The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-02-20
SOUTH DAkOTAS
SECOND GOVERNOR
DIES AT YANKT0N
Newton Edmunds, Who Nego-
tiated First Indian Treaty,
Victim of Paralysis.

Yankton, S. d, Feb. 17.-Newton Ed
munds, second territorial governor of
South Dakota, who died OF paralysis
in this city yesterday afternoon, had
the distinction of negotiating he first
treaties with the indians on behalf Of
the state of South Dakota. These
! treaties, for which Mr.. Edmunds is en-
titled to almost the entire credit, really
begin the history Of South o
Mr.. Edmunds was appointed terri
torial governor in 1868. serving three
years. He succeeded Governor Jayne,
who resigned his Office to take his seat
in congress. Mr.. Ednlunds had at the
time been a citizen of South Dakota
for little more thar a year, having
come to the state as chief clerk to Sur
veyor General F~essenden.
At that time there We're III 500
voters in all of the territory of South
Dakota. These whites were at the time
terrorized by the massacres at New
Ulm and Redwood, MINI. During 1863,
two separate expeditions were direct
ed against the Indians in Dakota, UNI
der General Sibley and General Sully.
and each administered a severe defeat
to the redskins.
His First Message.
NIoNelilol EiiIlutluS ilISt iiltSSdSt w
the legislature was Enthusiastically
sensible and practical. He made sug-
gestions for education, revenue imrni-
grafton and railway legislation n
proposed defense of the whites by
means Of a line Of small posts along
the frontier.
The following year witnessed another
expedition against the Indians. under
General Sully, with troops from Ne
brasl1a, Iowa and Minnesota. To the
legislature in 1864, Governor Edmunds,
among other suggestions, expressed the
belief that there IA Il great deposit OF
precious metals i. the Black Hills ana
asked the legislature 10 memorialize
congress to build a road into the
Hills.
Carrying out a plan he had long had
in mind, Governor IGdmunds visited
Washington in February, 1855. just as
congress was drawing to a close. and,
calling upon President Lincoln, con-
WINGED Lincoln that, with u small APP
preparation, a commission could effect
a treaty of peace with the hostile IN
dams that had been terrorizing the ter
rltory ever since its establishment. Mr..
Lincoln gave Governor lIdmunds u
note to the committees of congress upon
Indian affairs, suggesting that they
take Governor Ednlunds' advice. A bill
was quickly passed allowing 500, 900 for
the expense of the treaty commission
and the president Il few days later APP
pointed Governor Newton Edmunds.
Edward r. Taylor, superintendent of
Indian Affairs Major General S. r. Cur
tbs, Brigadier General Henry II. Sibley
and MesSrs. Henry w. Reed Orrin
Guernsey as members of the commits
sion.
Thwarted by Pope.
But. to Governor Edmunds' great
disappointment, General Pope would
not permit the commission to enter the
indian country or negotiate for peace
a bitter correspondence followed, but
James "A. Harlan, secretary of the in
terror, finally secured a revocation o.
the military rider. 1t wa not unit
october that the EdnuEds commission
met the hostile Indians at Fort Sully
below Pierre. There, after negotiations
from october IA to October %, treaties
OF peace were S1gne1 with the Yank.
tons and the seven tribes Of Tetons
With the exception of Hump and two
Kettles, none Of the prominent India,
chlefs attended the conference O,
signed the treaty. If Governor Ed.
munds could have reached Red Cloud
Spotted Tail, Crazy Horse ana a few
others, the history Of the s%ubsecuep,
Is years might not have been so blood.
stained.
However. under the agreement, tn
indians all opposition to tn,
use IoddS established Or construction
of new ones. For right OF way the In.
dams received annuities Of more tina,
s3o,OOO. The Lower Brule accepted {
reservation. with an allowances OF 50;
per family for agricultural Implement,
and the other were to have a siniia,
allowance if they should take reserya.
lions. The treaties were ratified b,
he Senate and signed by Presiden
on March II. 1856.
Treaties With indians.
In May, 1866, the commission re.
turned and met more thar 10, coo In,
mans at Fort Pierre. Old Rec CLOUD
was there but refused to be bound b,
ane treatles or accept the annuities
Inc commission. nevertheless, proceed
ed TO the headwaters of the Missouri
ana secured treaties with tie Rees
Mandans, Blackfeet and other Indiar
tribes returning to Yankton in August
Inc treaties served to produce peac,
with the Indians, to the great satisfac.
ton Of the Dakota settlers.
RMS was the last year OF Goverro
EdIilunos service. a ,iepressjns
drouth occurred that sumner. AM
many settlers were disposed to leave
put GoVerTor Edmunds, through all In,
dlan roubles, wars. drouths. foods. fir,
ana srasshoppers, proceeded calmly I,
pam = ms felds and cultivate his crops
re introduced stock, taught the othe
farmers low to diversity their crop,
ana IN every way encouraged III,
1rontlersmen by his practical GOO,
sense. Soo'
Mr.. Edmunds has been living o,1,etl,
az 1aIkton for many years, enjoying /;
comfortable fortune accumulated by hi.
persistence and his thrift.
+. Came West Early.
Ex-Governor Edmunds was ho.n :,
county. New York, NAV 20
lsls. IN 1882 he emoved to Washte.
nav county, Michigan, where he i've,
untli ne am to South Dakota Sim,
ms retirement from public life he has
81 n tsr IN the banking business. Il
ialer years, owing to his deelinin.
health, the business has been nan
Quoted by his son Charles p. E r.
mu nnds and William H. Edmunda. Hi.
aught Mrs. e. E. Isl ha,,rh
made her home with the ~.cx-envarasan,
s sn me death of her husband. Jlde.
~assanaugh in the Black Hills = few
ago. Mrs. Eamunds died in 1909
BLACK D~IPHTHERtn