Caleb Atwater (1778 1867) was an American politician, historian, and early archaeologist in the state of Ohio. He served several terms in the state house and was appointed as United States postmaster in Circleville, Ohio. In the 19th century he was best known for his History of the State of Ohio (1838), the first book-length history of the young state. This earlier volume describes Atwater's trip to Wisconsin in which he met with Native Americans and recorded the grammar of the Sioux language (pp. 149-172). Much of the book concerns itself with the manners and customs of the Native Americans he encountered on his journey: Winnebago, Potawatomi, Chippewa, and Odawa. In 1829, however, he journeys to Washington, and the last 30 pages or so are concerned with descriptions of the senate and impressions of such men as President Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and others.
