Moses Smith moves from Kirtland, Ohio, where he was baptized, to claim land in what is now Burlington, Wis., and organizes the first LDS branch in Wisconsin.
1840 - First missionaries are sent to Wisconsin.1841 - Joseph Smith sends members to Black River Falls, Wis., to cut lumber for Nauvoo Temple.
1842 - Two members, William Cline and Cyrus Newkirk, establish the city of Zarahemla, later changed to its present name, Blanchardville.
1843 - Black River Falls Branch is established with 150 members. Branches in Beloit and Waukesha flourish.
1844 - La Crosse Branch is established by members from Black River Falls.
1845 - La Crosse Branch is abandoned.
1846 - Moses Smith breaks with the Church, becomes an apostle in the church of his brother-in-law, James Strang.
1848 - Oliver Cowdery is nominated by Democrats to run for Wisconsin Legislature.
1876 - First branch to be formed after main body of the Church moved west is organized in Viola, Richland County.
1899 - Milwaukee Branch is organized.
1928 - Madison Branch is organized.
1933 - President Heber J. Grant dedicates Milwaukee's first Church-built meetinghouse.
1936 - Chicago area becomes a stake, with Milwaukee included within its boundaries.
1954 - First Church-built meetinghouse in Madison is dedicated by President David O. McKay.
1963 - Milwaukee Stake is organized.
1982 - Madison Stake is organized.
1986 - Appleton Stake is organized.
Sources: Wisconsin Mormons: 1835-1848 by David L. Clark, and various ward and stake publications.
