Harry P. Atwater Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1218,1219 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HARRY P. ATWATER. 

	Harry P. Atwater is an able lawyer, practicing at Sturgis, 
particularly well known for his ability in handling criminal cases. He 
was born at Cataract, Monroe county, Wisconsin, November 8, 1871, a son 
of the Rev. Wesley D. and Harriet (Shultz) Atwater, natives of Ohio and 
Pennsylvania respectively. The former was born in 1840 and the latter 
in 1841. In early life the father entered the ministry, to which he 
devoted many years of an active and useful career, but is now living 
retired near Auburn, California. 

	Harry P. Atwater was the fourth in order of birth in a family of 
eight children and after attending the public schools of Wisconsin and 
of the Black Hills country he prepared for the bar as a law student in 
the State University of Nebraska. In the meantime, however, he had 
taken an initial step in the business world, having at the age of 
fifteen years secured employment as a clerk in the Sturgis post office, 
where he remained for two years. Afterward he was for a period of seven 
or eight years employed in various ways, including clerking in 
mercantile establishments, but at the end of that time he carried out a 
cherished plan of preparing for the bar, pursuing the study of law 
while at the same time holding the office of justice of the peace. He 
was admitted to practice in April, 1902, and opened an office in 
Sturgis, where he has since remained, following his profession there 
for thirteen years. He continues in general practice and has had a 
large clientage in criminal work. He has a keenly analytical mind which 
enables him to readily determine the strong points in his case; he 
marshals his evidence with the precision of a military commander; and 
in the presentation of his cause is always strong, resourceful and 
logical. Aside from his professional interests he is the owner of land 
in South Dakota and his property interests bring to him a good return. 

	Mr. Atwater is a prominent member of the Fraternal Order of 
Eagles and for ten years served as chief official in the local eerie. 
His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party 
since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is the present 
mayor of Sturgis and for one term he served as county judge of Meade 
county. He was also a member of the board of aldermen of Sturgis for 
two terms, was city attorney for three terms and now as the chief 
executive of his city is doing much practical and effective work along 
municipal lines, his labors being a potent element in bringing about 
needed improvements in city affairs.