Part VII – The Norton Family
Records of Virginia (Wyatt) Norton
Norville is the original French, from Le Sr. Norville. The Nantz edict sent Signode Norville to England with William the Conqueror, in 1066, and was his constable, or Tax Collector. They became the Northtowns and eventually, Nortons.
Generation 1. Sir de Norville married in the House of Barr
Generation 2. Sr de Norville married in the House of Dalbemorte
Generation 3. Sir de Norville married Auelina, daughter of Nevil of Roby (now Noville.)
Generation 4. Sir de Noruile-alias Norton, married daughter of Sir John Hadscore
Generation 5. Sir de Noruile, alias Norton
Generation 6. Sir John Norton, alias Noruile
Generation 7. John Norton of Sharpenow
The following are excerpts from the Norton family history compiled by Clyde Norton in 1960. The complete history that Clyde compiled at that time is in the possession of Orin Harrison Norton, Jr.
Tradition states that Jeremiah Norton, emigrated to America from England into New York state removing to that part of Virginia, that became Kentucky, on 1 June 1792. Breckenridge County was formed in 1799.
The family settled in a valley 5 miles N of Hardinsburg, county seat of Breckenridge County, about 15 miles S of Brandenburg, 10 miles S of the Ohio river, and 13 miles SE of Stephensport. This settlement eventually became known as Norton's Valley and still retains that name.
Norton's school came into reality and their church, Freedom Cumberland Presbyterian. This Freedom church still stands today and kept in good repair. Norton's and associated families worship there today as did their ancestors more than a century ago. A quiet cemetery, situated to the north of the church bears the remains of many of the early ancestors: however, the old Haynes Cemetery to the North several miles, was the more widely used then, but due to its limited access road, it is used little today.
Isaac Aaron Norton, son of Jeremiah Norton, was born 2 February 1802, in Breckenridge County, Kentucky.
He was married to Barbary E Basham, who was born 5 November 1805.
Isaac was a respected man, who tilled the land and kept a wayside inn, as was common to those times. The log cabin stood, though unused, in 1960. Natural stone fireplaces flanked either end of the cabin, which contained two (pens) rooms. Near the top of the north fireplace chimney were the initials “I. N.” and the date “1840” plainly visible even though weathered. Across the road stood the springhouse with the water running icy cold. Along one wall was a bench where the Norton young “washed up” winter and summer, with never a thought of heated water.
(Note: Orin and Virginia Norton visited Irvington, Kentucky, in 1990, and found the cabin no longer standing. A barn is still standing. The spring has a steel cover over it and is no longer used.)
The song, My Old Kentucky Home, could well have been composed around this home of the Norton's. Title to the property remains within the family; however, not the name. Eller Bell Norton Thompson of Irvington and her husband, Noah, now own and farm the ground. Eller Bell, daughter of Aaron Norton, son Elijah Martin (Uncle Mart) Norton, son of Isaac Aaron, inherited the homestead.
Travelers using the valley road were always invited to stop and make use of this facility. The homestead stands in a lovely clearing of Kentucky timber, and one needs but little imagination to turn back the sands of time: to see an open kettle bubbling in the yard; to hear the ring of the blacksmith's anvil; to see the tobacco barn, with its rows and rows of tobacco curing; fruit drying in the sun for their winter use; an old mule slowly making his turns around the sorghum grinder; all this in the vicinity and times of Abraham Lincoln.
Orville Norton and his wife, Werda, of Irvington have in their possession the bed of Isaac Aaron's, along with a press, secretary and sundry small items. The bed is of lively cherry wood, mellowed by the years, is a low-boy type four poster originally designed for the rope springs of that era. It has been converted to conventional springs.
Blanche Norton Tivet and her husband, Allie, also have many mementos of the early Norton's, one of which was the hames of a harness, hand made, which they presented to Clyde. It has been largely through Allis's efforts that interest has been shown in preserving many of the early relics.
Isaac Aaron Norton died 8 December 1866; Barbery died 3 November 1891; both buried in Haynes Cemetery, Breckinridge County.
The children were all born in Breckinridge County, Kentucky.
Children:
Bartlett Norton, son of Isaac Aaron Norton and Barbary E Basham, was born 19 March 1826, in Breckenridge County, Kentucky.
He was married 28 March 1847, in Breckenridge County, to Catherine Smith (Katherine Schmidt), born 15 May 1826, in Ripple Creek, Germany, daughter of John and Margaret Schmidt.
Why did Bartlett and many of his sons go West? Economic conditions following the Civil War and the Panic of 1873, were probably the contributing factors, along with the pioneering instinct of all people. They were weary of soil grown out with over-production. Large families were developing, hence the need for new horizons.
Liberal land grants plus cheap Indian lands for the first railroads to the west through Kansas had started a feverish speculation in land and town sites there. These railroads were circulating publicity to the eastern and southern states to a people weary from the ravages of war, and economically handicapped.
Western Kansas, the short grass country, had little to offer these Kentuckians, accustomed to lush timber, rivers and streams with water aplenty, and wild game for the hunting. Nevertheless, a never-ending sea of grass on a level terrain was impressive to these pioneers. Homesteads were available, now that Kansas was again showing signs of economic freedom. Its development had been delayed by the war between the states, after gaining statehood in 1981.
