Isaac R. Breen was born on a farm in the town of Montague in Lewis County on October 2, 1868, the youngest son of Nathaniel and Eleanora Smith Breen.
He moved with his parents to Jefferson County, first to Rodman and later to Watertown. He received his education from the public schools graduating from Watertown High School in 1886. He took up the study of law and was subsequently admitted to the bar at Syracuse in 1889.
He joined the law firm of his brother, Thomas H. Breen to continue his studies. When Thomas passed in 1894, their brother Nathaniel H. relocated from Cape Vincent to form with Isaac the law firm of Breen & Breen, which was one of the most prominent in Jefferson County. Isaac Breen also served as City Attorney through several administrations. During his legal career, he was considered a safe and prudent practitioner and was engaged in numerous litigations involving important interests and the disposal of large sums of money. One of the most important and hardest fought cases he handled as the City’s Attorney was the merger of Watertown Electric Light Company and Watertown Light & Power Company. He also played an important part in the fight against gas and electric rates of the Northern New York Utilities, Inc.
After he had been City Attorney for about four years, he became a candidate for District Attorney in 1910. He was a staunch Republican and was interested in the success of the party’s various campaigns.
When Mayor Hugo retired in 1913, Mr. Breen was the logical and unanimous candidate of the Republicans for the office of Mayor and was elected Mayor in November of that year. He was re-elected in 1915 and 1917. The change to a City Manager form of government led him to decline renomination in the fall of 1919.
More matters of importance to the City of Watertown came up during his terms as City Attorney and City Mayor than ever before in the history of the City.
In later years, Mr. Breen’s principal diversion was the upbuilding of his hobby farm, near the old family homestead, between Watertown and Black River. He gradually established a fine herd of about 30 head of Ayrshire cattle in which he took great pride.
Mr. Breen was never married.
He died at his home on Washington Street in the City of Watertown on November 18, 1920 at the age of 52. He is buried in Brookside Cemetery.
