Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
NORTON, John - Burlington
Among the most respected pioneer family of Otsego County
may be mentioned the NORTON family. John Norton was born
in Chatham, Conn., April 7, 1775. Coming upon the stage of
action only a few days before the first gun was fired which was
the signal of war between the thirteen united colonies and their
mother country, he was early disciplined to endure all the privations
incident to those revolutionary days. He was reared a farmer, and
and by this healthful and best of all employments, combined with
good habits formed early in life, he was able to obtain a good home
and live to a ripe old age.
He married Miss Lucy JOHNSON , a native of Chatham, Conn.,
March 7, 1798. Mrs. Lucy Johnson Norton was born May 13, 1775.
By this happy union five children were born, namely: Chauncey H.,
born Sept. 21, 1800; Lucinda P., born Feb. 10, 1802; Florida J.,
born July 14, 1808; John C., born Sept. 5, 1811; and Diadana H.,
born Nov. 15, 1815.
John Norton settled in Burlington, Otsego County, about 1799.
He settled on a small farm in or near Burlington Flats, and this
locality was his home ever after, save eight years in Exeter, from
1804 to 1812.
He and his estimable wife were members of the Congregational
church for many years. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but
upon the organization of the Republican party he joined it. He
died at the advanced age of ninety-three years, two months, and
twenty-four days, on July 1, 1868, and Mrs. Norton survived her
husband some five years. She died July 23, 1873, aged ninety-eight
years, two months, and ten days.
It will be observed that this couple lived together for more than
seventy years before death did them separate; seventy years they
walked life's journey together; seventy years the same familiar
footsteps upon the threshold of a happy home, to meet warm
comforts and a loving greeting; seventy years hand in hand and
heart to heart, reading the inmost thoughts, and loving more and
more. Mrs. Norton had a sister, Mrs. HUBBARD, who lived to
be nearly one hundred and one, lacking only a few days.
Chauncey H., eldest son and child of John and Lucy Norton,
was born in Burlington, Otsego Co., N.Y. His early advantages
for an education were very limited. He was reared a farmer, which
has been the principle business of his life.
At the age of twenty-five he commenced to learn the carpenter
and joiner trade, and has worked at it for many years since. He
was the home-boy, the one on whom his parents mainly depended
for counsel and support in their advanced years. He has often
been called upon to occupy positions of trust and honor in his
native town. He was formerly a Democrat in politics, but when
the Republican party was organized he joined it. He has been
inspector and commissioner of schools, assessor for one year, and
justice of the peace for more than twenty years. He is highly
esteemed by his neighbors. He and one brother living with him
have never been married. Chauncey H. is the one who thus takes
this opportunity to identify his parents in the history of Otsego
County, and in memory of them.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, opposite page 98