Henry Forest Dutton was born on March 16, 1836, in Ludlow, Vermont, to Joseph and Hannah Dutton. His father was a carpenter who owned $300 of real estate in 1850. Dutton attended Black River Academy in Ludlow. He enlisted in the Union army on January 17, 1862, and mustered in as a captain in Company H of the 8th Vermont Infantry later that day. The regiment took part in the Siege of Port Hudson in 1863. Dutton was promoted to major on June 12, 1863, and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was wounded in the Third Battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864, and discharged soon afterward.
Dutton married Katherine M. Cothan in Townshend, Vermont, on May 22, 1864, and their son Henry was born around 1878. The family moved to Alachua County, Florida, sometime before 1880, and Dutton worked as a banker and cotton factor there. He died on March 19, 1916.