Adolphus W. Burtt (May 28, 1832 – January 7, 1917) was an American attorney and politician. He is most notable for his service in the
South Dakota Senate in the early 1890s and as
Attorney General of South Dakota in the early 1900s.
Early life
Adolphus William Burtt (sometimes spelled "Burt") was born in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
on May 28, 1832, the son of Warren D. Burtt and Sarah (Fowler) Burtt. He was educated raised and educated in
Watertown Watertown may refer to:
Places in China
In China, a water town is a type of ancient scenic town known for its waterways.
Places in the United States
*Watertown, Connecticut, a New England town
**Watertown (CDP), Connecticut, the central village ...
and
Mendon. Burtt attended
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was the name of two institutions located on the same site in Lima, New York.
The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (I) was founded in 1831 by the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The plan for its ...
, then worked as a bookkeeper. At the time of the 1860 census, he was living with his wife's family in
West Bloomfield, New York.
Start of career
Burtt moved to
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit.
Founde ...
, in the mid-1860s. He
studied law, probably under Michael E. Crofoot, whose partner he later became, and was
admitted to the bar in 1869. He was active in politics as a
Republican, and ran unsuccessfully for prosecuting attorney of
Oakland County
Oakland County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Metro Detroit, metropolitan Detroit area, located northwest of the city. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 Census, its population was 1, ...
and city clerk of Pontiac. Burtt served as a
justice of the peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
of Pontiac's municipal court, and afterwards was usually referred to as "Judge Burtt". After several years of practice as Crofoot & Burtt, in 1877 Crofoot's son Louis joined the firm, which became known as Crofoot, Burtt & Crofoot.
Move to South Dakota
In 1881, Burtt and Louis W. Crofoot were among a large contingent of Pontiac residents who decided to file claims for land grants in the
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of No ...
and move to what is now
Beadle County, South Dakota
Beadle County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 19,149. Its county seat is Huron. The county was created in 1879 and organized in 1880. Beadle County comprises the Huron, SD M ...
. Burtt and Louis Crofoot practiced in partnership in
Huron
Huron may refer to:
People
* Wyandot people (or Wendat), indigenous to North America
* Wyandot language, spoken by them
* Huron-Wendat Nation, a Huron-Wendat First Nation with a community in Wendake, Quebec
* Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi ...
, and Burtt served several terms as Huron's city attorney, in addition to running unsuccessfully for mayor.
Burtt won election to the
South Dakota Senate in 1892, and served one term, 1893 to 1895. When Attorney General
John L. Pyle
John L. Pyle (May 5, 1860 - February 22, 1902) was an attorney and politician from the state of South Dakota. A Republican, he was notable for his service as State's Attorney of Hand County (1886-1888) and state Attorney General (1899-1902).
Ea ...
died in 1902, Governor
Charles N. Herreid
Charles Nelson Herreid (October 20, 1857 – July 6, 1928) was the fourth Governor of South Dakota.
Biography
Charles Herreid was born in Dane County, Wisconsin. His parents, Nels Olson Herreid (1832–1902) and Thone Kittelson Herreid (1833â ...
appointed Burtt to fill the vacancy, and he served from March 1902 until January 1903. He was not a candidate for a full term in 1902, and was succeeded by
Philo Hall
Philo Hall (December 31, 1865 – October 7, 1938) was a South Dakota attorney and politician. He served as Attorney General of South Dakota and a member of the United States House of Representatives.
Early life and American Civil War
Philo ...
.
From 1906 to 1907, Burtt served as president of the South Dakota Bar Association. He was also the longtime president of the Beadle County Bar Association. Burtt was an active member of the
Masons
Mason may refer to:
Occupations
* Mason, brick mason, or bricklayer, a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork, or who lays any combination of stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or similar pieces
* Stone mason, a craftsman in the stone-cutt ...
and the
Elks, and had a reputation as an effective orator, which caused him to be sought out for speeches at political meetings, holiday commemorations, and other events.
Retirement and death
In 1909, Burtt and his wife moved to
Kalispell, Montana, so they could reside near their daughter and son-in-law. He died in Kalispell on January 7, 1917, and was buried at Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.
Family
In 1857, Burtt married Emily Elizabeth Beebe (1836-1910) of
West Bloomfield, New York. They were the parents of a daughter, Nellie (1864-1938). Nellie Burtt was the wife of George A. Fessenden (1863-1910).
Notes
References
Sources
Newspapers
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Internet
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Burtt, Adolphus W.
1832 births
1917 deaths
19th-century American politicians
People from Mendon, New York
Politicians from Pontiac, Michigan
People from Huron, South Dakota
Michigan lawyers
Michigan Republicans
Michigan state court judges
South Dakota Republicans
South Dakota lawyers
South Dakota Attorneys General
South Dakota state senators
Politicians from Kalispell, Montana
Burials in Montana
19th-century American judges
19th-century American lawyers