| Year |
Fact |
|
1674 |
Father Jacques Marquette visits site of Milwaukee, first white man. |
|
1699 |
October. Francois Buisson de St. Cosme and four other priests find a large town of mixed Indians and call it "Melwarik". |
|
1779 |
First sailing vessel arrives, British ship "Felicity". |
|
1795 |
Jacques Vieau, agent of the Northwest Co., makes Milwaukee headquarters for a chain of trading posts. Place is settled by Potawatomi, Wauk, Fox and Winnebago Indians. |
|
1818 |
April 18. Michigan Territory is increased to include Wisconsin. |
|
|
September 14. Solomon Laurent Juneau arrives. |
|
1831 |
February 8. Menominee Indians cede lands north and east of Milwaukee River (or between river and Lake Michigan) to U.S.A. |
|
1832 |
Milwaukee is given mail service on route established between Chicago and Green Bay. Alexis Clermont, carrier, is paid $60 for round trip requiring one month. |
|
1833 |
September 26. Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians relinquish claim to territory east of Winnebago cession and south of Menominee cession. (Included in Milwaukee's present south side.) |
|
1834 |
Settlers began to arrive at Milwaukee. |
|
|
George H. Walker settles south of confluence of Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic Rivers, later known as "Walker's Point". Byron Kilbourn, surveyor, arrives. Mrs. Quartus Quarlery, first white woman in Milwaukee, arrives. |
|
1835 |
June 17. First steamboat, "The United States", arrives in Milwaukee. |
|
|
July 30 – August 9. First public land sale of Milwaukee area takes place at Green Bay. Juneau acquires, for $165.82, a tract of 132.65 acres east of Milwaukee River. |
|
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August 25. Michigan territorial legislature passes act organizing County of Milwaukee. U.S. Post Offices established here with Juneau as first postmaster. |
|
|
September 17. First election of township officials in Milwaukee held at Juneau's home. Juneau and Walker both elected to offices. |
|
|
Elihu Higgins of Massachusetts and others found Oak Creek (i.e., South Milwaukee). |
|
|
| 1836 |
Kilbourn buys remaining tracts west of river for $161.03. Kilbourn establishes the Milwaukee "Advertiser", city's first newspaper. |
| 1837 |
First volunteer fire department organized with Ben Edgerton, foreman. Juneau a partner in backing Milwaukee "Sentinel" which begins publication. |
| 1838 |
Territorial legislature establishes "Town of Lake" a township. |
|
Charles Hart settles west of Milwaukee and builds a flour mill, nucleus of a settlement later to become known as "Wauwatosa". |
| 1839 |
"Juneautown" and "Kilbourntown" unite as a village. First election of consolidated village. Juneau elected first president. |
| 1842 |
September. First professional theatrical performance in Milwaukee. |
| 1843 |
German immigration to Milwaukee well underway. |
| 1844 |
December 9. "Sentinel" becomes a daily paper, first in Wisconsin |
|
Juneau elected Registrar of Deeds for Milwaukee County. |
| 1845 |
February 12. Walker's Point incorporated into Village of Milwaukee. |
|
Spring. Great rivalry between East and West wards climaxed by "Bridge War". |
| 1846 |
January 31. Territorial legislature gives charter to City of Milwaukee. First city elections result in the election of Solomon Juneau as Mayor. Milwaukee and Watertown Plank Road, privately built toll road, opened to travel. |
| 1847 |
First City Directory published by Julius P. Bolivar McCabe. |
|
1848 |
Telegraph lines opened between Milwaukee and Chicago |
|
Milwaukee Female College (later to be Milwaukee-Downer College and later merged to form the University School of Milwaukee) opens. |
| 1849 |
Construction of a railroad from Milwaukee to Prairie du Chien begins. |
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