My Genealogy Hound

SYLVANUS NORTON was born in Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, New York, November 17, 1842, and is the son of Alphonzo and Betsey Norton. His father was a carpenter by trade and a man of exemplary life and moral worth. He received a common school education, pursued his trade and in the year 1854, moved into the State of Illinois. Here he resided for a period of seven years, when he returned to the State of New York, and passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of sixty-seven.

Sylvanus Norton spent most of his early life in the State of Illinois, from which State in 1861, at the outbreak of the civil war, he enlisted in Co. H., 12th regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry for a period of three months in pursuance of President Lincoln’s first call for volunteers. At the expiration of the three months, he re-enlisted and served three years, the greater part of his service being in the army of the Cumberland and under Gen. William T. Sherman, besides considerable special duty as a scout under officers detailed particularly for that duty. Mr. Norton took part in the engagements at Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, where he was wounded, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg and Chattanooga. From Chattanooga he started under Gen. Sherman on his far famed and historic march to the sea. At Atlanta he received a serious wound from an artillery explosion, by reason of which he was discharged from a longer continuation in service. Upon his return to civil life, he went to Illinois, and for a while took up his residence at Sheffield, shortly afterward making a voyage to Chautauqua county, New York. From here he crossed the continent to California, located for a time in Humboldt county and again returned to Chautauqua county, where he engaged in the manufacture of harness. He has been deputy sheriff of Chautauqua county, a member of the excise committee and belongs to the Masons, Royal Arch degree, and G. A. R. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Norton is the patentee of a bridle-bit and also of an over check loop, which has attained a hearty commendation from experienced, practical horsemen.

Sylvanus Norton, on October 21, 1868, was married to Laura Foster of Farmington, Pa., who bore him four children: Leslie D., James H., Newell S. and Lyon F. After the death of his first wife, he married on August 7, 1881, Ida, daughter of Walter Cordot of Charlotte, N. Y., and they have one child, Clara Emma.