Silas B. Dutcher family papers

Silas Belden Dutcher (1829-1909) was born in Springfield, N.Y., as the second child of Parcefor and Johannah Low Frink Dutcher. In his early years, Dutcher worked on the family farm and taught school. In 1855, Dutcher moved to New York City and began his mercantile career. He continued to work in trade until 1868, when he was compelled to focus exclusively on his rising political career.

Dutcher's political career had begun in 1856, when he joined the newly-formed Republican Party. He served his first position in public office as Supervisor of the City of New York from 1860 to 1861. In 1868, Dutcher became Supervisor of the Internal Revenue, a position in which he served for four years before being appointed U.S. Pension Agent for the Eastern District of New York by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1877, Grant appointed Dutcher to the position of Appraiser of the Port of New York, and after serving in this position for three years, Dutcher was made State Supervisor of Public Works by New York Governor Alonzo B. Cornell.

Dutcher also participated on various political committees. He was chairman of the Kings County Republican Committee for four years, a member of the State Republican Committee, and chairman of the Executive Committee in 1876. In 1896, New York Governor Levi P. Morton appointed him to the commission to frame the charter for Greater New York. Dutcher was also a frequent delegate to Republican state and national conventions.

Beyond his political activities, Dutcher maintained his business ties throughout most of his life. From 1877 on, he was the director of Metropolitan Life Insurance. He was a charter trustee of Union Dime between 1859 and 1902, and president of the company from 1885 to 1902. In 1891, he became president of the Hamilton Trust Company.

Beside his active political and business careers, Dutcher was also deeply involved in his family and religious lives. In 1859, he married Rebecca Jacobs Alwaise. Together they lived in Brooklyn and had 8 children over the next 20 years: Dewit Parcefor, Edith, Malcolm, Elsie, Myra, Jessie, and twins Eva and Edna. Dutcher was an involved member of the Dutch Reformed Church, teaching Sunday school and serving as super of the Twelfth Street Reformed Church in Brooklyn for 10 years. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity.