Abram W. Norton
Abram W. Norton - Son of John C. and Elizabeth Sterling Norton, was born in Herkimer County, New York, May 7,1827, and is now fifty-four years of age. When he was two years of age, his parents moved to Oswego County, same State, where he resided until he was eighteen years of age, having the advantages of the common schools of those days. Mr. Norton at eighteen, went to Syracuse, New York, and began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith and machine trade, and in this capacity served six years, until January, 1852, when, on the 5th of that month, he sailed from New York on the steamer "Permelia," for California, via Panama. At that place, he boarded the steamer "North America." After being out two days, the steamer was wrecked, and from Valparaiso he went to Acapulco by land, and there they boarded an old bark which took eighty of them to San Francisco, arriving May 1st of that year, after a stormy passage of four mouths. He immediately came to Napa City, where the first four months were spent on the farm of his brother, Martin Norton, now deceased. He then began to work at his trade in the employ of John Guthrie, and continued for five months. He then purchased the shop owned by John Robinson and began business for himself, which he continued until 1870. He then had a vacation for two years, and in 1872, Mr. Norton purchased an interest in the present firm of B. F. Sawyer & Co., engaged in the tannery business, located in Napa City, of which a full history will be found elsewhere in this book. The subject of our sketch was married to Miss Mary E. Johnson, October 28,1855, who was born in Genesee County, New York, May 1,1831, and died February 6,1875. By this union he has five living children: Ida M., born August 5,1857; Homer F., born October 17, I860; Harriet L., born June 12, 1863; Grade A, born October 17,1865, and William EL, born December 24, 1867. Mr. Norton's second marriage occurred May 30,1876, to Mrs. Frances Harrington, a native of Michigan. By this union they have one child, Burta, born January 26,1878.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Page 532
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Last updated February 2007