Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-03-26
Sketch4of the Members Of the First
Territorial Legislature Forty
Years Ago.
Some of the Men Who Served in the
Early Days, Only Few of Whom
Remain in State.
Names Which will be Familiar to the
Pioneers Of Territorial Days
Now Living.

ySdiS .dSO, Cu Md1Cu -, lou, luSle COu-
vened in the city of Yankton/ the first
legislative body of the territory of Da-
kota, then containing less than 5000
men, women and children. The mem
bers had been elected at an election
held on Sept. 16, 1861, and met under
the proclamation Of Governor Jayne.
With but little previous experience it
was a hard task to get at the root Of
things. Harmony did not prevail in
all the absorbing questions which
arose, and in both branches of the leg
islature some prolonged and heated de-
bates took place. ~ -:-- :.
The first council was composed of
nine members. Of these only two re-
main, Brookings at So and Boyle at Is.
John H. Shober was the presiding Of
ficer. He was % years old, a lawyer
by profession, and a Virginian by birth.
He was2one of the first settlers on the
now abandoned townsite of Bon
Homme. He later went to Montana,
where he died. y,
Enos Stutsman was Sc years old,
born in Indiana, and trained to the law.
He settled on the present location of
Yankton in 1858. Nature had made
amends for his defect i'm form by en-
downing him with a bright and brilliant
intellect. After serving several terms
in subsequent legislatures, he was APP
pointed collector of customs at the
post of Pembina,S where it isunderstood
he died. Canadian journals charged
him with being one of the leading
spirits who formented and famed the
flames of the Louis Riel rebellion.
Austin Cole of Sioux Point is the
only one whose name appears on the
roster as a farmer. Union county first
bore the name of Cole. He was born
in Ohio, and came to Dakota in 1860.
He drifted away to Kansas. and has
long since been numbered with the
dead. "
Henry D. Bells was 26 years old, a,
native of New Hampshire and a set
tier in Vermillion in 1860, engaging in
mercantile business and the practice
of law. He was of a religious dispo-
sition, and there were few such in those
early days. " '. ..
Jacob Deuel. was an engineer, 81
years old, born in New York. He set
tiled in Vermillion in 1850. He died in
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, five years ago.
One of the counties of this state bears
his name.
Wilmot w. Brookings, 30 years old,
was also a lawyer, and located at Sioux
Falls. Maine was his native state.
Settling at Sioux Falls in 1857. he en-
dured many h%ardships. His life and
the services which he gave the state
form an interesting chapter in the early
history. He left that city a few years
ago, and now resides in the east.
J. Shaw Gregory was a New Yorker,
81 years old. He came to Dakota in
1857 as agent for the Ponca tribe of
Indians. He left the territory many
years ago. He had a fair education and
good business qualifications.
Downel T. Bramble was from Yer
mont. and settled in Yankton in 1859,
being a merchant. He had formerly
been a member of the Nebraska leg
islature. and was the only member of
the council who had had previous leg
lslatiye experience. Cleveland ap-
pointed him to a United States land Of
fee position in Watertown. where he
died.
John W. Boyle was a graduate of an
eastern college and a Pennsylvania
by birth. He settled here in 1860. After
a term in the United States land office
he received the appointment of Judge
OF the Third judicial district. He left
Dakota thirty years ago. and is now a
resident OF Oklahoma, engaged in
preaching the gospel.
The fiery and impetuous George NJ.
Pinney was elected speaker of the.
house. He had talent and ability, but
was charged with breaking pledges
made to friends. He became unpopular
and on the twenty-second day OF the
session resigned. He went to Montana
soon after the territory was organized.
When last heard Of he was living in
London.
Albert w. Puett wa a graduate OF
q Kentucky college and had formerly