Obituary Record

Luther Martin Norton
Died on 3/2/1907
Buried in Blair Cemetery

1st obituary: Printed in the March 6,1907 Courier, Blair, Nebraska

Luther M. Norton

L.M. Norton died at 9 o'clock last Saturday morning of heart failure and the funeral was held at 2 o'clock Monday from the residence on east South street. Rev. Jas. L. Rames officiated, assisted by Rev. J.G. Shick. The Masons took charge of the body at close of the service and gave it a Masonic burial. Deceased was born in Bethany, Pa., Sept. 7, 1830, and was married to Miss Theodosia Robertson at Peora, Ill., March 6th, 1862. They came to Blair in 1875, where Mrs. Norton died about four years ago. The children are Clara, who lived at home, Dr. Alva Norton, of Rockwell City, Ia., Mrs. L.S. Tyler, of Dunlap, Ia., and Clyde, who joined the army about four years ago and the family have not heard from him since. Mr. Norton traveled a good deal before he was married, having crossed the plains three times during the California gold fever in the 50’s and once he returned from the west by way of the Isthmus of Panama, having walked from ocean to ocean.

2nd obituary: Printed 6 Mar., 1907 - The Pilot - Luther Martin Norton

Luther Martin Norton was born at Bethany, Pennsylvania on September 7, 1830. In March, 1862 he married Theodosea Robertson, and to this union six children were born, four of whom are still living. In 1875 Mr. Norton and family came to Blair where they have since resided. His death occurred on March 2. The funeral being held at the home at 2 ofclock Monday afternoon, Rev. Rames officiating. The services at the grave were held under the auspices of the local Masonic lodge of which organization he was a member. One son, Dr. Norton of Rockwell City, Iowa, and a daughter, Mrs. Tyler of Dunlap, Iowa, and Dr. and Mrs. Clark of Herman were in attendance at the funeral. The family have many friends who extend sympathy in their hour of bereavement. 3rd obituary: Printed in the March 4, 1907 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska, reprinted from the March 3, 1907 World-Herald.

Blair, Neb., March L. M. Norton, a forty-niner and pioneer resident of Washington county, died at his home in Blair yesterday. He was a sufferer from dropsy and asthma, those troubles causing his death. Mr. Norton located in Blair in 1875. During the years of the rush to the gold fields, Mr. Norton crossed the plains to California and also spent some time in Central America. He was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 7, 1830, being now 77 years of age. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock.—World-Herald.

3rd obituary: Printed in the March 7, 1907 Democrat, Blair, Nebraska

L.M. Norton, one of Blair early settlers, died at his home in this city at nine o'clock last Saturday morning, after ailing for about two years with what is known as Hodgkin disease. He was up as usual that morning and ate his breakfast, but shortly after complained of being tired and laid down and passed away in his sleep. The funeral was held from the late home Monday afternoon, Revs. Shick and Rames officiating. The funeral was held under the Masonic auspices, of which order the deceased was an old member. Deceased was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1830, and was married to Miss Theodosia Robinson, March 6, 1872, in Illinois, whose death occurred four years ago last October. Mr. and Mrs. Norton came to Blair in 1875, and he engaged in the milling business for about a year and then went to farming just east of town where he lived until death. Four children are left to mourn his death, Dr. A.C. Norton, of Rockwell City, Ia., Mrs. L.G. Tyler, of Dunlap, Ia., Clyde Norton and Miss Clara, who has always made her home here, all of whom with the exception of Clyde were present at the funeral. Two children, Alta, formerly Mrs. Dr. Clark, of Herman, who died in 1898, and Harry, who died in June, 1899, preceded their parents to the great beyond. Mr. Norton was a great traveler in his younger days and crossed the plains three times during the California gold boom; he walked across the Isthmus of Panama and also saw a great deal of the South American country. He was the last one of his family.

Note: Dropsy (a contraction for hydropsy): swelling in the legs/ankles/sometimes hands/face –Source: Diseases of the Old South, 1907, internet

Note: Hodgkin Disease: A chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the lymph glands, a progressive anemia, and often attended by secondary growths of lymphoid tissue in the liver, spleen, kidneys, bone-marrow, alimentary tract, and other organs—Source: Thomas, 1907, the Eclectic Practice of Medicine, Part VII, Diseases of the Blood and Ductless Glands.

Note: the milling business was grinding (milling) grain into flour. Internet sources

~~~Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 62721897

Printed in the Blair Courier on 3/6/1907


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