Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 677 - 678 

CHARLES W. NORTON. Among the young men of Sedgwick County who have selected agriculture as their vocation in life, and who, judging from present indications, are bound to realize their most sanguine anticipations, is the subject of this biographical notice, who is residing on section 7, Rockford Township. Mr. Norton is a native of Clinton County, Mo., born Sept. 14, 1859, and is the son of Charles A. and Elmira (Holmes) Norton, a history of whom is given elsewhere in the pages of this volume.

            The subject of our sketch was reared to manhood in his native county, and received his education at the common schools of that locality. He commenced early in life to assist his father in the labors incident to the pursuit of agriculture, and thus received a home training that has been invaluable to him in later years. He remained beneath the parental rooftree until attaining his majority, and then came to Kansas, arriving in Sedgwick County Jan. 22, 1880. For about two years he was engaged in farming on his own account upon a tract of land which he had rented, and was then married. The ceremony which united the destinies of our subject and Miss Fanny Law was duly solemnized Jan. 22, 1882. The bride was a native of Miami County, Kan., born on the 26th of March, 1866, and is the daughter of Albert and Eliza (Keith) Law, natives of West Virginia.

            For the three years succeeding his marriage Mr. Norton carried on farming operations in connection with his father-in-law, but in 1884 purchased 100 acres of land on section 7, Rockford Township, where he now makes his home. He has all the land under a most excellent state of tillage. He is paying a large amount of attention to stock interests, giving a preference to graded Short-horn cattle. One span of mules, of which he is the owner, took the premium at the fair at Louisville, Ky., in 1885. In May, 1887, he made a trip to Colorado, and was engaged for about two months at Leadville, but not liking the country, returned to his home in this county. Remembering the advice of Bishop Taylor, that "A man to secure a contented spirit should measure his desires by his fortunes, not his fortune by his desires," Mr. Norton is satisfied to settle down upon his farm, and await the slow but sure gains attendant on the vocation in which he is succeeding so well.

            Mrs. Norton, who is a highly intelligent and intellectual lady, received a portion of her education in the ordinary district schools of this State, which was then supplemented by an attendance at the High School, of Wichita. To her and Mr. Norton there has been born one child, sent to bless their household and to cheer their home. His name is Lee Ames, and his birth took place June 1,1887. In his political views Mr. Norton coincides with the platforms formulated by the Republican party, although he takes little interest in politics outside of his duty in attending to his elective franchise. He has a strong preference for the domestic joys of his own fireside, and an attendance upon the interests of his business, and would not willingly surrender the peace and quietness of his happy lot for the turmoil and care of political wrangling. Although a young man, he is rapidly growing into the esteem and respect of his neighbors, and bids fair, in the near future, to assume a prominent and influential position in the community.

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