1792

James Meehan (the spelling of his last name was changed sometime before 1820) emigrated from the village of Inver, County Donegal, Northern Ireland.

1843

William Meighen, the son of James, moves to Galena, Ill. to start a new life.

1849

William strikes out from Galena for the California Gold Rush.

1851

Brother Felix and his wife Eliza Jane Foster join William when he returns to Galena, Ill.

1853

Robert Foster, brother of Eliza Jane, purchases claim for land that would become Forestville. Felix establishes a general store.

1855

William Meighen goes into partnership with his childhood friend Major Foster and soon owned a hotel named the Fremont House built by Foster.

1855

Thomas, son of Felix Meighen, is born.

1857

Next to the first store they complete a more permanent brick store and house in which Felix Meighen and his family lives.

1868

Thomas Meighen begins to work full time for his fathers' businesses. The Southern Minnesota railroad by-passes the town of Forestville. Town begins to decline.

1877

The National Greenback-Labor Party nominated the elder William Meighen for lieutenant governor, in which he placed a distant third in the election.

1879

William Meighen runs for governor on the Greenback ticket, but losses with only 4 percent of the vote.

1889

Throughout the 1880s, the Meighens buy up property sold cheaply by people leaving for more prosperous railroad towns. The family now owns the entire town of Forestville.

1902

Thomas Meighen is involved full time in politics within the People's Party and is also president of the First National Bank in Preston.

1905

Thomas Meighen his wife Mary Broderick, two sons and one daughter move to a new house in Preston.

1910

The general store closes for good. Forestville as a town ceases to exist.

1936

Thomas Meighen dies.

1963

Thomas Meighen's wish finally comes true and his boyhood home becomes a state park administered by the Minnesota DNR.

1978

Historic Forestville is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society and portrays a town set in the year 1899.