The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-27
LONG ALEADlNG CITIZEN

For About 50 Years Had Been
Identified With Business
Here.
Lpman Preston Norton, one of the
leading men of this section of Yer.
mont, died at his home on Pleasant
street at ; O'Clock Thursday afternoon
from pneumonia from which ne had
been i'll only four days. From the
first the case had appeared serious and
for 36 homs Il ere had been no hope.
+. DR. c S Cagerly was called from Rut-
land in consultation with DR. Chisholm
but medical skillw OF no avail.
OF all the citizens Of Bennington
there IS probably none more generally
or deaervedly esteemed than Mr. Nor
ton Strong wled. aggressive, euer-
getic he was az TIE same time geaer
Gus, earnest acd loyal lie was a
successful business man without sacri.
fcing his iaithfuness to his home his
church and the public interests of his
town
hI Norton was born in Bennington
March 20, 1887, the son OF Julius aud
Maria Spooner Norton. On h :
mothers side he was descended from
William G Spuoner, signer Of the
Declaration of Independence, and his
great grandfather was a captain in tt c
Revolutionary army.
+ He received his early education in
Bennington and Cambridge, n. Y He
/ prepared for college in the academy
here and the one at Randolph and at
Bloomfield n H., and was graduated
from Union college at Schenectady in
1858 The following year he as taken
into partnership by his father in the
manufacture Of pottery, a business
which was established in Bennington
by his great grandfather in 1893. Jul
ius Norton died two years later and
the business was continued by Edward
and ]. p Norton for p years, when the
latter sold ont to his partner.
This was in 1851 and his intention
was to settle in Bismark, North Dako-
ia, TO which place he went and started
in business but he never really severed
his connection with Bennington and
returned here in less than two years,
With this slight Interruption he was
always citizen of bennington.
la 1883 he accepted the general ageo-
CIV Of the Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance company OF Milwaukee in
which business he continued until BIZ
death. In 1893 his son Luman 5 Nor
ton became partner in the business
aud the firm has since been i p x l. :
Norton, building up what's perhaps
the largest insurance business done by
single firm in'Vermont and known
all over the state for square dealing
and fair treatment.
Mr. Norton has always taken ;
strong interest in the public affairs o
the town and was never backward il
voice or pocketbook. lie was one o
those who did most toward the organi
zation OF the Bennington County Nat
ional bank, was the first president o
the Bennington County Savings banl
and a trustee at the time Of his death
He was the first president ofthe villag
of Bennington after its incorporation
and he represented The town in the leg
islature in 1874 lie never sought OF
fee but was often called to position
of trust, because OF the public conf
dence in his integrity as well as hi
capacity.
Mr. Norton always tool great in
terest in st Peters church, of whlc
he had been COMMUNICATE since
young man. chad been member G
the vestry for many years and wa
every year delegate TO the diocesa
convention. 1t was he who started TIL
fund for the new church which is mo-
assured and he has worked hard to il
Z crease the fund. He was a member
q Mt Anthony lodge f and A NJ, OF til
4 Bennington Battle Monument and Hi:
q torical society, aud of the society
q Sons OF the Revolution. de was or
Il of the founders of the Bennington clu
q and was chairman Of the meeting
4 which the club was formally organized
Il Mr. Norton was married Oct. II, lS'
& to Miss Alice l., daughter of Bradfor
Il Godfrey, who survives him. OF tn
81 union were born four children OF who
three survive: -Iuman S Norton, MI
q c II Darling and Mrs o NJ Barbe
3 The other, "a son, Julius, died at Il
age Of 20.
4 The funeral will be held at ST Peter
4 church Sunday afternoon at2.3O liz
4 George l. Richardson of Glens Fall
q warm personal friend Uf the deceas'
and Rev Philip Schuyler will ofliciat