little store building occupied by Ward & Lappin, moved away to make room for the brick block. This small store building was moved farther south on Main street just below where J. L. Bear's residence is and incorporated into a house, which is still standing.
July 4, 1844, a steamboat from the Mississippi river arrived at Janesville, and taking on the major portion of the inhabitants, made an excursion to Jefferson. This was a regular Mississippi boat, 130 feet long, and holding a large number of people. They got by the bridge at Milwaukee street, but when they reached Ft. Atkinson, there was a bridge across the river which they could not get under, and they desired the proprietors to remove part of it so that they could get by ; the proprietors refused and there was nearly a riot, but the passengers greatly outnumbered
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
the whole population of Ft. Atkinson, and, as there was such a determination to go by, the proprietors finally acceded and took out a bent, allowing the boat to pass. The excursion party stayed all night at Jefferson and returned the next day. In returning, some weeks running excursions, but in the fall the captain started back for the Mississippi river, and thus ended navigation from the Mississippi up the Rock.
In the fall of this year, a dam was built across the river about three miles up by Gilbert Dolsen, known as Dolsen's dam. Hanchett Brothers were interested in this project, and a sawmill was built there, but only operated a very short time. Smith, Bailey & Stone had contracted with a Mr. Phillips to build the upper dam in Janesville, but while he was getting out material and preparing to build he was taken suddenly sick and died. The building of this dam would destroy the Dolsen dam, so they entered into a new contract with Hanchett Brothers, who were interested in the Dolsen dam, to build a Janesville dam. It was not finished by them until 1845.
A hotel called the Rock County House was opened by Volney Atwood at the corner of Main and Court streets, where the Ma- sonic Block now is. It was kept by him only for a short time, and he was succeeded by a Mr. Blood, and then later by Sol Hud- son, who ran the hotel as the American House there until it was burned in 1868.
September 18, 1844, Trinity Episcopal church was organized by Rev. Thomas Ruger, with six members. October 13, 1844, the First Baptist church of Janesville was organized by Rev. Jere- miah Murphy with thirteen members.
1845.
February 11 the First Congregational church of Janesville was organized by Rev. C. H. Buckley, assisted by Rev. Stephen Peet, with sixteen members.
During the year 1844 a little one-story brick schoolhouse was erected by the village on Division street near East Milwaukee street. This was the first building erected by the public. This brick building was used as a school building and then did duty as a stable until recent years. Orrin Guernsey was the first teach- er in charge of this school. In the fall another schoolhouse was built on Eastern avenue under contract by J. P. Wheeler; it was
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
painted red and was known thereafter as the "little red school- house."
Briek-making had begun in a number of places within the city, and in 1845 considerable brick were being made here. In the early part of this year the dam was considered finished by Han- chett Brothers, but it did not prove satisfactory, and Hanchett's interest was bought by A. Hyatt Smith, who arranged for the completion of the dam under charge of Ira Miltimore. Mr. Milti- more was also employed as the architect to plan and superintend the building of a mill, which was known as the "big mill." This mill was located just north of Milwaukee street on the river and raceway and was erected by James McClurg for A. Hyatt Smith and others, at a cost of $45,000. Changes in ownership during the erection left the mill on completion owned by the firm of Smith, Walker & Doe.
A sawmill was erected during this year near the head of the raceway by Charles Stevens. The first store on the west side of the river was erected in 1844 by D. F. Kimball; it was a small brick building on Milwaukee street.
The first newspaper in the county was started August 14, 1845, by Levi Alden, of New Hampshire, and E. A. Stoddard; it was a weekly, called "The Janesville Gazette," and is still earried on under that name. The subscribers at the beginning numbered about 300. Mr. Stoddard continued with the paper until De- cember, 1845, when he sold his interest to William F. Tompkins, and a short time afterwards Mr. Tompkins sold to Levi Alden, who continued alone until September, 1848, when Mr. Charles Holt purchased a half interest and became joint editor. Alden & Holt published it until March, 1855, at which time Mr. Holt became sole publisher and continued as such until August, 1859, when Hiram Bowen and Daniel Wilcox purchased an interest. Later proprietors of the "Gazette" included Mr. R. L. Colvin, the baker, and now the paper has been for a number of years under the ownership and control of Mr. Howard Bliss.
The population of Janesville had been rapidly growing, and in October, 1845, a census showed it to be 817.
1846.
In March, 1846, a tri-weekly line of stages owned by Frink & Walker commenced running between Janesville and Milwaukee.
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
About January 1, 1846, the Janesville Academy was opened by Rev. Thomas J. Ruger. This was a stone building 35x55 feet, situated on High street near Milwaukee street, where the central or Lincoln school is now located. A. Hyatt Smith was the first president of the board of trustees. This school was purchased by the city in 1855 and continued for many years to be used with the free school system of the city.
In August, 1846, a second newspaper, called the "Rock County Democrat," was established by General G. W. Crabb, and con- tinued under his management until 1848. In 1849 it had passed into the hands of Charles S. Jordan, who issued a few numbers and then suspended publication until March 1, 1849, when its publication was resumed under the title of "Roek County Badger." In 1850, under different editors, the name was again changed to "Badger State," and in 1851 it was merged with a new paper called the "Democratic Standard." Under this name it continued until 1858, when it gave way to the "Janesville Daily and Weekly Times."
In December, 1846, the constitutional convention met at Madi- son. A. Hyatt Smith was a member of this convention from Janesville and took a very prominent part in its deliberations. They adopted the state constitution on December 16, 1846, and this was rejected at the April eleetion of 1847, and another con- vention assembled.
The bridge was built across the river at Monterey, Ira Milti- more being the contractor.
1847.
On January 26, 1847, the "big mill" building, which was mentioned under "1845," was first put into operation. This was a great event for many miles around. Grain had been brought from distant points in the state to be ground, some of it coming from as far north as the Wisconsin river. A large share of the people of Janesville assembled to witness the first working of the machinery, and the owners and builders were greatly con- gratulated on the admirable way in which everything worked. This mill was 50x80 feet, four stories high and an attic, with six runs of stone.
About October 1, 1847, a stone foundation to the Farmers'
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Mills was commenced by A. R. Jones. These mills were not com- pleted until 1849.
In 1847 a three-story brick block next to the Rock County House-then called the American Hotel-on Main street was erected by Morris C. Smith and his partner. It was later occu- pied by William Conrad as a store building.
In December a census showed the population to be 1,458, nearly doubling the last census.
On November 6, 1847, a mass meeting was held at the Stage House to consider a project for a railroad to Chicago. E. V. Whiton presided. Mr. Whiton was also elected to represent Janesville at the second constitutional convention, which as- sembled in December, 1847. A constitution was adopted on De- cember 16; this constitution was ratified at the election in April, 1848, and Wisconsin admitted as a state accordingly.
In this year the first secret society was organized at Janes- ville, being the Wisconsin Lodge No. 14 of the Odd Fellows, which was chartered February 11, 1847. This lodge is still in existence here.
The first Catholic church was also built in 1847, being a small brick building at the corner of Homes and Cherry streets, erected by St. Patrick's Society, and this building afterwards was en- larged and grew into the present church.
1848.
Early in this year Charles Stevens began building a large hotel, to be called the Stevens House, at the corner of Milwaukee and Franklin streets, where the Hyatt House was afterwards situ- ated. The new hotel was to be something grander than had ever been erected in Janesville. On June 1, 1848, the "Gazette" pub- lished an article concerning it, in which it was stated that it would require more than an acre of plaster. It was finally finished and opened on October 12 by Landlords Churchill and Sibley, and was run as a hotel until it was burned in 1853.
In the spring of this year James Sutherland, who had arrived here in the fall of 1847, opened the first book store in Janesville. This store was continuously thereafter kept by Mr. Sutherland and his sons, and is still in existence, having been carried on by the sons alone after their father's death in 1905. This book store is the oldest store of the kind in Wisconsin. Mr. Sutherland took
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
an active part in municipal affairs after his arrival in Janesville, being twice mayor, and also state senator, member of the school board, etc. In the state senate he was the founder of the normal school system of the state, being the author of the bill under which those schools were authorized and run.
The first lodge of Masons was chartered January 15, 1848, being the Western Star Lodge No. 14, F. and A. M. This lodge is still in existence in Janesville.
On May 7, 1848, the first large fire occurred-the William Hodson brewery on North Main street, where the New Doty Man- ufacturing Company now is, was destroyed by fire, as was also Mr. Hodson's residence at the corner of North Bluff and Pease court. The loss was estimated at $10,000.
On May 8, just prior to the admission of the state into the Union, occurred the first state election. Edward V. Whiton was elected as judge of the First judicial district of the state, which comprised Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green counties. As we have heretofore mentioned, Mr. Whiton came to Janesville in 1837, but lived quietly a few miles out of town ; he was then about thirty-two years of age, having been born in Massachusetts in 1805. He was an accomplished lawyer in Massachusetts before he moved to Wisconsin, but seemed to desire not to take any part in public affairs on his removal here; the people, however, learn- ing of his ability, in 1838 against his will elected him to the first territorial legislature as one of the two members from Rock and Walworth counties, which constituted then one district. He was reelected in 1840 and 1842, thus being a member of the territorial legislature up to the time of the admission of the state. He was the principal compiler of the statutes for 1839, and as a member of the judiciary committee of the second constitutional convention was most largely instrumental in framing the adopted constitu- tion. In 1852, when the supreme court was made a separate court, Mr. Whiton was elected chief justice, and continued in that posi- tion to his death, although he never removed from the city of Janesville and always kept his residence here. It was at his Janesville residence that he died April 12, 1889.
In this year of 1848 there was considerable building; the Farmers' Mills was built just south of Milwaukee street near the river, by Eli Jones, at a cost of $20,000. It was later sold to Jackman & Smith and was run as a mill for many years. When
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Captain Pliny Norcross bought this mill, about 1880, it was re- moved to the foot of Dodge street, where it has since been oper- ated by E. P. Doty. The Excelsior Mills, located where the Blodgett Mills now are, were also built during this year by Ham- ilton Richardson. The lower dam was completed by Ira Milti- more about October, 1848, and stood until 1852, when it was par- tially swept away and rebuilt. Mr. Miltimore also commenced building the large home on the hill south of Monterey bridge which is now occupied by his son, and moved into it on Christmas day of 1848.
In June, 1848, the present Trinity church building was fin- ished and dedicated. September 7, 1848, the Milwaukee and Galena Telegraph Company was organized, A. Hyatt Smith, of Janesville, being president, and R. W. Wright, of Waukesha, vice- president. The building of the line was rushed, and on Decem- ber 15, 1848, the line reached Janesville and was commenced to be operated, so that Janesville came into telegraphic communi- cation with the outside world over this line to Milwaukee and from there to Chicago, and so on.
1849.
In January of this year a large public meeting was held at Janesville to promote the project of a railroad coming into Janes- ville. The Madison & Beloit Railway Company had been incor- porated at the first session of the legislature in 1848. On August 17 surveys were commenced in Rock county for the Rock River Valley railroad, under charge of Colonel Hugh Lee and A. T. Grey. Surveys between here and Beloit were finished in six weeks.
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