Born on a farm near Hayesville, Iowa, Utterback attended the rural schools and Hedrick Normal and Commercial College. He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He commenced practice in Des Moines, Iowa. Early in his practice, he began to teach, serving as an instructor at Drake University Law School from 1908 to 1935, and lecturing in law at Still College, Des Moines, Iowa from 1911 to 1933. He served as member of the Iowa State Conference of Social Work and served as chairman of its legislative committee from 1923 to 1925.
Judicial service
As a judge, he first served on the police court of Des Moines from 1912 to 1914, and was then elevated to the Ninth Iowa Judicial District, serving from 1915 to 1927. According to the Iowa Supreme Court's biography of Utterback, he "served on the Iowa Supreme Court from December 5, 1932, when he was issued a certificate of election to fill a supposed vacancy, until April 16, 1933, when it was judicially determined that no vacancy on the court had existed, and therefore his election to the Supreme Court was a nullity." The episode began when Iowa Supreme Court Justice E. A. Morling died less than one month before the 1932 general election, and a controversy arose about whether a seat could become open to an election so close to the general election's date. Republican George C. Claussen was appointed to replace Morling and began to serve on the Court. However, the seat was added to the general election ballot, with the Republican Party nominating Claussen and the Democratic Party nominating Utterback. Utterback outpolled Claussen, received a certificate of election, and began to serve in Claussen's place. However, a legal challenge to his election succeeded, when a trial court judge concluded that the seat had not been open to election, ordered Claussen reinstated, and the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the ruling.
Congressional elections and service
Utterback was the only Democrat elected by Iowa's 6th congressional district from its creation in 1920 until 1956. He defeated incumbent Republican Cassius C. Dowell in 1934, and served from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1937. In 1936 Utterback gave up a chance at re-election to his House seat, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring. That year, Dowell recaptured the House seat, defeating Harry Dunlap. Two years later, in 1938, Utterback tried unsuccessfully to win back his House seat, but Dowell easily won the rematch. The district would not send another Democrat to Congress until 1956, when Merwin Coad defeated James I. Dolliver by 198 votes, in one of Iowa's closest Congressional elections. He was the cousin of John G. Utterback, who served in Congress from Maine from 1933–1935.
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Utterback served as chairman of the State Board of Parole from 1937 to 1940, and served as a State Democratic National committeeman from 1937 to 1940. He died in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 12, 1942. He was interred in Glendale Cemetery.
