Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Rachel Fuller for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis Edward D. Neill; J. Fletcher Williams North Star Pub. Co., 1881 [499-500] JUDGE ISAAC ATWATER. In few men are more rare cominations of talent required, than in pioneers of new countries; invincible courage, enterprize tempered by prudence; promptness and decision united with calm reflection; sagacity combined with enthusiasm, are indispensable requisites. Trades, professions, creeds, in short all that has a tendency to make a successful commonwealth must be repre- sented as near the beginning as possible. Among those who planted the foundation for the future city of Minneapolis, and assisted in laying the corner stone of the state of Minnesota, none contributed more zealously than JUDGE ISAAC ATWATER, who arrived at St. Anthony Falls, in 1850. He is a native of Homer, Cortland county, New York, where he lived and worked on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, which life the then abandoned for the necessary preparation incident to a profession. He received a thorough classical education, and graduated at Yale college, in 1844, and two years subsequently in like manner graduated at Yale law school. Promptly upon being admitted to the bar he commenced a successful practice of law in New York city, which was continued until his removal to St. Anthony, where immediately upon his arrival, he entered into partnership with HON. JOHN W. NORTH, and con- tinued the practice of his profession in the district and supreme courts of the Territory. A few months subsequently to his arrival, he was appointed one of the regents of the state university of Minnesota, and, on the organization of the board, was made secretary, which re- sponsible position he held for nine years, performing the duties in the most satisfactory manner, and this, too, without compensation. It is proper to remark that had it not been for the judicious course pursued by JUDGE ATWATER and his colleagues in these early days, none of whom ever received any compensation for their services, but on the other hand contributed large sums of money from their own pockets in the interest of the institution, there is no probability that the stately edifice which we are all so proud of would have been built at all, or at least not in this neighborhood. To the first board of regents are the citizens indebted for the inauguration of the University of Minnesota, at the Falls of St. Anthony. Several liberal citizens, then resi-dents on both banks of the Mississippi, such as CALVIN A. TUTTLE, Esqr., also subscribed and paid, large subscriptions to enable the regents to commence the erection of suitable preparatory buildings for the use of the university. In 1851, upon the advent of the St. Anthony Express, JUDGE ATWATER, in addition to his numerous other duties, became editor-in-chief of that paper, and conducted the editorial columns with great ability until his elevation to the supreme bench upon the organization of the state government in 1857. His vigorous and able pen soon gave this paper, then published on the extreme frontier, a national reputation, and it was the source of the intro- duction of thousands and thousands of emigrants into the territory as permanent settlers. In 1853 he received the suffrages of the citizens of Hennepin county for district attorney. This office, in a new country, where the inhabitants are concentrated from the four quarters of the globe, is attended with difficulties which are unknown in old settled commun- ities. In 1857 he was elected one of the associate justices of the supreme court. His elevation to a seat on the supreme bench neces- sarily caused him to vacate the editorial chair of the St. Anthony Express, but his habits of industry were continued in frequent contri- butions of articles of rare merit, which appeared in the leading periodicals of the day. In 1864 he resigned the office of supreme judge, in consequence of a determination to visit the Pacific States for the purpose of resuming the practice of law. He opened an office in Carson City, Nevada, extending his practice to Virginia City, in that state. He remained three years on the Pacific slope, when he re- turned to Minneapolis, and has since that time continued the practice of his profession, occupying at the same time, for years, a seat in the city council, a portion of which time he was president of the board of aldermen. For eight years he was a member of the board of education, in important trust for which his knowledge, habits, and interest in schools peculiarly fitted him. The last three years of his service with the board, he was president of that body. It will be seen that JUDGE ATWATER has bestowed a good deal of his valuable time to muni- cipal as well as educational purposes, and to his influence and services are the citizens largely indebted for the healthy and pros- perous condition of the matters closely connected with the city af- fairs, as well as the excellent system of schools which abounds in Minneapolis. He is also a valuable member of the board of trade, which in a measure, shapes the future destinies of the city. JUDGE ATWATER belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Church, in which he has occupied numerous positions and trusts in the interest of Christianity, and is always ready to bestow aid and assist in the elevation of mankind. In 1849 JUDGE ATWATER was married to Miss PERMELIA A. SANBORN, a lady who is universally respected by a large circle of acquaintances. Her beautiful home is surrounded with the choicest floral gifts, the fruits of her handiwork. She takes much interest in the propagation of plants, flowers and vines, which make our homes cheerful and happy. Her good works in these things were held in such high estimation by the State Horticultural Society, that she was unanimously elected an hon- orary member of that society. The JUDGE and Mrs. ATWATER have had three children. CORA, the eldest, a bright little girl, died in 1852, aged fifteen months. L. ISABEL, the second daughter, is the wife of COL. A. C. REID, of San Francisco, California. The youngest, JOHN B. is also a graduate of Yale College, has chosen the same profession as his father, and is the junior member of the firm of ATWATER and ATWATER, attorneys at law. ===========================================================================