Honorable John D. Norton, among the prominent citizens of Pontiac, we should. Her abilities and splendid reputation enhanced the name of this beautiful city, may well be mentioned the gentleman whose name had said sketch. His record as a banker Pontiac, and is a progressive an active promoter of all the best interest of the County, is worthy of note. He was born December 18, 1843, at Van Buren, Onondaga County, New York, and is the youngest of four children. His father Dudley Dorman Norton, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, in 1799, and are moved to Onondaga County, in 1822, where he married, January 24, 1824, two Margaret F. Farrington. He followed the occupation of farming for forty years. His death occurred in 1870, and that of his widow in 1875. They were prominent members of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years.

Mr. Norton passed the first twelve years of his life on a farm, and in 1854 removed to the village of Baldwinsville, New York, where he remained until 1867. His early education was obtained in the village schools. He prepared for college at the Elbridge (New York) Academy, and pick Cortland Academy, in Homer, and entered Hamilton College, at Clinton, New York, in 1863. Where he graduated in 1867. He was an active member of the college secret society known as “Chi Psi”

after leaving college Mr. Norton started West, settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the real estate business, and remained about three months. In 1868 he became largely interested and pinelands in the western part of Michigan, and since that time has made to state his home. In 1874 he was elected from Oakland County in a third representative district, to the Michigan Legislature, and was reelected in 1876, serving upon the committees of Ways and Means, where roads, and education. He was a delegate to the national Democratic convention, held a St. Louis in June 1876, and was a member of the convention from Michigan upon Rules and Permanent Organization. His political views are in strict accordance with those of the Democratic Party, of which he has ever been an active member.

Mr. Norton was one of the charter members of the present organization of the First National Bank, of Pontiac, and its cashier for a period of ten years, and was elected president of the bank, January 1, 1887. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Second National Bank, of Owosso Michigan, and is a stockholder and both banks, being the largest in the First National of Pontiac; he is also a stockholder in the Third National Bank of Detroit. Since 1883 years held the office of treasurer of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, at Pontiac, and is also Treasurer of the Michigan Military Academy, at Orchard Lake, with which he has been connected since 1882, and in which he is taking a deep interest, being one of its strongest supporters financially. He is also Secretary and Treasurer of the Pontiac Knit Boot company, of which he was one of the incorporators, in 1884, and is likewise a member of the firm of C. E. Wakeman & Co., owners of the Pontiac Knitting Works, the main industry of Pontiac, and one of the leading Mercantile houses of this section of the state.

Mr. Norton is still interested in Michigan pinelands, and is the owner of a very extensive pinelands in the state of Mississippi. He recently purchased, and connection with one other, 50 acres of Boulevard property in the city of Detroit, and owns in addition, considerable real estate in Southern California, where he spends the winter season with his family. He has been for some years City Treasurer of Pontiac, and was also for a considerable period Treasurer of the County Agricultural Society. He was also one of the charter members of the Board of Control and Cemeteries, and one of the board of Water Commissioners appointed by the Council of Pontiac and still retains the position. He is been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the last fifteen years, and is a Knights Templar, and a member of the Knights of Pythias.

on June 9, 1869, Mr. Norton was married to Elizabeth C. Flower, daughter of Theron A. Flower, Esq., formerly of Pontiac, a prominent businessman, and who was his first mayor on its incorporation as a city. They had three children living: Hattie M., John D. jr., and Mary C., all of whom reside At home. Mr. Norton has for a long time occupied a prominent place as all the most enterprising and successful businessman of his adopted city. He has interested himself largely in every enterprise of public nature, contribute both time and money toward the welfare of the community, and is aided largely in building up and maintaining its industries. A sturdy and Honorable character, and with business energy and ability a high order, he has one a disturbingly high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and a success in business that enables him to enjoy a life of comfort and happiness with his family and large circle of friends. In 1888 he was nominated for State Treasurer, and Novell making a magnificent run, was, with majority of his party, defeated on the tariff issue. Many of the facts of this sketch are taken from the Cyclopedia of Michigan, recently issued and it is noteworthy as a comprehensive account of noble citizens.