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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

  -91-

        JOHN H. NORTON, who is a son of WILLIAM and TRIPHENA NORTON, was
     born in Milton Falls, Vt., May 20, 1861, obtaining a liberal educa-
     tion in the public schools of his native town, working on the farm in
     the meantime.
        After he had passed the age of fourteen he left the farm and
     entered the employ of Messrs. HANNAH, LAY & Co.  He first became
     connected as a mariner on the lakes on the steamer City of Grand
     Rapids in 1879. He then shipped on the bark S. B. Pomeroy, and
     schooners Lucerne and Corsican, afterward becoming wheelsman on
     the steamer Don M. Dickinson, of which CAPTAIN ROSE was in command.
     This was followed by a season on the steamer Caldwell. He then
     entered the employ of CAPT. B. BOUTELL on the tug Annie Moiles, after
     which he went west and railroaded until 1884, when he shipped on the
     propeller Menominee until September, when he returned home. That fall
     he leased a threshing machine, which he ran until the harvests of
     the farmers were reduced to grain. There being a vacancy at that time
     in the district school MR. NORTON was chosen by the directors as
     teacher, a position which he filled to their satisfaction.
        It was during the months passed in this literary occupation that
     prompted MR. NORTON to become a law student, and he commenced to
     study and read law at Alma, Michigan. After the usual course of study
     he was admitted to the Bar by JUDGE HENRY HART, and soon afterward
     entered into partnership with JAMES L. CLARK, Esq., a combination
     which remained in force two years, at the end of which period MR.
     NORTON bought out his associate's interest and conducted the business
     alone.
        In the spring of 1891 he disposed of his law practice and went to
     Duluth, Minn. Arriving there, he conceived the idea of becoming a
     marine lawyer, and in order to more perfectly school himself in that
     branch of legal lore he decided to more perfectly learn the duties of
     mariner. He therefore entered the employ of Capt. B. B. INMAN, and
     sailed some of his tugs. That winter he opened a law office, and
     devoted his time and talents to the study of marine law and admiralty
     practice, and during the last eight years has fortified himself in
     his business, and as a natural consequence has obtained a large share
     of the practice in and about Duluth, and is also a member of the
     different United States courts. He is the possessor of one of the
     finest law libraries in the state of Minnesota.
        He is a senior member of the firm of J. H. NORTON & Co., being
     associated in the vessel brokerage business with CAPT. L. E. KING. He
     owns a half interest in the tug Minnie Karl, belonging to the Stevens
     Towing Company.  A thoroughly practical sailor, being a member of the
     American Association of Masters and Pilots of Steam Vessels, Harbor
     No. 44, of which he was the first treasurer and delegate to the
     national voyage to Washington in the winter of 1896-97. He holds
     first-class pilots papers for the entire chain of lakes, and is also
     a member of the Stationary Engineers Society.
        On December 29, 1887, JOHN H. NORTON was united in wedlock to Miss
     IDA E. KINGDON.  One daughter, LILITH MADGE, has been born to this
     union.

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