Morris tribune., 1915-03-26
Mails Bring Surprises
Morris Man Learns of Probate
Heirship to Rich Tracts in
Northern Minnesota

FRANK Norton IS wondering today
how rich he is. He is young painter
living with his family in this city and
he supports them on weekly stipend
Of eighteen dollars. For the past
several days he has been out of work,
but the mails have brought informa-
ton that may dispel all the gloom.
For all he knows today he may be the
richest man in Morris because of the
sagacious business policy of his father
about twenty years ago, before he died
at Superior, Wisconsin. -.
Last week Norton received a letter
from land firm at Bemidji inquiring
what he would accept for his land
holdings in Grow Wing county. In
quiries also came from Brainerd
about other tracts in northern Mime
sofa. The Nortons formerly lived at
Brainerd and owned valuable tracts
Of timber which the family disposed
of several years ago. On many of
the tracts sold iron has been discov
cred and they have since passed into
the hands of the steel corporation.
Norton s relatives live near Brainerd
on farm included in the Guyana
range where valuable iron ore deposits
abound But so far as Frank Norton
knows he has never owned any farm
or mineral lands. His father did,
however, and all of them were not 10.
Gated after he died.
Norton senior was engaged in the
liquor business at Superior in the
halcyon days of the lumber-jack. As
he prospered he invested in farm
lands and timber holdings and on sew.
eral occasions vested the title with
the members of his family. He dice
suddenly after making will but the
will Was destroyed. or lost, and after
the process of probating the widow
and children were plunged into ex'
tensive litigation with the lumber
companies. all of which proved dis
atrous. For the past eight or ter
years no new land holdings passed in
to the possession of the family. al
though it was a frequent occurrence
before that time.
The inquiries coming to the youne
Mr.. Norton in Morris at this time are
surprises greatly appreciated. He will
Immediately start series Of in
ves.igations and he and his friends
hope they will result greatly to BIZ
material benefit. Land values in thu
Cuvuna range extending into Grow
Wing county have risen to Fabulous
figures within the past few years
Spectators in ore bearing propert.
have found themselves rich beyond tn
dreams uf avarice over night. AS al
instance of the unexpected change
from poverty to Wealth by individual
may BIZ cited the case of George H
Crosby, Minneapolis man, and by
a strange coincidence likewise paint
er, who located in the mining countr
when its latent resources were un
suspected. When the boom came h
had the foresight to acquire option
on every foot of land he could &c
hands on. Today Crosby is million
arire with yacht. palatia residenc
!, in California and thriving town TO
a namesake.
Young Mr.. Norton's father ma
have builded or bought better than n
knew, and if his son finds his allege
titles valid to lands within Mime
+ sofas newly discovered Eldorado +
will shortly be under the painful {?
. necessity of finding a place to stor
, all his wealth and his friends here, j
. that case, will urge that he fetch
right back to Morris and plant it j
y real estate and rental properties.