My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM E. NORTON, a practical and enterprising farmer of the State of Michigan, was born upon section 13, Jefferson Township, Cass County, January 25, 1856, and was reared on the homestead of his parents, Richard and Ann (McClary) Norton. His paternal grandfather, Nathan Norton, was a native of North Carolina, but was one of the early pioneers of Michigan, settling in Cass County in 1828. Richard B. Norton, the father of our subject, was born in Logan County, Ohio, and came with his father and mother to Michigan when the State was yet almost a wilderness. He located in Jefferson Township, and, arrived at man’s estate, settled down to the life of a farmer. He improved one hundred and sixty acres upon section 13, but in 1884 removed to Porter Township, where he owns one hundred and thirty acres of excellent land. Father Norton is sixty-seven years of age. He is a Democrat, and fraternally associates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Richard Norton has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Hess, who bore him one son, Nathan H., of Arkansas. His second wife was the mother of three children, William E., Henry M., and Mary A., who died in infancy. The mother of our subject was born in Kosciusko, Ind. Her father was a farmer.

In common with all farmer boys Mr. Norton was early trained to agricultural duties. He attended the winter schools of the district, and when twenty-one years old began threshing as an occupation, following the same employment for six seasons. He worked with his father on the home farm in the early spring and summer and knew but few leisure hours. In March, 1882, our subject located where he now resides, on section 16. He was married in February, 1880, to Miss Jennie George, a native of Monroe County, N. Y., born April 28, 1859, and the daughter of Luke and Maria (London) George. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Norton, Edmund George, emigrated to the United States from Norfolk, England. He was a farmer all his life, and survived to a good old age. His wife and the mother of his seven children was Mary Baldwin, a most estimable Christian woman. The sons and daughters were: Edmund, Mark, James, William, Luke, Maria, Grapel, and Mary, who died single. The sons and daughters spent their lives in their native land with the exception of Luke, who came to the United States in 1850. He settled in Henrietta, N. Y., but in 1866 located in Cass County, Mich., and bought eighty acres in Penn Township. Six years later he sold his farm and made his home in Cassopolis.

Finally Luke George bought a small farm in Jefferson Township, where he died June 16, 1892, aged seventy-eight years. He had been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the past fifty-three years. Twice married, his first wife died young and left no family. The second wife, yet surviving, bore her husband nine children. Ann was the eldest; William died in England; Maria, Mrs. Abraham Shaffer, resides in Colorado; Mary is the wife of Samuel Van Matre; Fred died at twenty-eight years of age; Robert died when thirty years old and left a wife; Emma is the wife of John Norton; Lizzie is the wife of A. J. Tallerday; Jennie Norton was the youngest and is the wife of our subject. Mrs. Maria (London) George was born in Norfolk County, England, and was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Tuck) London, the father being by occupation a farmer. Four sons and four daughters gathered in the English home and the sons, one and all, emigrated to the United States. Frederick died in Decatur, Mich. Robert is a resident of Nebraska. William lives in Iowa. Joseph is a resident of Cass County. Mrs. George was the only daughter who came to America, the others remaining in London, England. The parents were devout members of the English Church, but Mrs. George is connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination.

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Norton have one child, Mary E., who, with her parents, enjoys the sincere friendship of a large acquaintance in the home locality and throughout Cass County. Mr. Norton is deeply interested in local and national politics, and is an active Democrat. He has held with faithful ability various official positions.