The Forrest City times., 1898-09-09
Death of Wm. Norton.

William Norton WAS born near Blue
Lick Springs. Kentucky. in 1872, and
died near Palestine, in this county. on
Tuesday afternoon, September 6, 1898,
at the ripe old age of eightysix ,earc.
The birthplace of the subject OF this
sketch is down in history as the scene
of one of the bloody engagements
august, l7S2) between the Kentucki-
ans and the American Indians, which
occurred quite frequently in those
primitive days. aud i'll which it is said
Daniel Boone, the sturdy pioneer, lost
a son.
Mr.. Norton lived in Nicholas county
then, and followed the honorable pur-
suit of farming and stock raising. 1t
was while living there that the famous
Blue Grass regions of Bourbon, Fay
cite and other adjacent counties was
developed
Those were the days OF primitive
methods. long distance markets, no
railroads, telegraph nor express COM
panes. and the sturdy pioneers thought
nonght of marketing his produce or
dciving his cattle aud hogs on foot to
Boston and New York, "A trip which
consumed months of time. Mr.. Nor
ton was practically grown man be-
fore any railroads were built in the
United States, with possibly the excep-
ton of a short line leading out of Bal
timore. Conditions in those days pres
ent strange contrast To those with
which we are familiar. The country
was sparcey settled, log houses daubed
with clay and the roof matched with
grass were the rule. The home made
tallow candles or the pine knot on the
hearth furnished the evenings cheerful
light. Friction matches, ice in sum-
mer, and many of the vegetables
which enrich the diet Of the later gen
GRAFTON were unknown. Among these
might be mentioned the tomato, canta-
loupe, sNe et corn, head lettuce and
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things are rected because it seems
strange indeed to ourselves to think
that one has just closed his earthly
career who was a grown man when
these grandly developed states were
little less than wilderness. TO look
upon the vast improvements and
think of the wealth which abounds in
that good old state of Kentucky, it
does not seem possible to We Younger
generation that men are just now
passing away, and that some vet live
who endured the hardships of the
pioneer and have lived to see the
waste places blossom like the rose.
In those days of cattle driving to
New York. the Erie Canal was looked
upon as one of the grandest accom-.
plishmants of the times. 1t was con.
sidered so because it was treat and a
luxury to the tired and weary farmer
to thus be. afforded means of transs
porting himself at least part OF the
long and tedious distance home.
The literal free school sentiment of
the Buckeye stale sometime after
wards attracted our subject and he
moved INTO that common wealth lpay-
ing Kentucky. which at that time did
not foster the free schools to any great
extent. Some years afterward he
moved to Indiana, and in 1875 lost his
beloved wife. They were the parents
of our esteemed fellow toYnsmau
Judge n. w. Norton, he being their
only child. In 1882, Judge Norton
having come south and located Mt
Wittsbnrg, his father followed, and in
1885 they came to Forrest City.
| VIM. Norton was nm upright citizen,
and lived consistent Christian life.
He had been a member of the Metho-
dist church for forty years. and lie was
laid to rest in the Forrest City ceme-
terry Wednesday. Rev. A. E. Holloway
reading the beautiful ritual ceremonies
of that church to which in life The de-
ceased had been so much devoted.
| He was familiar figure to the citi-
Gems Of Forrest City, and in his decin-
inc Neats went abnuttrying 10 do good
He has gone to his reward, and b s
memory will be cherished by a large
circle OF relatives, friends and aoqiaint-
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