Found On The Interwebs - Lorenzo Stutz

Lorenzo Stutz, my great-great-grandfather, was sentenced to the the Utah Penitentiary from 1886-1887 for polygamy. Here is a picture of him locked up; he's the one with the X underneath (click for a larger image).


Grandma has written several excellent family history books that are must-reads for the family. One of them, All You Immigrants (p. 356), describes Lorenzo Stutz as the father (Katherina Leutenegger is the mother) of Joseph Reuben Stutz, who is the father (Clara McLean Coombs is the mother) of Howard Coombs Stutz, who is my grandfather (Mildred Robison is my grandmother). The genealogy is much more complicated than this linear description.

Despite the fact that Lorenzo died a century ago, there is information about him on the Internet. The following are some online resources (thanks, Utah Digital Newspapers!) about Lorenzo Stutz and his polygamy ("unlawful cohabitation"), presumably under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862. The LDS Church issued the 1890 Manifesto that ceased the Church's practice of plural marriage after Lorenzo was released from prison.

Deseret Evening News, Another Raid, November 10, 1886, p. 13. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/deseretnews4,61140)

MILL CREEK AND BIG COTTONWOOD VISITED BY DEPUTY MARSHALS.

About 7 o'clock on Saturday night the home of LORENZO STUTZ at Mill Creek, Salt Lake County, was encompassed about by deputy marshals with a warrant of arrest for William Stutz, on a charge of unlawful cohabitation. The warrant was served on Mr. Lorenzo Stutz, who was brought before Commissioner McKay to-day, and pleaded not guilty to the complaint, signed by D.W. Rench, and charging him with unlawfully cohabiting with Mrs. Wm. Stutz and Jane Doe Stutz as his wives. The Commissioner changed the name "William" to that of the defendant. The preliminary examination was waived, and Mr. Stutz gave $1,500 bail for himself, and $200 for each of four witnesses for the prosecution.

At the time of the visit of the deputies, Mrs. Stutz was in a very weak condition, her babe being but nine days old, and the shock to her system has been quite serious.

Deseret Evening News, Local News, December 1, 1886, p. 13. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/deseretnews4,61416)

FROM FRIDAY'S DAILY, NOV. 27
...
Arraigned.--Lorenzo Stutz, of Mill Creek, was arraigned in the District Court to-day on a two-count charge of unlawful cohabitation. The periods alleged are--December 1, 1883, to November 30, 1884; December 1, 1884, to April 30, 1886, the alleged wives being Elizabeth Stutz and Catherine Stutz. A plea of guilty was entered and sentence set for Monday at 10 a.m.
...
Court Notes.--Proceedings in the Third District Court to-day:
...
United States v. Lorenzo Stutz; unlawful cohabitation, two counts; plea of guilty; sentence set for Monday, Nov. 29th.
...
FROM MONDAY'S DAILY NOV. 29
...
Sentenced to One Year.--Brother Lorenzo Stutz, of Mill Creek, was called in the Third District Court to-day to receive sentence on a two-count indictment for unlawful cohabitation. He declined to make any promise as to his future conduct, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment in the penitentiary, and to pay a fine of $100 and costs of prosecution.

Deseret Evening News, Released To-day, June 8, 1887, p. 1. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/deseretnews6,33048)

The terms of imprisonment, and thirty days additional for the fines imposed, of Brothers John Stoddard, of Ogden, and Lorenzo Stutz, of Mill Creek, expired on Sunday, and to-day they were brought before Commissioner McKay and underwent a rigid examination as to their proper qualifications. They were finally discharged on taking the oath. Brother Stoddard's sentence was six months and $300, while Brother Stutz received double that penalty, but only served one term, being released through the Supreme Court decision. The wife of Brother Stutz died while he was in prison.

Ogden Standard Examiner, Divorce Suit, April 28, 1897, p. 3. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/ogden5,32736)

Catharine Stutz has entered a suit for divorce from Lorenzo Stutz and alleges that her husband has treated her cruelly and also has failed to support her. She further states in her complaint that her husband owns real estate to the amount of $3,000. She asks for a decree of divorce and that she may resume her maiden name of Catharine Bentonnigger and $250 alimony.

Salt Lake Tribune, Divorce Applied for, April 28, 1897, p. 6. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/slt17,11010)

Catherine Stutz filed an action for divorce against Lorenzo Stutz in the Third District court yesterday. Mrs. Stutz says that she was married to the defendant in 1890 and that he has since treated her cruelly and failed to provide for her. Mrs. Stutz also asks for permanent alimony in the sum of $250.

Salt Lake Tribune, Divorce Decree Denied, May 9, 1897, p. 5. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/slt17,12612)

Catharine Stutz appeared before Judge Hiles yesterday as an applicant for decree of divorce from Lorenzo Stutz, on the grounds of failure to support and cruelty. Mrs. Stutz was unable to submit sufficient proof, however, and the court denied the decree temporarily, but held the matter open pending the introduction of further testimony.

Salt Lake Tribune, Says He Ejected Her, August 3, 1897, p. 5. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/slt17,24787)

Catherine Stutz was yesterday granted a divorce by Judge Cherry from her husband, Lorenzo Stutz of Mill Creek. The plaintiff charged the defendant with cruelty in putting her out of his house about a year ago. She stated that since that time he had failed to support her or her three-year-old child and she had earned her own subsistence by acting as a nurse. The plaintiff was granted the custody of the child and $250 alimony.

Deseret Evening News, Death of Lorenzo Stutz, March 19, 1910, p. 16. (http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/den6,77454)

Lorenzo Stutz, aged 71 years, died at 10 o'clock Friday morning of hemorrhage, caused by over-taxing himself about the home 3571 Seventh East. The deceased was born in Switzerland, Sept. 7, 1838, and came to this country in 1862. He settled in Salt Lake county. Mr. Stutz had been married three times, his first wife dying shortly after he came to Utah. His second wife died about eight years ago, while his third wife was divorced about a year ago. Five children survive him. Funeral services will be held Sunday at noon at the Wilford ward meetinghouse. The casket will be opened the day of the funeral at the family residence from 10 to 11 o'clock in the forenoon. Interment will be in the Mill Creek cemetery.

Of course, there is much more to know about Lorenzo than is available on the Internet, but that will have to wait for a future post.

UPDATE

An extended excerpt from Grandma's book All You Immigrants provides the promised fuller story about Lorenzo Stutz.