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difficulties encountered when his father shipped their threshing machine from Illinois to Colo, Iowa. It was moved overland from Colo.
In those days the bridges were constructed with the general idea that they should be strong enough to carry the weight of any load that could be pulled by a team of horses. Nattie said that the bridges between Colo and Lincoln township gave them many anxious moments.
Nattie also remembered threshing grain in our community. In the early days the prairie was dotted with ponds and wet places. The farmers did not always want the straw. They did not want to bother with it at all. So many farmers had it threshed directly into the ponds. This resulted in many hours of hard work digging the threshing machine out of the mud.
Hiram received the following tribute from Ellis J. Lewis. Ellis remembered him as a tall, dignified man. Ellis said that he did not talk a great deal but his opinions were respected.
Hiram died on November 30, 1909. Nancy died on October 15, 1903.
Isaac B. Norton was born in Maine on June 1, 1847. His parents moved to Earlville, Hlinois, in 1849. Matilda Frances Wicks was born in Illinois on February 1, 1848. Isaac married Matilda on October 25, 1867. They moved to our community in 1875.
Isaac and Matilda were the parents of two children. They were Delbert Edgar and Leyrl.
Isaac's name appears many times in the early school records of Lincoln township. He was a prominent farmer. The family moved to Zearing from the farm in 1887. Isaac constructed a race track on his land near Zearing. The race track became the center for Zearing celebrations during the early 1900's.
Isaac died on December 16, 1919. Matilda died on March 18, 1939.
John T. Norton was born at Earlville, Illinois, on October 3, 1859. John T. married Amanda Frank of Earlville on November 28, 1878. They moved to our community in 1880.
John T. and Amanda were the parents of five children. Laura Ann died at the age of two years. The others were Freeman August, John Frank, Laura M. Norton Siglin, and Isaac Raymond.
John T. was a respected citizen of our community. His son, John Frank, was a house painter and paper hanger in our community. Frank died in the late 1930's. Many present day residents will remember Laura M. Norton Siglin:
John T. died on June 27, 1924. Amanda died in 1941.
Levi Norton was born at Earlville, Illinois, on August 7, 1861. Levi married Harriet Frank at Ottawa, Illinois, on September 9, 1880. Harriet was born in New York, New York, on July 1, 1858.