For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 335
WILLIAM SHEFFIELD NORTON, M. D....Dr William Sheffield Norton has been a resident of Muscatine since 1893, and was known in the mercantile circles until 1900. when he entered upon the practice of medicing and surgery, to which he has since devoted his time and energies. A native of Ohio, he was born in Napoleon, Henry county, on the 8th of July, 1867.The Norton family was an old one of the state, which was the birth place of his grandfather, Washington Norton, who died when a comparatively young man. He married Caroline Harper, who survived him to the age of seventy-five years, and they were the parents of four sons and one daughter: Jonathan Dorr, Elijah H., John H., Caroline T. and David Z. The eldest, Jonathan Dorr Norton, was born in the Buckeye state and when a young man was employed in the railroad offices in Cleveland, in which manner he made his start in life, laying there the foundation for his later success in business. He afterward engaged in banking at Napoleon, Ohio, and in the year 1887 removed westward to Topeka, Kansas, where he still makes his home. He was for a number of years engaged in coal mining and in dealing in different kinds of fuel. He is now serving as sheriff of Shawnee county, Kansas, and while living in Ohio filled the office of state senator for one term. He has ever been a man of considerable influence, his sterling qualities well fitting him for a position of leadership. While in Ohio he married Ada Sheffield, a native of that state, as were her parents, William and Hulda ( Harrington ) Sheffield. The father was an attorney and banker and the mother engaged in the practice of medicine. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield died at Napoleon, Ohio, and both were nearing the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. Their only child was Ada, who became the wife of Jonathan D. Norton, and they are now residing in Topeka, where they have made many friends. They hold membership with the Swedenborgian church. Their family numbered five sons and a daughter, namely: William S., of this review ; Mary, the wife of Dr. H. S. Judd, of Tacoma, Washington ; John H., who died at the age of thirty ; David Z., a resident of Topeka, Kansas ; Jonathan D., Jr., who makes his home in Kansas City, Missouri ; and Ralph H., of Topeka.
Dr. William S. Norton spent his youthful days in his native city and attended the public schools, after which he pursued a university course in Urbana, Ohio. Removing westward to Topeka, Kansas, he secured a position as assistant to the paymaster of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and subsequently took up the study of pharmacy, being graduated from the pharmaceutical department of the Kansas University, while in 1900 he was graduated as a physician and surgeon at the Kansas Medical College. In the meantime, in 1893, he had located in Muscatine, where he was engaged in the drug business until he took up the study of medicine. After attaining his professional degree he began practicing here in 1900 in partnership with his father-in-law, Dr. Morgridge, the partnership being maintained until the death of the latter, in February, 1909. Since that time Dr. Norton has practiced alone. He is now accorded a liberal patronage, the public thus giving expression of their confidence in his ability. He performs every professional duty in a most conscientious manner, is careful in the diagnosis of his cases, and that he is wise in the application of remedial agencies is indicated in the excellent results which follow his professional labors.
On the 7th of June Dr. Norton was married to Miss Myrta E. Morgridge, a native of Montrose, Iowa, and a daughter of Dr. George O. and Ruth A. ( Casebeer ) Morgridge. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Iowa and for thirty years Dr. Morgridge was a most successful and honored physician of Muscatine, his many sterling traits of character winning him high and enduring regard. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted for active service and became captain of Company H, Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh and was also in other battles, was in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He took part in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated and returned home with a most creditable military record. He passed away in February, 1909, and is still survived by Mrs. Morgridge. Their family numbered but two children: Henry W., who died at the age of thirty years ; and Myrta, now Mrs. Norton. By her marriage she became the mother of one daughter, Ruth May.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the First Congregational church and he is serving on its business committee. He belongs to Iowa Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., and the Wyoming Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and for three terms he served as county coroner, while at the present writing he is filling the position of county physician. Aside from his private practice he is surgeon for the Rock Island Railroad Company and he belongs to the Muscatine County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Society, thus keeping in touch with the progressive work of his profession. He is deeply interested in everything that relates to his chosen life work and continuous reading and research are ever promoting his efficiency.
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