The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-29
OBITUARY

summit Co. Ohio. August 10Th, 1875. in that {
'art of the township now included in the city {
If Akron, His parents. Thuel and Harriet
Harrington) Norton. were pioneers of that sec
ion, his father and grandfather. Peter Norton,
coming to Springfield in 1907. The Norton lin
sage traverses the centuries in uu broken excel
ence. Energy. bravery. stability and morality
were herltages of each generation. which in
turn contributed generously and willingly to
the requirements of their day and age. Since
that early day when Peter Norton forsook the
comforts and conveniences of his New York
State home for the uncertainties and hardships
of an abode in the Ohio wilderness, almost the
entire settlement and development of this part
OF the State has taken place. When he came to
Springfield he set foot in substantially an un-
broken forest. Akron was yet to be born from
the wild arborage that sheltered Indians and |
fierce beasts of prey, ana it required stout |
heart and strong arm to battle successfully |
against the obstacles that beset him. Here
Thuel Norton was reared to manhood. and fol-
lowed the trade of carpenter In 1882 he |
moved to Hiram. Portage Co., with his family, |
where ne resided up to the time of his death. in
1880. Seth D. was then seven years of age be.
ing The second in family of ten children. Born
and raised on farm, he was early familiarized
with those habits of industry which followed
him throughout long honorable and success
full career. His youth was spent In Hiram
where he acquired common school education
and learned the blacksmith trade.
Having an active mind and vigorous intellect
his ambition led him beyond the hammer and
anvil, into the more congenial realms of the
law. for the study of which he abandoned his
trade and applied himself to the thorough mas
terry of its principles, He was a close student
and assiouous worker and advanced rapidly
toward the consummation of his purpose which
was realized when on - 1s-, he was
admitted to the Ohio Bar. before the Court at
Ravenna. He associated himself with Charles
W. O'Neil. a leading attorney of the State. in a
successful and lucrative practice, mostly in
Allen and Hancock counties.
June 18th. 1s45, he was married to Miss Maria
therel1, at Aurora, Portage Co.. Ohio. with
whom he shared the experiences of life for a
period of nearly 45 years, until her death. Dec.
sth, 1889. Thene ere born to them six children
Adelaide. wife of George Nichols; Julia nj
widow of the late S, r, Poe; Maria NJ. and
Frances L., deceased; Lille N. widow of tho
late N. P. Catlin and Emm c. wife of Edward
| Clearwater, of this city.
After successive residences in Hiram, Sha
lersYille. Pendleton, Putnam m Co.. and Freedom
he located in Garrettsville in 1858 where he re-
mained for five years and then came to Raven
ma, where he resided up to his death. March
21st 1898.
/ He served two terms as Mayor of this city.
was elected Justice of the Peace. and was twice
| nominated for Probate Judge on the Democratic
ticket making an excellent run both times. in
| the days when the Republican majority was
double that of the present time. ~
In the latter part of September, 1889, Mr. Nor
ton was stricken with paralysis and sustained
two subsequent heavy strokes. from the effects
of which he was rendered a helpless invalid
and which finally caused his death. In addition
to his children, he is survived by four sisters
and two brothers, James Norton. Esq., of Gar
rettsville. being one of the last named.
In his political belief and practices, Mr.. Nor
tor was a life long Democrat of consistent ac-
ton and abiding faith. To him the principles
of his party were sacred guarantees of Ameri-
can citizenship ofthe shighest and truest sense
of the term, and he never despaired of their
ultimate restoration as the basis of American
government. He was man iof wide reading
and inform alton in political history and was
always abreast of the times on the great sub.
iects that agitated the minds of his fellow cit
izens during his day. He looked upon political
affairs as matters of business that should receive
the same honest consideration and practical
treatment accorded to the private concerns OF
life. To him the people were the rulers. and he
had no use for tricksters and demagogues
II Adopting a high standard for his own political
guidance. he endeavored to elevate citizenship
not only of those outside of his own faith. but
of his party associates as well. He was of the
number who believed that political conduct
should be mea sured by the standard applied tc
other actions. He was strong advocate o.
equality before the law. and never hesitated Oh
failed to attack whatever seemed to him to bt
} at variance with SO just doctrine. He was ar
ardent believer in tariff reform and contributed
series of very able articles the subject dur
ing the campaign of 1885, which the readers O
the FRRss win remember with pleasure ant
profit. He Democrat of the so.called o!d
/ school. loyal and thoroughly devoted to thu
welfare of his party and the promotion of it
: principles. lie WAS great admirer of Presi
J dent Cleveland and no man rejoiced more thar
he over the result of the election of 1894 Tn
} party has sustained great loss in his death,
Mr.. Norton was thorough Union man dur
ing the great war between the States, and
, was ON the Union ticket that he was electe,
Mayor of Ravenna. He utterly discountenanc
| 1
and looked earnestly forward to the day whel
the curse of slavery should be wiped out of tn
country.
AS lawyer he stood high in his profession
The cases entrusted to his care were never neg
} lected or imperfectly prepared He alway
t went into Court with a complete mastery of hi
. cause. and losing or winning. came out of tn
r contest with every duty well performed.
/ has been said of him that his word or promis
to brother attorney needed no stronger sane
tion than the utterance of his own mouth Ono
spoken his word was inviolabie. He be
longed to that class of practitioners who ele
waited the profession to a dignity and usefulnes
commensurate with the great objects of il
origin. He was lawyer of excellent abilit
and high probity, whose name will be cherish
a ed in atfectionate remembrance by bis brethre
at the Bar, with whom he always sustained tb
pleasaA'9o and by the people a
large. who kn3w him and trueted him.
AS man and citizen Mr.. Norton was an ez
emplar of useful and honorable living In hi
character dwelt the qualities of manhoo
strong and true. Whatever can be said of
just man can be said of him. Whatever prais
attaches to upright life belongs to his. What
e ever mind of generous worth merits his wa
}. entitled to. He was friend of humanity. phi
e lanthroplc in his thoughts. which materiaiize
n in kind words and actions for the suffering an
sorrowful. and assistance to the unfortunate
e He was member of the Disciple Church O
: Hiram. with which he united in early manhoo
i and from which he never had his membershi
}, transferred. He was a firm believer in Chris
e tianity and lived in full assurance of the truth
fulness of Its chronicles and the divinity of it
:, teachings. The grave to him was simply
place in which 10 lay away the mortal He wa
firmly persuaded of a future for the human
q soul and looked upon death simply as a porta
to brighter and happier existence His be
lief was the simple and beautiful one of trust
ing heart, To knowledge of the infinite b
never aspired but contented himself with &C
:. | cepting the revelations made known to him il
e theBookofLife. and never troubled himself Wit
vain speculations wearying disputations OF
= subjects which he felt that mankind must al
ways be helpless to fathom or understand, H
v was man whom every day found the same
e He was methodcal in his habits AMI so ordere
the affairs of his life as to fulfill its duties an
t4-S S~.