Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-04-05

lenueu ITOm NeDraSka 10 the bTltiSH
possessions from Minnesota to the
western limits OF the present states Of
Montana n Wyoming, containing
more than $4,000 square miles. with a
total white population of less than 3d.
300 men, women and children. The
members of this first body Of lawmak-
srs had been elected at the first cleo
lion, which was held on the 10th day-of
September, 1861.
They met under the proclamation of
Governor Jayne, and for q period OF
sixty days wrestled with the problems
at hand for their serious consideration.
II was indeed a memorable session, and
one which old-timers ook back to with
delight. With but little experience In
The line Of law-making 1t was a hard
task to get at the root OF things, and
even after his had been accomplished,
I was no easy matter TO carry them
through. Harmony did not prevail on
all the absorbing questions which
arose, and In either branch OF the leg
stature Outlines occurred some lengthy
ana heated arguments. Little did the
members realize that II In forty years
thereafter they could have looked down
upon us, they would have seen a rising
young state, rich in resources, and with
: population reaching 401, $40 people.
The most sanguine would nave held up
tii'll liz III OHuG anu SuTpTlSe.
On the V OF the biggest boom which
South Dakota has ever experienced.
and the prominence which both North
AND South Dakota are now enjoying
thtoughout the land, would It not be
well to review the members of that
Hrst legislative body, that some insight
rs to who and what they were can be
recured as historical facts? Hon. Frank
Taylor Of Fairview township, Clay
\ nNNntNr In N1 -
With these early-day characters than
anyone else. Fro the earliest days OF
the west he has been a conspicuous
squire, II his knowledge and records
" ancient events in North and South
Dakota, are probably not excelled In the
and. Therefore, to him belongs the
credit for furnishing a short account
Of the members OF the first council and
house Of representatives of Dakota ter
ritory.
The first council was OF
nine members. OF these seven have
passed TO the world beyond, and only
two remain to respond to the call of
the roll-Bookings at sixty-nine, and
Boyle at seventy-siX. John II. Shober
was the presiding officer. He was
t~wenty-nine years old, a lawyer by pro-
tession and a Virginian by birth. He
was one of the first settlers on the now
abandoned townsite of Bon Homme.
Losing faith in the future value of town
OTIS in that place, he went to Montana,
where he died.
Enos Stutsman wac SO years old
BORN in Indiana and trained to he
profession of a lawyer. He settled on
he present location Of Yankton in 1858.
Nature a made amends for his de-
feet In form by endowing him with
a bright and brilliant brain. After
serving several terms In subsequent
legislatures he was appointed collect
or OF customs at the post Of Pembina,
where 1t is understood he died. Ca
madam journals charged him with be-
ing one of the leading spirits who TO-
mented and famed the flames Of the
Louis Riel rebellion.
Austin Cole OF Sioux Point liz the
only one whose name appears on the
roster as a farmer Union county first
bore the name OF Cole. He was born
N Ohio, and came to Dakota In 1860.
An unfortunate appetite for stimulants
seems to have been his only besetting
sin. He drifted away to Kansas, and
has long since been numbered with the
dead,
Henry ID. Belts WAS 26 years old. a
native OF New Hampshire and settled
IN Vermillion in 1850. engaging In mer-
cantile business and practice OF law.
He "a OF a moral disposition, insult
ed either for his profession or business
IN those wild frontier days.
Jacob Deuel. was an engineer, 81 years
old, born in New York. He settled IN
Vermillion in 1859. He died in Pough-
keepsie, N. Y, Ave years ago. Like
many Of the early law-givers OF Da-
kota, n of the counties Of the state
bears his name.
Wilmot w. Brookings, 20 years old
was also a lawyer by profession, and
located at Sioux Falls. Maine wal
his native state. Settling at Sioux
Falls in 1857, he endured hardships ano
privations. His life and the services
which he rendered the state form ar
interesting chapter in our early his
tory. He left that city a few years age
and now resides In h east.
]. Shaw Gregory was a New Yorker
81 years old He came TO Dakota In
1867 as the agent for the Ponca tribe
Of Indians. He left the territory many
years ago. Possessed of a fair educa'
ton and good business qualifications
yet he seldom mingled in the heated
discussions that not infrequently oc'
Cured.
Downer Il. Bramhle was from Yer,
mont and settled in Yankton In 1853
being a merchant. He had formerly
been q member OF the Nebraska legis
~lature, and we believe was the onl.
member of the council who had pre-
viouS legislative experience. CLEVELAND
appointed him to a United States Ian;
Office position in WATERFOWL, where n
died.
John w. Boyle was q graduate or al
eastern college and a Pennsylvania
by birth. He settled here in 1860. AT
ter a term In the United States lan'
office, he received the appointment q
Judge Of the Third judicial district
He left Dakota thirty years ago, am
Is now a resident Of Oklahoma, en-
gagged In preaching the gospel.
In the house Of representatives, her,
and impetuous George M. Pinney wa
elected speaker. He had talent am
ability, but was charged with breaking
pledges made to friends. He becam
very unpopular, and on the twenty
second day of the session resigned. III
went to Montana soon after the terri
tory was organized. When last hear,
OF he was living in London.
Albert w. Puett was q graduate OF
Kentucky college and had formerl,
beer "a member Of the Nebraska legis
iature. He now resides In Kansas.
Jacob A. Jacobson was q native Q
Norway and settled near the presen
site of Meckling in 1860. He left tn
county at an early day and Is now
resident of Minnesota, where he ha
held various positions of honor an
trust.
Christopher Malonay and John Nc
Bride were farmers Of limited educa
ton. The former resided near Nc
Cook and the latter at what Is know
as Sioux Point.
G.. p. Waldron belonged to the legs
profession and was an early settler Q
Sioux Falls. He was one OF the con
spicuous members of the house. Nj
Armstrong, in one Of his racy sketche
of the legislature, speaks of him as tn
"dashy and dressy orator from tn
land of rocks and waterfalls" He die
at or near Pierre.