James Gates Percival (1795-1856) was a true renaissance man. He is perhaps best known as a poet, considered to be America's first classical poet, and quite popular in his time. He was also a botanist, a surveyor, a chemist and a linguist. He helped Noah Webster compile his first dictionary. Born in Connecticut, Percival was a graduate of Yale. From 1854-56 he was the State Geologist of Wisconsin. He died in Hazel Green and is buried in the village's cemetery.