James Franklin Norton

01 Sep 1839 - 12 Dec 1895

Son of David C. Norton & Emily Davidson
Married Missouri Katherine Whitworth 1860. 

REMINISCENT HISTORY OF THE OZARK REGION BY GOODSPEED


"James Franklin Norton, merchant and farmer of Eminence, MO, is a native of the Blue     Grass State, born in Lawrence County, Kentuckyin 1839. His father, David Norton, who was reared in Virginia, moved to Laurel County, Kentucky at an early date, and while still an infant    came to Audrain County Missouri, where he passed his last days. He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and while a resident of Audrain County held the office of justice of the peace. Politically he was a democrat, and fraternally a Mason. His death occurred in 1852 when about 40 years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Emily Davidson, was a native of Virginia. She died in 1859 and was an exemplary member of the Methodist Church. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living, four sons and three daughters.  He attended school in Audrain County and, after the death of his parents, took care of the family until all the children were married. In 1858 he came to Shannon County, where he had previously bought a small farm of government land which he entered at the land office at Jackson Missouri. He found very few settlers. He turned his attention to farming and blacksmithing, having learned the latter in Audrain County, and followed his trade for the most part for twenty two years. In June 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, under Gen. McBride, for six months. After that he joined the Confederate Army, but a short time after he was transferred to Cavalry Service. He was quartermaster of the regiment and held that position until surrendering, May 5, 1865, attJacksonport,,Arkansas. During this time he was in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Fort Scott, Lexington, Elkhorn, and many others, and with Price in his raid through Missouri. He was never wounded severely although he had many narrow escapes, and returning home at the close of the war, resumed his former occupation. He had nothing but his land, for all his property had been destroyed during the war, but he was used to privation and hard work and was not discouraged. After farming for some time he opened a store in Eminence. In 1882 he was elected Sheriff and collector of the county and held the office for two terms, four years in all. During the war he married Miss Missouri Whitworth who bore him seven children: Louis, who died in infancy, Emma, James David, Nancy Elizabeth, Frank, Cora and Icy Ellen.""
SUDDEN DEATH-James F. Norton of Eminence, Mo., stricken at Moser's Hotel Yesterday Morning--
Death came suddenly to James F. Norton of Eminence, Mo., as he sat in the office of Moser's Hotel, shortly after 7 o'clock yesterday morning, waiting for breakfast to be served. Mr. Norton raised his arms above his head as though stretching them to their full length, gasped once or twice, and slid from his seat to the floor a corpse..
Mr. Norton, who is the leading merchant of Eminence, came to St. Louis, accompanied by his nephew, C. S. Norton, for the purpose of purchasing a stock of goods for his store. He spent Wednesday in looking over the stocks of various wholesale houses, and went to the theater in the evening. Wednesday night he lodged at the Mona House, on Sixth street, and arose at his accustomed hour at 6 o'clock yesterday morning, complaining of a slight backache. Accompanied by his nephew, who occupied the same room with him at the Mona House, Mr. Norton walked to the Moser for breakfast. The meal had not been prepared and it was while waiting for it that death came..
There was no struggle or sign of pain. The man's head fell forward until his chin rested upon his breast, and a pallor spread over his face. C. S. Norton, who was seated beside the stricken man, inquired "Are you sick, Uncle?". There was no answer and the body began to slide to the floor. The nephew made an attempt to support it. He called for help, and several bystanders aided him in supporting the body. A messenger was sent for Dr. J. D. Irwin, who has an office at Eighth and Pine streets, and an ambulance was telephoned for. In the meantime the body was carried out into the street as the people in the hotel thought Mr. Norton had fainted and needed fresh air to revive him..
Dr. Irwin arrived in a few minutes and stated that the man was dead. A minute later the ambulance came and the body was taken to the Dispensary and then to the Morgue. A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death to be heart failure..
Mr. Norton was a prominent man in the section of the State from which he hailed. Aside from being the leading merchant of Eminence he owned a large farm in Shannon County, and was considered quite well-to-do. He was related to ex-Congressman Richard Norton, and was active in politics. Mr. Norton served two terms as Sheriff of Shannon County and was County collector for one term. He has been a conspicuous figure at all of the Democratic gatherings in the State for the last 15 years..
Mr. Norton was 55 years of age, and leaves a wife and five children, living in Eminence. He was a brother of D. C. Norton of Eminence, who gained some notoriety by preferring charges of larceny against Jefferson D..Storts..Mr. Norton was an Odd Fellow and a Mason. The body will be taken to Eminence today for burial..

Norton, James Franklin
Released 03 August 20055
Reminiscent History Of The Ozark Region, pub.. GoodspeedBrothers, Publishers, Chicago 1894Brothers, Publishers, Chicago 1894JAMES FRANKLIN NORTON, merchant and farmer of Eminence, Missouri, is a native of the Blue Grass State, born in Lawrence County, in 1839. His father, David Norton, who was reared in Virginia, moved to Kentucky at an early date and when our subject was but an infant came to Audrain County, Missouri, where he passed his last days. He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and while a resident of Audrain County held the office of justice of the peace. Politically he was a Democrat, and fraternally a Mason. His death occurred in 1852 when about forty years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Emily Davidson, was a native of Virginia. She died in 1859 and was an exemplary member of the Methodist Church. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living, four sons and three daughters. Our subject, who was one of these children, attended school in Audrain County, and took care of the family until all the children were married. In 1858 he came to Shannon County, where he had previously bought a small farm of government land which he entered at the land office at Jackson, Missouri, and here he found very few settlers. He turned his attention to farming and blacksmithing, having learned the latter in Audrain County, and followed his trade for the most part for twenty-two years. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, under Gen. McBride, for six months. After that he joined the Confederate Army, but a short time after he was transferred to cavalry service. He was quartermaster of the regiment and held that position until surrendering, May 5, 1865, at Jacksonportrkansas During this time he was in the battles of Wilson Creek, Fort Scott, Lexington, Elkhorn and many others, and with Price in his raid through Missouri. He was never wounded severely although he had many narrow escapes, and returning home at the close of the war resumed his former occupation. He had nothing but his land, for all his property had been destroyed during the war, but he was used to privation and hard work and was not discouraged. After farming for some time he opened a store in Eminence on a limited scale, and now has a good general store and a thriving trade. In 1882 he was elected sheriff and collector of the county and held the office two terms, four years in all. During the war, in 1863, he was married to Miss Missouri Whitworth, a native of Alabama, who bore him seven children, two sons and five daughters. Mr. Norton is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Winona, the I. O. O. F. at Eminence, of which he is warden, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the representative citizens of the county.Arkansas During this time he was in the battles of Wilson Creek, Fort Scott, Lexington, Elkhorn and many others, and with Price in his raid through Missouri. He was never wounded severely although he had many narrow escapes, and returning home at the close of the war resumed his former occupation. He had nothing but his land, for all his property had been destroyed during the war, but he was used to privation and hard work and was not discouraged. After farming for some time he opened a store in Eminence on a limited scale, and now has a good general store and a thriving trade. In 1882 he was elected sheriff and collector of the county and held the office two terms, four years in all. During the war, in 1863, he was married to Miss Missouri Whitworth, a native of Alabama, who bore him seven children, two sons and five daughters. Mr. Norton is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Winona, the I. O. O. F. at Eminence, of which he is warden, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the representative citizens of the county..


 

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