The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-14

1
and is a worthy tribute to one of ma
lures noblemen, to whom the people
OF North and South Dakota owe s
lasting debt of gratitude. for services
in the laying of the foundations Of
these two great states when men like
him were rather scarce in the wild
frontier country:
Enos Stutsman was one of the ear
Hest pioneers of the territory of Dako-
ia, having settled at Yankton in the
fall of 1858. This was three years
before the treaty of cession between
the YanktOn Indians and the federal
government was ratified by the senate,
and the Indians then occupied the soil
and had their principal village at the
place afterward called Yankton. AS
Mr.. Stutsman occupied a prominent
and influential position ip all the eff
forts made to procure the organization
of Dakota territory, which embraced
the present state of North Dakota, as
we'll as its sister state ON the south,
he became an historical character in
the territory before his removal to
Pembina.
Enos Stutsman was of German an
cestry. His great grandfather was a
native of that part of Europe, and
emigrated in 1928 to this country, set
thing in Pennsylvania. His name was
Jacob Stutsman, and he was accom-
panied by a cousin of the same name.
From these cousins the Stutsman
families of North America sprang and
have been quite prominent in civic as
we'll as military affairs of the several
states. They were among the Revo-
luttonary soldiers, were in the second
war with Great Britain. also in the
Mexican war, and in the great rebel
lion of 1861; the confederate as we'll
as the union cause was sustained by
soldiers of this old German stock.
Nicholas Stutsman. father of the
subject of his sketch. was born in
Pennsylvania, and emigrated with his
parents to Ohio in 1879, settling at
point near which the city of Dayton
was built. In 1925 the father removed
to Fayette county, Indiana. where
Enos was born the following year.
Ten years later his father again re-
moved to Coles county. Illinois, and
settled near neighbor to the
father of President Lincoln to ac-
quire an education, but under many
disadvantages. Had he been an
poor success, but he was eager to
learn, and great reader. When II
years of age he began teaching school
and continued in that occupation until
he was p years old. His career as a
teacher was successful one, and gave
him wide acquaintance, substantial
" q OF Nfh
and the confidence of the people. He
now entered the political field. and
in 1S47 was elected recorder of Coles
county and two years later clerk of
the court. During his incumbency
of these offices he had studied law
and was admitted to the bar in
1851.
In the year 1885 Mr.. Stutsman re-
moved to DesMoines, Iowa. where he
opened a land and exchange Office, and
year later removed to Sioux City,
then the outer limits of civilization in
the northwest. He practiced law in
Sioux City, took an active part in poll
tics on the democratic side. for he
had been reared Jacksonian, and
dealt largely in real estate with vary
ing fortunes. Two years later found
him a member of an organization
known as the Yankton Land and
Town company. as its secretary, and
in the fall of 1859 he removed to
Yankton for the purpose of supervis-
ing the laying out of the town, and
the affairs of the company generally.
Because of difficulties subsequently
arising affecting the title to the town.
site. which at this time was Indian
land, the lownsite company, after
surveying and plating the site, did
little more than give permits to build,
after the treaty was ratified, with an
agreement to make deed whenever
the company could lawfully do so. The
company, however was never able
to do this, for after prolonged litiga-
ton, the land was awarded to diff
ferent individuals and the company
dissolved. Mr.. Stutsman continued
his residence in Yankton and took up
presumption claim adjoining the
townsite. He also attended to his law
business and for two or three years
was the only resident lawyer. The Or
ganic act was passed in March 1861
and the federal officers arrived at
Yankton in June of that year, and be-
gan the work of constructing the ter
ritorial government. A legislature was
called to meet in March, 1862, and
Stutsman was elected from Yankton
district to the territorial council, and
during the session was mainly instru-
mental in procuring passage of the law
locating the capital of the territory
at Yankton. He was chairman of the
Judiciary committee and one of the
most Industrious members of the
body, performing the principal part
of the labor of framing the codes and
the general laws passed at this first
session. At the second session of the
legislative assembly he was elected
president Of the council, and discharg-
ed his duties in such an able and i'm
partial manner as to add to the es-
TEEN and confidence of his fellow
members which he enjoyed in a mark
ed degree.
Up to about this time Mr.. Stutsman
had been democrat, affiliating with
what was called the Douglas wing, or
popular sovereignty faction, of that
party. The civil war was on, and
while nominally democrat he was an
outspoken and uncompromising union
man without qualification, las all of
the Douglas school of democrats were)
which gave him the confidence and
support of the republicans as we'll as
the Douglas democrats, and he was
elected to second term in the council
In 1864, on ticket named by a con-
vention called by the republican and
union organization. and thereafter
acted with that party. Mr.. Stutsmap
NIL