The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-03-13

Judge Isaac Powers, Who Has
Held Many important Positions


gan, on October 10, 1870 In 1854 he
had come farther west with his par
cnts. Before he came to Nebraska
Judge Powers lived in Donlphan
county Kansas. whore he had been
educated In the common schools and
whore he had studied law In the Office
of Col. d. NJ. Johnston OF Troy. He
was admitted to the practice of the
law in Doniphan county.
In 1870 Kansas was deserted for
Dakota county. Until 1884, when he
moved to Norfolk, Judge Powers
practiced law in Dakota city. II was
something of coincidence, too, that
Judge Powers should have removed
from the extreme northeast county In
Kansas to the extreme northeast
county in Nebraska.
In 1875 Judge Powers was elected
to represent Dakota county In the con-
stitutional convention which framed
the state constitution under which we
are now living. Among his co-workers
In that convention were many men
who have been prominent I'm Nebraska
life. among others. former Lieutenant
Governor A. G. Abbott, former Cover
nor ]. w. Dawes, former United States
Senator M. l.. Hayward, present
Lieutenant Governor Hopewell, Hon.
John l.. Webster, c. IT. Gere, until his
death editor of the Lincoln journal
and member of the board of univer-
sity regents, Supreme Judge NJ b.
ihn lot II
this city, former United States Sena-
tor c. f. Henderson, former Supreme
Judge Maxwell United States Circuit
Judge w. II. Munger, Judge S. D.
Pound and former United States Sem
ator c. II. Van Wyck
Mr. Powers was in 1876 elected TO
the state senate from Dakota and
Burke counties. Four years later in
1880 he was again elected state SEN
ator, serving in the session of 1881 as
chairman of the judiciary committee,
the most important committee in the
senate.
AT the republican state convention
of 1881 Judge Powers was nominated
as member of the board of regents
for the University of Nebraska. He
was elected at the following fall cleo
ton.
Next year, in 1882, Judge powers
was nominated by the republican state
convention and later elected as attor-
ney general of Nebraska. He served
as attorney general of the state during
1854, and then retired from the office,
not desiring or asking for another
term. Upon retiring from Office he
changed his residence to Norfolk.
Almost Immediately Mr.. Powers was
appointed to the district bench by Gov
ernor Thayer, vacancy having been
made by the creation of an additional
judge. In 1887 he was elected district
judge for the regular four-year term.
The district consisted of Antelope,
Madison, Stanton, Wayne, Cunning,
Pierce, Knox, Cedar, Dixon and Da.
kota counties, with the Omaha and
W1nnetoon Indian reservations added.
Judge Powers left the bench in 1892
TO take up the private practice of law
again. He soon formed a partnership.
"i'h oOhh ~ nays, PAL lucISnlD
which lasted about ten years and
which was not dissolved until Mr..
Hays became postmaster
Judge Powers has drawn off from
the active practice of law but he still
has time for the science of law and is
frequently consulted on law points by
attorneys.
In Kansas Judge Powers married
Miss Sarah G. MAILER, who had come
/ to Kansas from Alabama A daughter
and three sons are living: Mrs. V. E.
Whitney who is home from Chicago
just now: Frank Powers, assistant
superintendent of the Armour pack
ing plant in South Omaha w. II.
Powers, court reporter for the Ninth
judicial district; Isaac Powers, ir.
manager and part owner of a packing
plant at Jacksonville, III.