On this day: October 1

1826 - Valentin Blatz Born

On this date Valentin(e) Blatz, founder of the Blatz Brewing Co., was born at Miltenberg-on-the-Main, Bavaria. The son of Casper and Barbara Blatz, his father owned a brewery in Miltenberg. Valentine Blatz migrated to New York in August 1848 and moved to Milwaukee in 1849. Blatz operated one of the most successful breweries in Milwaukee. [Source: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Archive]

1851 - First State Fair in Wisconsin

On this date thirteen counties were represented at the first state fair which was sponsored by the Wisconsin Agricultural Society in Janesville. 10,000 people attended the two-day event. [Source: History Just Ahead: A Guide to Wisconsin's Historical Markers edited by Sarah McBride, p.118]

1859 - Abraham Lincoln Delivers Address in Beloit

On this date Abraham Lincoln, who had been invited by the Beloit Republican Club, delivered a political address in Hanchett's Hall. [Source: History Just Ahead: A Guide to Wisconsin's Historical Markers edited by Sarah Davis McBride, p.117]

1861 - (Civil War) 4th and 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery Batteries Muster In

The 4th and 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery batteries mustered in. Recruited in various towns around the state, the batteries gathered at Camp Utley in Racine for training. They spent three months learning how to transport and operate cannons before heading to different parts of the Southern front in January 1862. See the Regiments page for the history of individual units.

1866 - Bernard Cirgrand Born

On this date Bernard Cirgrand, known as the founder of Flag Day, was born. Bernard showed his patriotism in 1885 by placing a small flag on his school desk on June 14. As it happens, June 14, 1777 was the day that the stars and stripes were decided upon by the new Senate. Bernard wrote many articles and many speeches trying to urge a national Flag Day to be celebrated. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson finally declared June 14 to be Flag Day. [Source: National Flag Day Foundation]