The Northwestern League, considered the first minor league circuit in baseball history, is organized in Rockford, Illinois. The fledgling organization, which includes teams from Davenport, Omaha, Dubuque, and Rockford, will be defunct before the season ends as a result of lacking a fixed schedule and paying the players more than their counterparts rival National League.

This Day In Baseball

On January 2, 1879 The Northwestern League, considered the first minor league circuit in baseball history, is organized in Rockford, Illinois. The fledgling organization, which includes teams from Davenport, Omaha, Dubuque, and Rockford, will be defunct before the season ends as a result of lacking a fixed schedule and paying the players more than their counterparts rival National League.

Source
Baseball Reference January 2