Bela A. Norton (1843-1929)

NORTON, MARTIN, HUTSON, KOPF

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/14/2005 at 21:58:17

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, May 2, 1929, page 1, column 3. "BELA A NORTON - Bela A. Norton, 85, Civil war veteran and pioneer farmer of Polk county, died Thursday, April 25, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Martin, near Farrar, following a brief illness of bronchial pneumonia. Funeral services were held at the Farrar church Sunday, April 28, Rev. C. J. Nutt, of Des Moines, officiating, assisted by Rev. W. M. Hartin, the local pastor. Interment was made in the Peoria cemetery. His grandsons acted as pall bearers. Music was furnished by a male quartet of Maxwell. The service at the grave was under the supervision of the American Legion of Maxwell. Bela A. Norton, son of Abram and Sofia Norton, was born in Utica, N. Y., December 10, 1843, and died April 25, 1929, aged 85 years four months and fifteen days. He was the oldest of a family of eight children and was the last surviving. He came with his parents to Cass county, Michigan, in 1855, where he grew to manhood. When our country was torn with internal strife, he enlisted for service in the Union army from Niles, Barren county, Mich. On January 27, 1862, as a private of Co. A. 12th Regiment, Michigan Infantry Volunteers, under Capt. James Harper, and Col. Frances Quinn, to serve three years or during the war. The regiment was assigned to Peabody's Brigade, Prentiss Div. 16th and 7th Corps, Army of Tennessee, and participated in the following engagements: Shiloh, Tenn., April 6 and 7, 1862. Iuka, Miss. Sept. 19, 1862. Metamore, Tenn., Oct. 5, 1862. Middleburg, Dec. 24, 1862. Mechanicsburg, Miss. June 4, 1863. Siege of Vicksburg, May 18 to July. Little Rock, Ark., August and September, 1863, Clarendon, June 26, 1864. Gregory's Landing, Sept. 4, 1864. By order of General Grant, the engagement at Middleburg, Tenn., was inscribed upon their battle flag. Mr. Norton was wounded in the left thigh by gun shat of (gun shot at) Shilo, April 6, 1862 and confined in sister hospital at St. Louis, Mo., for five weeks, and Webster hospital, Memphis, Tenn., for six weeks in 1863. Was on detached duty with the 11th Ohio Battery from June, 1864, until January, 1865, and at Dinsvall's Bluff, Ark. January 27, 1865. He was honorably discharged at expiration of term of enlistment. After the close of the civil war he came to Iowa, settling in Polk county. In May, 1869, he was united in marriage to Catherine Hutson. To this union were born seven children, three of whom died in infancy. His wife preceded him in death on June 14, 1895, since which time he had made his home with his children. In early manhood he was converted and united with the Methodist Protestant church at Peoria and later transferred his membership to the Buena Vista church, now known as the Farrar church. His Christian life and Christian deeds are a monument to the community and in his latest days he testified that Jesus was precious as death drew near. He leaves to mourn their loss, his children, Mrs. Mary E. Martin, of Farrar; Mrs. Lizzie Kopf, of Farmington, and Harley J., of Farrar; Cassius Luther preceding him in death in July, 1920. He leaves eighteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends. CARD OF THANKS - Sincerely, we wish to thank all neighbors and friends who so kindly remembered us in the death of our father and grandfather. Mrs. Mary Martin and family. Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Norton and family. Mrs. Ora Norton and family. Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Kopf and family."