It was uninhabited when it was chosen as a terr. capital in 1836 & named for a president who died that year
[DOC] [TLE] Madison | Wisconsin, United States | Britannica.com [PAR] Madison, city, capital (1838) of Wisconsin, U.S., and seat (1836) of Dane ... 
created Territory of Wisconsin) and was named for President James Madison, ... 
That same year Doty persuaded the legislature to make Madison the permanent 
capital of ...