Dane in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Nathan Dane
Photographed By William J. Toman, November 6, 2010
1. Nathan Dane Marker
Dane County was created by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1836. Judge James Doty had convinced the Legislature to select Madison as the Capital and name the surrounding county in honor of Nathan Dane, a compiler of the Ordinance of 1787, which established the Northwest Territory.
Doty told legislators, "Read the Ordinance of 1787 attentively -- it is the fundamental law of the country."
Dane was born in Massachusetts in 1752. He served in the Confederation Congress 1785-87. The Congress unanimously passed the Northwest Ordinance with a major amendment by Dane: "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory," -- it also contained a bill of rights four years before the Constitution's Bill of Rights. Ordinance provision also laid the foundation for the government of 32 states beyond the Northwest Territory.
Dane served in both houses of his state's Legislature. He died in 1835. His epitaph read: "His fame belongs to his country. Let the gratitude of future ages cherish it."
Erected 2005 by the Dane County Historical Society
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin, Dane County Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 43° 15.037′ N, 89° 29.812′ W. Marker is in Dane, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is on East Main Street (State Highway 113) 0.1 miles west of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dane WI 53529, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Military Road - 100 Mile Point (approx. 1.7 miles away); Historic Tree (approx. 4˝ miles away); Schumacher Farm (approx. 5.2 miles away); Ella Wheeler Wilcox (approx. 5˝ miles away); The Matz Farmstead (approx. 7.3 miles away); St. Mary of the Oaks (approx. 7˝ miles away); Indian Lake (approx. 7.6 miles away); Andreas Dahl (approx. 7.7 miles away).
More about this marker. There is an identical marker on the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wisconsin.
Photographed By William J. Toman, November 6, 2010
2. Nathan Dane Marker
Looking east on Highway 113
Photographed By Wikipedia
3. Nathan Dane
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 902 times since then and 55 times this year. Last updated on November 7, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
