Servant of God Joseph Dutton was born Ira Barnes Dutton on April 27, 1843, in Stowe, Vermont. Raised in a Protestant family, he moved to Wisconsin during his youth. At the onset of the American Civil War, Dutton enlisted in the 13th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, serving as a quartermaster. The war's turmoil led to personal struggles, including a failed marriage and battles with alcoholism. In 1876, he resolved to abandon drinking, and on his 40th birthday in 1883, he converted to Catholicism, adopting the name Joseph.

Seeking a life of penance and service, Dutton spent time at the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. Inspired by the work of Father Damien de Veuster among individuals with Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Hawaii, Dutton felt a calling to assist. In 1886, he arrived at the Kalaupapa settlement on Molokai, where he became a close collaborator of Father Damien. After Father Damien's death in 1889, Dutton continued his mission, managing the Baldwin Home for Men and Boys, providing care and companionship to those afflicted.

Dutton's unwavering dedication spanned over four decades, earning him admiration from figures like President Theodore Roosevelt. His commitment to the residents of Kalaupapa remained steadfast until his death on March 26, 1931, in Honolulu.