Wisconsin History Day By Day

Related Web Sites:
Milwaukee Living: The Area's Roots

Josette and Solomon Juneau


Read More About It

"Solomon Juneau, Voyageur" by Marion Lawson

"Milwaukee: The History of a City" by Bayrd Still

"The Making of Milwaukee" by John Gurda

"Trading Post to Metropolis/Milwaukee County's First 150 Years" by the Milwaukee County Historical Society


Vocabulary:

established
postmaster
permanent


Interesting Fact:

Josiah Noonan founded the "Wisconsin Enquirer," the first newspaper in Madison, in 1838. As Milwaukee postmaster, he became a powerful political force in the Wisconsin Democratic party.


Study Questions:

  • How much did it cost to send a letter in the mid-1800's?
  • Were there postage stamps in the mid-1800's?
  • When was the post office in your community established?


    Search these newspaper databases for additional stories about Solomon Juneau and Josiah Noonan:

  • Wisconsin State Journal/The Capital Times
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • BadgerLink Wisconsin Newsstand
  • Wisconsin Historical Society


    U.S. historical events that occurred on March 16:

    1850: "The Scarlet Letter," a book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is first published.
    1968: The My Lai massacre occurs during the Vietnam War.



    • March 16

    March 16, 1835: The Milwaukee post office was established with Solomon Juneau as postmaster. Josiah A. Noonan changed the spelling from Milwaukie to Milwaukee after becoming postmaster in 1843. The spelling changed back and forth until 1853 when "ee" became permanent.

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