The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-14
STUTSMAN, ONE Of DAKOTA'S
STURDY PIONEER SETTLERS

In the early spring of 1866. accepte,
an appointment from the general gov
| eminent as treasury agent, he wa
obliged to resign his office as council
man, which he did, and entered upol
his new duties. visiting first the up
per Missouri country in quest O
smugglers.
In June of the same year he LEFT
Yankton for Pembina in his capacit,
as treasury agent, Pembina being thu
seat OF custom house and the onl,
one In the territory, reaching tina,
point after very tedious journey, or
the 22n6 of July, 1866. 1t Is doubt.
full whether he had entertained any
thought of removing to that remote
corner of Dakota, before this trip
at least his most intimate Yanktou
friends were not apprized of such in
tentons. He seemed to be captivated
by the country. its invigorating eli
mate and fertile acres. and more than
all by it's wide awakened and con-
genial people. and he in turn appears
to nave been taken at once into their
confidence for in the fall of 1867 he
was elected a member of the territorial
mouse OF representatives, and when
that body convened at Yankton, De-
cember End, following, Mr. Stutsman
was chosen speaker, defeating q very
popular member, Mr.. Jolley. of Clay
county, by vote of ~ to 10. This
honor came to him unsolicited, and
until very close to the organization.
unexpected. 1t is proper to mention
that he discharged the difficult duties
OF the ofhce in such a manner az to
win the applause of his friends and the
respect and confidence of his oppon-
ents. He was again elected to the
house from Pembina in 1868, and SER
we'd In that body as chairman of the
committee ON railroads. and men,
Der OF the committees on judiciary.
elections and enrolment. This session
closed the annual sessions of the legis-
htive assembly. Thereafter they were
held hlannuaIly. and Mr.. Stutsman
returned to Pembina, where he ensag-
ed in law practice, and also built a
nne MOTEL building which he rented.
He was again elected a member of the
territorial council in 1872 from the
Pembina district served during the
session of 1923 and was taken quite
Ill near the close of the session which
connned him to his bed for a number
OF months. With the termination of
this session his legislative labors end
ed. Mr.. Sutsman was a bachelor.
Nature had seen fit to usher him into
the world poorly equipped physically.
He was born without legs, and had
but one small we'll shaped foot where
the right leg belonged. Otherwise he
was we'll formed. apparently much
better developed than the majority of
men. His body was as large as that
OF the ordinary man whose weight
would be 200 pounds; his arms were
splendfd1y developed and possessed
unusual strength. He was compelled
to use crutches-he could neither
walk nor stand unsupported without
them, but he could help himself in an
ordinary situation with them. Be-
cause of his infirmity he claimed no
exemption from personal ciastisement.
1t is claimed that nature is fond of
compensatfons, and what the good
dame had denied to Mr.. Stutsman
physically she had made up in other
favors. No doubt his physical in
ability to pursue the great majority of
avocations, taken in connection with
his genial and obliging disposition,
won him good will of the people; but
had he been less competent. less q
leader, less able, he would not have
attained the position among his fell
lows which he occupied and MAIN
tanned.
Mr.. Stutsman was fond of sunshine.
and his disposition and temperament
were in fellowship with his fondness.
He was most companionable gen.
tlemen, genial, generous, never giving
offence, and the life of the social cir
Gle. Among the pioneers of the Mis-
souri, slope, it was said that Stutsman
could in cases of political emergency,
muster the most numerous personal
clan of any leader in the territory. He
was an honorable man. and in all his
connections with business, or with
public affairs, and these occupied a
large portion of his life work, he ac-
quilted himself with credit, with fidel-
ity to his trust, and preserved a name
untainted.
Col. Stutsman died of consumption.
In the later part of January, 1874, at
the residence of Charles Cavileer Penn
bina where he had made his home for
several years and where he was re-
garded as one of the family.
The body was taken to Sioux CITY.
his former home for burial. and was
accompanied there by Hon. ]. La
INQUIRE. Mr.. Lamoure describes the at
tendance at the funeral as very large,
nearly the whole population of the
then village Of Yankton, having load
ed a train on the new railway to
Sioux City to pay their respects to
their former friend. Sometimes we
hope to see this state cause some suit
able memento to be erected to his
memory.