Meet Servant of God Joseph Dutton

Joseph Dutton was born into a Protestant family in 1843.  In 1883 he became a Catholic and in 2021 the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Joseph Dutton officially began.

Ira Barnes Dutton was born in Stowe, Vermont, on April 27, 1843, to Methodist parents Abigail and Ezra Dutton.  Four years later the family moved to Janesville, Wisconsin.

Dutton was teaching Sunday school, and working in a bookstore in Janesville when the Civil war began. He remembered how “the streets were lined with cheering crowds, bands were playing, and flags flying.” Ira enlisted in September 1861 and served four years with the 13^th Wisconsin Regiment.

The 13th Wisconsin saw little fighting during the war, but it did enable Ira to demonstrate his inborn leadership skills. He rose to the rank of Captain. Dutton considered the military a career, but as the numbers of personnel decreased after the war, he realized that his chances for advancement were very slim.

He left the army in 1866 and spent the next 20 years working at different jobs. Dutton also married an unfaithful woman, and the marriage lasted only a short time. He never even mentioned her name. Dutton filed divorce papers in 1881.

“I never injured anyone but myself.”

Ira worked in cemeteries, ran a distillery in Alabama, and moved to Memphis to work on the railroads. In 1875 he took a job with the War department processing claims against the government.

Ira was successful in all his undertakings and was an upstanding citizen. But at night, he would stay home and drink. He became an alcoholic. He would later say of his drinking, “I never injured anyone but myself.” Dutton quit drinking in1876, and he never drank again.

Baptized on his fortieth birthday

Ira fell away from religion during the war. But he did become interested in Catholicism. He had become friends with some Catholics, and their influence spurred him to want to learn more. He acquired a catechism and began to study.

Dutton was received into the Catholic church on April 27, 1883. The occasion also marked his fortieth birthday. He changed his name to Joseph, who he greatly admired, quit his job with the government, and set out to begin a “new life.”

Joseph desired to do penance for his “wild years” and sinfulness so he headed to Our Lady of Gethsemani Monastery in Kentucky. This was the home of the Trappists Monks, and he was determined to do repentance for the rest of his life. After 20 months, he realized he needed to do penitential action and not just penitential contemplation.

He knew about Father Damien and his apostolate for lepers at Molokai in Hawaii. So he left the Trappist Monastery and, with the blessings of the Abbott, began preparing to leave for Molokai. He remained lifelong friends with the Trappists.

Meeting Father Damien of Molokai

Dutton arrived in Molokai sometime in 1886. When he arrived at Molokai, he remembered how Father Damien greeted the new patients with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy). When Father Damien approached him, Joseph said, “My name is Joseph Dutton; I have come to help, and I have come to stay.”

Father Damien told him he could not pay him, and Joseph replied, “I do not care about that.” He would stay for the rest of his life.

President Theodore Roosevelt admired him

Joseph was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. He was often called Brother Joseph. He began writing letters to officials and people of influence, seeking help for those afflicted with leprosy. Dutton would explain how life was for them on the island. President Theodore Roosevelt, one of his frequent contacts, expressed his admiration and respect for Brother Joseph.

Joseph worked side by side with Father Damien for two years until the holy priest passed away. Before his death in 1889,  Father Damien said, “I can die now. Brother Joseph will take care of my orphans.”

Brother Joseph served as administrator, carpenter, repairman, and even as a medic bandaging wounds and taking care of the sick and dying. He saved the money he received from two pensions and used it for the lepers.

Altogether he spent 44 years caring for the young boys and men who had Hansen’s Disease.

“A happy place—a happy life.”

Brother Joseph Dutton died in Honolulu on March 26, 1931. His grave is next to St. Damien at St. Philomena Church in Kalawao.

Before he died, he was quoted as saying, “It has been a happy place – a happy life.”  Hawaii twice honored Dutton while he was still living.  President Theodore Roosevelt, aware of Brother Joseph’s military service and his selfless years on Molokai, even ordered the U.S. Pacific Fleet to dip their colors in salute to the heroic patriot when it passed by Molokai in 1908.

The Joseph Dutton Guild is spearheading the effort to continue the cause for canonization. He was declared a Servant of God in 2015 and will soon be declared a man of “Heroic Virtue.” When that occurs Joseph will be called Venerable Joseph Dutton.