AMERICA 250 | WISCONSIN ORIGINALS Wisconsin Originals: Ezekiel Gillespie won Black men the right to vote From the America 250 series Nicole Pollack Sep 27, 2026 Sep 27, 2026 Updated Sep 27, 2026 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we're recognizing Wisconsinites who have made unique contributions to the nation.k9C ^mkAmp AC@>:?6?E 7:8FC6 :? |:=H2F<66’D q=24< 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 ?2>6D2<6 @7 2 |25:D@? >:55=6 D49@@=[ tK6<:6= v:==6DA:6 H@? q=24< >6? E96 C:89E E@ G@E6 :? (:D4@?D:? :? E96 `ge_D]k^AmkAmq@C? :?E@ D=2G6CJ :? |2J `g`g[ v:==6DA:6 3@F89E 9:D 7C665@> 2D 2 J@F?8 >2? 7C@> 2 H9:E6 D=2G6 @H?6C H9@ >2J 92G6 366? 9:D 72E96C] w6 >@G65 ?@CE9[ D6EE=:?8 :? |:=H2F<66[ H96C6 96 @A6?65 2 8C@46CJ DE@C6 2?5 =2E6C H@C<65 3@E9 7@C 2 C2:=C@25 4@>A2?J 2?5 @? 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Tyler August elected to another term representing District 31 Williams Bay proposes changes to Lion’s Field House rental agreement Geneva Lake Museum director retires after 13 years of service Badger High School theater students to present 'Radium Girls' Voters approve four-year referendum for Williams Bay School District Williams Bay High School football players selected for All-Conference honors 3 things that stood out from No. 1 Wisconsin's tie, shootout win vs. Minnesota Jedlicka leads Big Foot High School football All-Conference honorees Lake Geneva Business Improvement District making changes to its holiday events Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmx? `ged[ v:==6DA:6 2EE6>AE65 E@ G@E6]k^AmkAm%96 (:D4@?D:? {68:D=2EFC6 :? `gch 925 A2DD65 2 >62DFC6 E92E H@F=5 8:G6 q=24< >6? E96 C:89E E@ G@E6 :7 :E H2D 2AAC@G65 3J “2 >2;@C:EJ @7 2== E96 G@E6D 42DE” :? 2 DE2E6H:56 C676C6?5F>] qFE H9:=6 E9@D6 H9@ G@E65 @? E96 C676C6?5F> 2AAC@G65 E96 >62DFC6[ >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 G@E6CD :? E92E 6=64E:@? 5:5 ?@E G@E6 @? E96 C676C6?5F>]k^AmkAm%96 =2H H2D E9@F89E E@ 92G6 72:=65[ 2?5 q=24< >6? C6>2:?65 32CC65 7C@> G@E:?8]k^Am kAmp7E6C 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D EFC?65 v:==6DA:6 2H2J 7C@> E96 A@==D :? `ged[ 96 DF65] %96 42D6 H6?E E@ E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE[ H9:49 CF=65 F?2?:>@FD=J E92E E96 C676C6?5F> 925 :? 724E A2DD65 2?5 q=24< >6? 925 366? 6=:8:3=6 E@ G@E6 :? (:D4@?D:? D:?46 `gch]k^Am kAmv:==6DA:6 5:65 @? |2C49 b`[ `gha[ 2E E96 286 @7 fb] %96 (6DE $:56 >:55=6 D49@@= H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^=@42=0D49@@=D^2CE:4=606hbhe47_\_hgf\d5fa\3dd5\cd2e33feef64]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm?2>65 27E6C 9:>k^2m :? a_ab]k^Am Ezekiel Gillespie is now the namesake of a Madison middle school. Wisconsin Historical Society In this Series America 250 Updated Jun 25, 2026 Follow Wisconsin's journey through America's 250 years Updated Jun 25, 2026 See how the Racine Journal Times marked the bicentennial with this 60-page special section Updated Jun 25, 2026 Fred Risser, nation's longest-serving legislator, on how politics has changed 57 updates Previous Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nicole Pollack Author email Follow Nicole Pollack Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? 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Nicole Pollack Author email Follow Nicole Pollack Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Election 2026 Mitchell Berman defeats Bryan Steil in Wisconsin's 1st District In a major election upset, Democrat Mitchell Berman narrowly defeated Republican Congressman Bryan Steil, flipping a seat that had been in Rep…
Election 2026 Democrat David Crowley elected Wisconsin governor Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in Tuesday’s race for Wisconsin governor, ensuring Democrats will hold the ba…
Election 2026 Democrats poised to take state government trifecta as Senate flips, Assembly on the cusp Based on leads held by Democratic candidates as of about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night, Democrats could pick up as many as four seats, increasing t…
Election 2026 Democrats poised to take state government trifecta as Senate flips, Assembly on the cusp Based on leads held by Democratic candidates as of about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night, Democrats could pick up as many as four seats, increasing t…
Election 2026 Attorney General Josh Kaul clinches third term against Eric Toney The win marks Kaul’s third consecutive victory, paving the way for continued legal battles against the federal government.