George Norton
George Benton, son of Thomas and Mary Norton, was born January 8, 1881, in Clarke county, Iowa. In this county he attended the schools of the rural district and grew to manhood, spending all of his years here except one in Nebraska.
He was married to Miss Bertha Dean of Osceola, January 22, 1902. To this union were born six children, one daughter and five sons--Gladys Swanson of Chariton, Iowa, Coral D., Edwin P., Donald H., Harold M., of Osceola, and Gerald D., the latter deceased.
Mr. Norton was in the employment of the Osceola electric light service for over twenty years. He first worked for the Osceola Light and Power company, second for the Union Light and Power company, third the Southern Iowa Electric company and fourth the Iowa Southern Utilities company being connected with the latter service for the past twelve years.
He was a member of high standing in the I.O.O.F. lodge. He was retired from the city fire service after twenty years of service.
Besides his widow and children above mentioned he is survived by his father, Thomas Norton of Osceola, three grandsons, two granddaughters, brother Lloyd Norton of Lantha, Mo., three sisters, Mrs. Cora M. Elliott of Osceola, Mrs. Ida Camblin of near Osceola and Mrs. Bertha Reynolds of Des Moines, one aunt, Mrs. Scaife of Neponset, Ill, and two uncles, Levi and Edward Norton of Neponset, Ill.
Mr. Norton was a kind and loving husband and father and was highly respected by everyone throughout the city and other cities where his work took him. His great delight was to do his work efficiently, with promptness and cheerfulness, always answering every call to duty. He was widely read, able to discuss intelligently the leading topics of the day. He lived closely to the golden rule - "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
A man with many friends he will be greatly missed in lodge and among other groups as well as in the entire county.
Funeral services were held from the Church of Christ Sunday, November 5th at 2:30 p.m., conduced by the Ref. F. C. McCallon and the I.O.O.F. lodge. Interment was made in Maple Hill cemetery.
