Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-08-02
ENos sTu1sMAN1 r

kotaS Noted Pioneers, After Whom
. Stutsman County was Named.
The following sketch of the life Of
Enos Stutsman is from the pen OF
Prof. Libby of the Historical Society,
and is a worthy tribute to one of ma
ture's noblemen, to whom the people
of North and South Dakota owe a
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 Stutsmap was one OF the
earliest pioneers of the territory OF
Dakota, having settled at Yankton
in the fall of 1858. This was three
years before the treaty of cession be-
tween the Yankton Indians and the
federal government was ratified oy
the senate, and the Indians then oc-
cupied the soil and had their princi-
pal village at the place aftefward
called Yankton. AS Mr.. Stutsman
occupied prominent and influential
position in all the efforts made to
procure the organization of Dakota
territory, which embraced the pres
ent 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 Penn
bina.
Enos Stutsman was of German an
cestry. His great grandfather was
native of that part of Europe, and
emigrated in 1928 to this country,
settling in Pennsylvania. His name
was Jacob Stutsman and he was ac-
companicd by a cousin of the sane
name. FROM these cousins the Slut :
man families of North America sprang
and have been quite prominent in
civic as we'll as military affairs of
the several states. They we're among
the Revolutionary soldiers, we're In
the second war with Great Britain,
also in the Mexican war, and in the
great rebellion of 1861; the confeder-
ate as we'll as the union cause was
sustained by soldiers Of this old Ger
man stock. .+
IL Nicholas Stutsman, father of f~the
!, subject of this. sketch, was born IN
Pennsylva MIA, and emigrated with
his parents to Ohio in l779, settling
at a point near which tie city Of
, Dayton was built. In 1925 the father
! removed to Fayette County, Indiana,
where Enos vas born the following
year. Ten years later, his father
again removed 10 Coles county, Him
oil, aud settled neighbor to the
father of President Lincoln. Enos
now began to acquire an education,
but under many disadvantages. Had
he been an Indifferent pupil he would
sstaSe had poor success, but he was
eager. to learn. 'and q great reader.
When II yeals Of age he began teach
ing school and continued in that oc-
cupation until he was p years old.
His career as q teacher was q success,
full one, and gave him a wide sac-,
uuaintance, substantial; popularity,
the affections of his pupils and the
confidence of the people. He now
entered the political field, and in
ls47 was elected recorder of Coles
county and two years later clerk of
the court. During his incumbenoy
of these offices he had studied law,
and was admitted to the bar In 1851.
@ In the year 1855 Mr.. Stutsman re-
moved to Des Moines, Iowa. where
he opened land and exchange Office,
and year later removed to Sioux
City, then the outer limits Of civil
4 ization In the northwest. ae prac-
ticed law in Sioux City, took an
active part in politics on the demo-
cratic side, for he had been reared q
Jacksonian, and dealt largely In real
! estate with varying fortunes. Two
years later found him q member OF
an organization known as the Yank-
ton Land and Town company, as It's
secretary, and ii the fall Of 1858 he
J removed to SYankton for the purpose,
of supervising the laying out of the
town, and the affairs Of the company
generally. Because OF difficulties
subsequently, arising affecting the
title to the townsite which at this
time was Indian land, the townsite
company, after surveying and plat.
ting stke,site, did little more than q,
give permits to build, after the treaty
WAS ratified with an agreement to
make . deed whenever the company
( could lawfully do 80. The company.
however, was t1eyer able to- do this,
Tor after ! prolonged litigation, the
land was: awarded 70 different indi- 1ll1
'sssviduals and the com panY dissolv ved.