Paul Dutcher Biography


	This biography appears on pages 223-224 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				PAUL DUTCHER. 

	There are few who have had a more potent influence in shaping 
public thought and action, particularly along political lines, than has 
Paul Dutcher of Brookings, who is owner and editor of the Register. His 
paper has done much to mold public opinion and in individual effort, 
too, he has aided in shaping the policy that has molded the destiny of 
territory and state. He was born August 9, 1863, at Stoughton, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, a son of Curtis E. and Lucinda C. (Mattice) Dutcher, 
the former born in May, 1831, and the latter September 25, 1831. The 
mother survives and now makes her home with her son, W. E. Dutcher, in 
Aberdeen, South Dakota, but the father passed away when his son Paul 
was but nine years of age. 

	The latter was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin but 
necessity compelled him early to earn his living and at the age of 
fifteen years he entered the employ of Cramer, Aikens & Cramer, 
publishers of the Evening Wisconsin at Milwaukee. This was his initial 
step in the field of journalism and at the age of nineteen, in company 
with his brother, he took over the Waterloo Journal, which they 
published for about two years. Mr. Dutcher then came west in August, 
1884, and located in the town of Clark in Dakota territory. The same 
fall he purchased and became the publisher of the Raymond Gazette in 
the western part of Clark county. He made it an organ of the republican 
party and was quite active and influential in territorial politics, 
serving as a delegate to the last territorial convention, held at 
Jamestown, now North Dakota. He was also a delegate from Clark county 
to the first republican convention of South Dakota. held at Huron. The 
notable feature of this convention was the placing of a prohibition 
plank in the platform and it carried with it Mr. Dutcher's vote. Always 
an admirer and stanch friend of the Hon. Carl G. Sherwood, now judge of 
the third circuit, Mr. Dutcher assisted in his election as a delegate 
to the constitutional convention of 1885 and afterward as the first 
state senator from Clark county. 

	At that time Mr. Dutcher was a justice of the peace and the 
postmaster, as well as a publisher in his home town. He enjoyed the 
friendship and intimate acquaintance of such men as John E. Bennett, 
afterward judge on the supreme bench; S. H. Elrod, governor from 1905 
until 1907; and S. J. Conklin, pioneer and for a number of years 
adjutant general. A. C. Johnson, passenger and traffic manager for the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Chicago, was Mr. Dutcher's neighbor 
at Raymond. Among the pioneers and men of prominence Mr. Dutcher 
enjoyed the acquaintance of such men as Gideon C. Moody, who was United 
States senator from 1889 until 1891; R. F. Pettigrew, who was senator 
from 1889 until 1901; Oscar S. Gifford and John A. Pickler, members of 
congress from 1889 to 1896. He was intimately acquainted with the last 
territorial and the first state governor, Hon. A. C. Mellette, and for 
three years served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Charles H. 
Sheldon with the rank of colonel. He numbered among his personal 
friends C. N. Herried, A. O. Ringsrud, Thomas Thorson and W. H. Roddle, 
the last three being secretaries of state in successive order from 1889 
until 1900. In 1895 Mr. Dutcher was assistant to the chief clerk of the 
house of representatives. 

	In June, 1890, Mr. Dutcher removed to Brookings, establishing the 
Brookings Register and afterward absorbing the Sentinel. In 1906 the 
Brookings Individual was taken over and consolidated with the Register, 
which is today one of the best weeklies published in the state. Mr. 
Dutcher enjoys the distinction of being one of less than a half dozen 
publishers in the state who have been continuously in the publishing 
business since 1X84. He has been a member of the South Dakota Press 
Association since it was organized in 1884 and was its first treasurer. 
He was the first secretary of the present organization of the Brookings 
Commercial Club, which is one of the best and most active organizations 
of this kind in the state. He has always been an advocate of South 
Dakota and her opportunities, has been an indefatigable worker for her 
upbuilding and as a promoter has done much to advance her interests. He 
is prominent in Masonic circles, being a past commander, a past high 
priest, a past master and a past patron. His life has been actuated by 
the spirit of advancement and the result of his labors has been far 
reaching and beneficial.