Samuel H. Jumper Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 612-616

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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SAMUEL H. JUMPER, a portrait of whom is presented on another page, has 
attained distinction in connection with the business, political and 
social interests of Aberdeen, and no resident of the city is held in 
higher regard or is more justly entitled to the esteem of his fellow-
men. His commercial and financial interests have not only resulted to 
his individual benefit, but have promoted the general prosperity, and 
in public office he has labored most earnestly and effectively for the 
upbuilding and advancement of his adopted city. 

Mr. Jumper is a native of the far-off Pine Tree state, his birth having 
occurred in New Gloucester, Maine, October 24, 1844. His great-
grandfather was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war and a 
representative of one of the old and honored families of New England. 
The grandfather, John Jumper, was a native of Maine, and the father of 
our subject, John Jumper, Jr., was born in New Gloucester in 1818. He 
wedded Mary Damon, whose birth there occurred in 1820, and who also 
belonged to one of the old Maine families. The father was a seafaring 
man, who served as mate on a vessel. Both he and his wife spent their 
entire lives in the state of their nativity, and are now deceased. The 
father had ten children, eight by his first marriage and two by his 
second marriage. They were: Royal D., deceased; Charles H., David A., 
George E., Samuel H., John Q. A., Albert O., deceased; Harriet E. (wife 
of Charles Sherry), Thomas P. and Sarah H., deceased, formerly the wife 
of William E. Lindsey. Five of the sons served in the Civil war. 
Charles H. was a captain in the Twenty-ninth Maine Infantry, David A. 
belonged to the Tenth Maine Infantry, George E. was a captain in the 
First Maine Cavalry, Samuel H. belonged to the Tenth and the Twenty-
ninth Maine Regiments, and John was with the boys in blue of the Twenty 
fifth and Twenty-ninth Maine Infantry. The combined service of the five 
brothers was twenty-one years -an honorable military record of which 
the family may well be proud. George was held as a prisoner of war at 
Belle Isle, but escaped. Later, however, he was imprisoned in Libby, 
remaining there until exchanged. None of the brothers ever asked for a 
pension or received one, their service being freely offered for the 
good of the nation. 

Samuel H. Jumper was reared upon the home farm in New Gloucester, 
Maine, and acquired his education in the common schools of the 
neighborhood. At the age of seventeen he ran away from home in order to 
enlist, and on the 30th of September; 1861, became a member of Company 
K, Tenth Maine Infantry. He first did guard duty along the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad until May 24, 1 862, and then joined General Banks' army 
at Winchester, assisting in covering the retreat of the army to 
Williamsport, Maryland. Later he was under General Pope in the second 
battle of Bull Run; participated in the engagements of South Mountain 
and Antietam, and was in the Shenandoah Valley until the spring of 
1863, when with his command he went to Fairfax Court House and Demfries 
Landing. The term of the regiment then expiring, the Tenth Maine was 
sent home and mustered out, but almost immediately veteranized and 
reorganized as the Twenty-ninth Maine. Mr. Jumper remained in the same 
company as a private and sailed from Portland, Maine, to New Orleans, 
in February, 1864. He was in the Red River expedition and fought in the 
battles of Pleasant Hill and Sabine Cross Roads. In July his command 
returned to Washington, D. C., to relieve the department clerks who 
were protecting the city from Jubal Early, which was followed by 
service in the Shenandoah Valley under General Sheridan, at Opequa 
Creek, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill. In the first onset at 
Cedar Creek all the commissioned officers and sergeants of Company K 
were killed or disabled, and the command-of the company fell upon Mr. 
Jumper, who was corporal, and he continued in charge until the 
reorganization of the regiment just before Sheridan's charge. He was 
promoted to sergeant on the field. In the last charge at Cedar Creek he 
was struck by a musket ball and sustained a flesh wound in the foot. He 
remained in the South until the spring of 1865, aided in guarding the 
assassins of President Lincoln, and participated in the grand review at 
Washington with the Army of the Potomac. He then went to Georgia and 
South Carolina, and was mustered out June 28, 1866, on Hart's Island, 
in New York harbor, at which time he held the rank of sergeant major of 
his regiment. 

After his return home Mr. Jumper completed a course in Eastman's 
Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, and in January, 1867, went 
to Minneapolis, Minnesota, thinking to find better business 
opportunities in the west. The following June he returned to Maine, but 
in April, 1869, again went to Minneapolis and secured the position of 
manager of the Nicollet House, in which capacity he served until 1880. 
He was then bookkeeper in the Northwestern Flour Mill until the spring 
of 1881, when he came to Brown county, South Dakota. The railroad had 
not then been built and not a tent or board marked the town site of 
Aberdeen. He pitched his tent, and soon opened a general store in the 
first building of the town, being associated in the enterprise with C. 
A. Bliss. In September, 1882, he sold out, and in July, 1883, organized 
the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank, which he later reorganized as the First 
National Bank. He was its first president, and later served as cashier 
until he sold the controlling interest to the present owners. He has 
been president of the Building & Loan Association since its 
organization and has engaged extensively in real-estate dealing, 
handling the town site for the original owners. 

In 1875 Mr. Jumper was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Hilt, who was 
born in Warren, Maine, July 31, 1851, and is a valued member of St. 
Marks Episcopal church. Mr. Jumper is a prominent Mason, and was the 
first junior warden of Aberdeen Lodge, No. 38. He is also high priest 
of the chapter, was a charter member of Damascus Commandery, K. T., its 
first eminent commander and was grand commander of the state in 1891. 
He is also a charter member of South Dakota Consistory of the Scottish 
rite, was its first commander, and belongs to the Mystic Shrine of 
Sioux Falls. He is knight commander of the Court of Honor, a charter 
member of Robert Anderson Post, G. A. R., served as its commander, and 
has also been senior vice commander of the state. His name is also on 
the membership roll of the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Eastern Star 
lodge and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in all these 
relations has proven himself a worthy representative of the orders and 
a faithful exemplar of the fraternal and benevolent principles which 
underlie these organizations. 

In politics Mr. Jumper is a stanch Republican and is a recognized 
leader in the local ranks of the party. He has served as alderman and 
mayor of Aberdeen. and on the 1st of May, 1898, was appointed by 
President McKinley postmaster of the city. In all these positions he 
has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, and is 
loyal to the public good, and the advancement of the best interests of 
county, state and nation. His sterling worth has gained him high 
regard, and throughout the state he has many friends, who prize his 
acquaintance as that of an honorable man and agreeable companion.