Roxbury in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Father Adalbert Inama -- St. Norbert House
Named St. Norbert House Inama's log cabin became the area's first Catholic Church, and Inama himself was the first resident Catholic Priest in Dane and surrounding counties.
Father Inama and his associate traveled the area extensively and organized churches in many south central Wisconsin communities surrounding Roxbury and the Madison lakes thus earning for Father Inama the title "Apostle of the Four Lakes Region."
Father Inama often offered Mass in the Assembly Chambers at the Capitol in Madison. He died at St. Norbert's House on October 18, 1879 and is buried in the Roxbury Cemetery.
Erected 1971 by Dane County Historical Society. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin, Dane County Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1825.
Location. 43° 14.992′ N, 89° 40.638′ W. Marker is in Roxbury, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is on County Road Y, 0.1 miles west of St. Norbert Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is next to County Road Y in front of St. Norbert Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8944 St Norbert Street, Sauk City WI 53583, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. In Memory of Rev. Adalbert Inama, O. Praem. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wisconsin Heights Battlefield (approx. 2.3 miles away); Battle of Wisconsin Heights (approx. 2.3 miles away); Sauk City (approx. 2.7 miles away); Mazomanie Sand Barrens (approx. 2.8 miles away); Free Congregation of Sauk County (approx. 2.9 miles away); August W. Derleth (approx. 2.9 miles away); Culver's (approx. 3 miles away).
More about this marker. There was no evidence of the original log cabin church either a mile west (as noted on the marker) or one-half mile west (as noted on the plaque). Also, there was no evidence of a Roxbury Cemetery as noted on the marker, and we could not locate a gravestone for Father Inama in the nearby St. Norbert's Cemetery (though there were too many gravestones to conduct a thorough search in the time available, and some of the older gravestones were difficult to read).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These are marker pages referencing Dane County one-room schoolhouses.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,686 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on August 11, 2012, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.