Wisconsin History Day By Day

Related Web Sites:

Read More About It

"Forward! A History of DANE: the Capital County" by Allen Ruff and Tracy Will

"History of Madison, Dane County and Surroundings"

Vocabulary:

pioneer

permanent

Territorial Council

Interesting Fact:

Eben and Rosaline Peck lived with Brigham for a short while in Blue Mounds before moving on to become the first settlers in Madison.

Study Questions:

What was Brigham's occupation in Massachusetts before leaving for Wisconsin?

What park in Dane County is named after Brigham? Where is it located?

In what war did Brigham serve as a colonel?

U.S. historical events that occurred on September 14:

1940: Congress passed the Selective Service Act, allowing for the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.

September 14

September 14, 1861: Ebenezer Brigham, pioneer settler and politician, died in Madison. Brigham was born in 1789 in Massachusetts, moving to Platteville in 1827. He became the first permanent European settler in Dane County by farming and operating a lead mine near Blue Mounds. During the Black Hawk War in 1832, a fort was built near his home. Brigham was a member of the Territorial Council, state Assembly and the Dane County Board of Commissioners.

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