Adolphus W. Burtt
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Adolphus W. Burtt (May 28, 1832 – January 7, 1917) was an American attorney and politician. He is most notable for his service in the
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in the early 1890s and as
Attorney General of South Dakota The Attorney General of South Dakota is the state attorney general of the U.S. state of South Dakota. The attorney general is elected by popular vote to a four-year term and holds an executive position as the state's chief legal officer. In 1992, ...
in the early 1900s.


Early life

Adolphus William Burtt (sometimes spelled "Burt") was born in New York on May 28, 1832, the son of Warren D. Burtt and Sarah (Fowler) Burtt. He was educated raised and educated in
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and Mendon. Burtt attended Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, then worked as a bookkeeper. At the time of the 1860 census, he was living with his wife's family in
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.


Start of career

Burtt moved to Pontiac, Michigan, in the mid-1860s. He studied law, probably under Michael E. Crofoot, whose partner he later became, and was
admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...
in 1869. He was active in politics as a
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, and ran unsuccessfully for prosecuting attorney of Oakland County and city clerk of Pontiac. Burtt served as a justice of the peace 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 N ...
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 ...
. Burtt and Louis Crofoot practiced in partnership in Huron, 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 The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 35 members, one representing each legislative district; it meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. Composition :''92nd Legislature (2019)'' Officers L ...
in 1892, and served one term, 1893 to 1895. When Attorney General John L. Pyle died in 1902, Governor
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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. 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 and the
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, 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
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, 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
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. They were the parents of a daughter, Nellie (1864-1938). Nellie Burtt was the wife of George A. Fessenden (1863-1910).


Notes


References


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Newspapers

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Internet

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External links

* {{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