Gen. S. H. Jumper Biography


	This biography appears on pages 182-183 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GENERAL S. H. JUMPER.  

	The name of General S. H. Jumper is inseparably interwoven with 
the history of Aberdeen. He was the first man who slept upon the 
townsite of the city and was the first actual settler there. From that 
day to this he has taken an active part in many projects and business 
enterprises which have had to do with the development and upbuilding of 
the city, with its adornment, its prosperity and its happiness. He is 
far separated from his birthplace- New Gloucester, Maine. His natal day 
was October 24, 1844, and his parents were John and Mary Jumper. His 
youthful days were spent in New England, where he acquired a public 
school education. He was a youth of less than seventeen years at the 
time of the outbreak of the Civil war, and in 1861 he enlisted, his 
response to the country's call making him a member of Company K, Tenth 
Maine Infantry, with which he served until July, 1866, or for fifty-six 
months. Four of his brothers were also soldiers of the Civil war and 
their combined service covered twenty-one years. Three are still 
living. Three of the brothers enlisted at the first call for men to 
serve for three months; which time, it was then believed, would see an 
end of the war. They after reenlisted at the reorganization of 
regiments, and three of the brothers remained in the service for a year 
or more after the actual close of hostilities, being stationed in south 
Carolina during the troublesome reconstruction days. All participated 
in some of the most important and sanguinary engagements that marked 
the Civil strife. George Jumper, now of San Francisco, was a captain of 
cavalry in the First Maine Regiment and was twice in Libby prison. 
After his first incarceration he managed to escape, but was afterward 
again taken prisoner and remained until exchanged. General Jumper was 
advanced from one rank to another until at the time of his discharge he 
was serving as sergeant major of the Twenty-ninth Maine Regiment. He 
was on active duty throughout the entire period of the war.  

	After the close of hostilities S. H. Jumper turned to the west, 
making his way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he acted as manager of 
the Nicollet House for about fourteen years, or from 1867 until 1881. 
In the hatter year he removed to Aberdeen and has since been identified 
with the city. Dakota territory, as it then was, was a largely 
unsettled and undeveloped district, and General Jumper was the first 
man to spend a night upon the present site of Aberdeen and the first to 
take up a permanent residence there. He also established the first 
general store and was in the mercantile business for two years, but on 
the expiration of that period he turned his attention to financial 
interests and in 1883 established the Farmers and Merchants Bank. In 
1884 he organized the First National Bank, and was president of both 
institutions. Under President McKinley he became postmaster of Aberdeen 
and sold his banking business. He remained as postmaster for one term, 
was afterward assistant postmaster for a term, was then again appointed 
acting postmaster and is now once more serving as assistant postmaster. 
The growth of a city is no where more plainly indicated than in the 
increased business of the postoffice, and the business of the Aberdeen 
postoffice grew greatly during the years that General Jumper was 
connected with the position. On May 1, 1915, he resigned his position 
in the postal service after exactly seventeen years as postmaster and 
assistant and retired to private life. Aside from his official 
interests he has been president of the Home Building & Loan Association 
since its organization and he has filled several local offices. He was 
alderman of the city, and in 1890 was elected mayor of Aberdeen for a 
two years, term, during which he gave to the city a businesslike and 
progressive administration. The title by which he is generally known 
came to him as the result of his service as brigadier general of the 
state militia from 1889 until 1893.  

	General Jumper was united in marriage in 1875 to Miss Ella M. 
Hilt, of Maine, and they have an extensive acquaintance in Aberdeen, 
their friends being numbered by the score. General Jumper is well known 
in connection with fraternal organizations. He belongs to the Masonic 
lodge, to the chapter and commandery and upon him have been conferred 
some of the highest offices within the gift of the state organizations 
of the order. He has been grand high priest of the grand chapter and 
eminent grand commander of the grand commandery, and he has a very 
extensive acquaintance among the craft of South Dakota. He has likewise 
crossed the sands of the desert with the nobles of the Mystic Shrine 
and now belongs to Yelduz Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He belongs to 
Robert Anderson Post No. 38, G. A. R., of which he has been commander 
several times, and he also holds membership with the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His political 
allegiance is given to the republican party and his loyalty and 
citizenship none question, for his public spirit has been again and 
again demonstrated in many connections and his efforts have been of 
essential value and benefit to city and state.