Tradition states that Bartlett Rouseau was the first to see Western Kansas and its potential as a new home for them. Upon his return to Kentucky, he painted such a glowing word picture of the new land that Bartlett and the other sons, Ransom Newton, Adam Logan, and Amos Finley agreed that Bartlett Rouseau would again make the trip to Western Kansas and make the necessary arrangements for homesteads.
Proving a homestead claim required erection of a dwelling, living on the land, official survey, filing a description of the claim, making and filing necessary affidavits, entry in the registrar's office, and a small payment. The railroads being anxious to see the land settled, offered emigrant cars to these homesteaders at a reasonable fee-for the transportation of their stock, farming tools, household good, foodstuffs to see them through the first year, and timbers for building on the new land.
Months of careful preparation followed. Clarence Norton, oldest son of Adam Logan, who was past 6 yrs old at the time has a vivid recollection of the trip and is fond of retelling the story. Much of this data can be credited to his memory. He recalls that June of 1886 was a highlight of his life for then, the trip began. Berthan, his mother, remarked many years later, that it was her first trip on a train, and she was “scared to death.” As was the rule for emigrant cars, the men rode on them to care for the stock and the families came by passenger train.
Fort Wallace, 35 miles NW of their destination in Wichita County was the nearest railroad point and there they embarked. A few days rest and they were anxious to see their new home sites. Homesteads had been secured for grandfather Bartlett, Bartlett Rouseau, Amos Finley, Adam Logan, Sallie Eveleen, and Ransom Newton.
Their long planned dreams became a reality, as half dug-outs were made for each of the families until sod houses could be built. Timber in western Kansas was unheard of, hence the need for a local building material. Less than a year later, all had “soddies.” Sod was cut from the native buffalo grass, 12 x 16 inches, and firmly packed on top of one another, until they reached high enough for a wall. The roof was made of the timbers shipped from Kentucky, with sod placed over them tightly to shed wind, water, and snow. Primitive as they were, they provided the only homes known to that area. Winters in Western Kansas are severe and long, with howling winds and successive snows. The “soddies” were able to withstand the seasons and were warm and dry, in winter, and cool in summer.
Water was their next problem and objective. Clarence relates that many of the first wells were dug by hand. Others relate that posthole diggers were used and with added extensions, a depth of ninety feet was necessary to find water. At any rate, the task of digging wells in this flat country was not an easy one.
Even as today in new developments, schools were needed. Bartlett Rouseau had taught back home in Kentucky. Sallie Eveleen, being unmarried was also qualified for teaching. As far as is known, the first school in that vicinity was a soddie built on the homestead of Sallie Eveleen with the help of other settlers. A dismal place it was, without windows, furniture, lamps, or floors. The children with their teacher, Sallie Eveleen, seemed to have only one advantage in common-they were accustomed to hardship.
In this schoolroom, they had crude benches, a few pages that had been torn from some book, pasted on a board and covered over with ising glass that might be passed around and shared. A few slates were all they had, not enough to go around, and at times, the children even resorted to doing their numbers on the dirt floor. It is a credit to the pioneer spirit of that day, that in spite of the short terms and other hardships they learned and often learned well.
They knew the use of the ax, rifle, plow, harrow, and the heartbreak of crop failure. This was the era of the horse and buggy doctor, when too little came too late to save a small child dying of pneumonia, or prevent the death of a young mother in childbirth. Women of the household worked in the fields, returning to the house only long enough to prepare a meal, to suckle a young one, or to tend a bedfast member of the family.
Like other farmers of that era, harvesting of the golden grain of their wheat crops was primitive as compared to today. Harvest meant horse-drawn headers, and threshing machines powered by steam engine. Cook shacks followed the threshing crews, providing meals for the harvesters, who worked in blistering hot sun, and never-ending winds. Indians named the land Kansas, “land of the south winds.”
Bartlett died 19 November 1900; Catherine died 6 March 1900, both in Wichita County, Kansas; both buried in Beulah Cemetery.
The children were all born in Breckenridge County.
Children:
Ransom Newton Norton, son of Bartlett Norton and Catherine Smith, was born 8 April 1854, in Breckenridge Colorado, Kentucky.
He was married/1 on 20 March 1878, in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, to Lutitia Frances Robbins, who was born 18 August 1859, in Breckenridge County, the mother of his children. Lutitia was the daughter of Hardin Robbins.
Their 3 oldest children were born in Breckonridge County; the others were born in Wichita County, Kansas. They moved to Wichita County, in 1884/5
Tishie died 5 days after the birth of baby Lutitia. With the help of grandmother Catharine, the older girls were able to manage.
A few years later, Newt married Elizabeth (Adams) Patterson. Newt and his family went back to Kentucky for a year in 1891. Sometime later, on his return to Kansas, he established a small community known as Sunnyside, near the homesteads. This included a general store. At one time he owned and operated a store in Greensburg, Kansas, and later moved to Ensign, Kansas.
He died in 1932; Elizabeth died 12 August 1947.
Children:
Orin Harrison Norton, son of Ransom Newton Norton and Lutitia Frances Robbins, was born 31 December 1887, in Leota, Wichita County, Kansas.
He was married 17 February 1913, to Leora Edith Black, who was born 25 December 1892, daughter of Joseph Solomon Black and Sarah Elizabeth Kirk.
Orin died 1 November 1968; Leora died 22 November 1988; both are buried in Johnson, Kansas
Children: