FIRST - Governor of Wisconsin's Gravesite - Lancaster, Wisconsin
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N 42° 50.740 W 090° 42.630
15T E 687083 N 4746219
This one-story, wood frame, Gothic Revival building is located at 310 South Jefferson Street in Lancaster, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Historic Marker is located next door in the adjacent cemetery.
Waymark Code: WM12WJB
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 07/26/2020
Views: 1
NELSON DEWEY
FIRST GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN
When Nelson Dewey left his parents' home
at Hamilton, New York at the age of 23, he
traveled by stagecoach, steamer, sailing vessel,
horse-back, and on foot to reach Wisconsin.
The trip took five weeks and Dewey arrived
in Cassville in June of 1836, about two weeks
before Wisconsin was officially established
as a territory. He soon became interested
and active in politics and when Grant County
was organized the next year, he became its
first Register of Deeds and moved to Lancaster.
Next he entered the Territorial Legislature
and when Wisconsin became the thirtieth
state in 1848, Dewey was elected its first
governor. Because of his election to such
high office at the age of 35, many people
expected him to continue in a political
career but he disliked politics and returned
to Grant County. In 1854 he began to acquire
land at Cassville and developed a 2000 acre
plantation which he called "Stonefield" today
preserved in Nelson Dewey State Park. He died
July 20, 1889 and his was the last burial
in this cemetery.
Erected 1961
- Historic Marker Text
Nelson Dewey
First Governor of
The State of
Wisconsin
(alpha) Lebanon, Connecticut
1814
(omega) Cassville, Wisconsin
1889
- Marker Text
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