Thomas-Clinch-Effingham County GaArchives Biographies.....Norton, Joseph Stebbins 1851 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 19, 2004, 8:52 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 815-816

   JOSEPH STEBBINS NORTON. For a period of nearly forty years Mr. Norton was
continuously identified with the business enterprise of Boston, in Thomas
county, and while acquiring ample material prosperity has also rendered much
useful service to his community as a citizen. He represented old and prominent
families in Georgia and South Carolina, and many of his forefathers and
relatives were men of mark in the profession and in business and civic affairs.

   Joseph Stebbins Norton was born at Robertsville in the Beaufort district of
South Carolina on the 31st of August, 1851. The founder of this branch of the
Norton family in America was the Rev. Jonathan Norton, great-grandfather of the
Boston business man. A native of England, he came to America during colonial
times, settling at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He was a minister of the
Baptist church and was pastor of the church at St. Helena. Island and elsewhere
in South Carolina.

   Robert Godfrey Norton, the grandfather, was born at Bluffton in the Beaufort
district, and became a prosperous planter in that vicinity. He also was honored
with places of trust in the community, serving as sheriff and ordinary of the
district for several years, and during his early life gave service to the united
colonies as a revolutionary soldier. He was a lifelong resident of the Beaufort
district. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Morse. Her father, Dr. George
Morse, who was throughout his life a resident of Beaufort district, was both a
practicing physician and a minister of the Baptist church. Robert G. Norton and
wife were blessed with long years and they celebrated the golden anniversary of
their wedding day.

   Alexander R. Norton, the father, was born on a plantation on the May river in
Beaufort district, September 2, 1812. After his early training in the common
schools he was graduated from the Charleston Medical College and later from the
Savannah Medical College. His entire professional career was spent in
Robertsville, South Carolina, where he gave arduous and unselfish service to a
large circle of patients throughout many years. His death occurred at the age of
seventy-five. (War record) Dr. Norton married Julia Elizabeth Greene, who was
born in Screven county, Georgia, in 1817. Her father, John Greene, was also an
active member of the medical profession, was a native Georgian, and in addition
to- his practice conducted a large plantation. It is also noteworthy that he was
a pioneer in transportation business on the Savannah river, owning the first
"pole boat" that plied between Savannah and up-river ports. Both Dr. Greene and
wife are buried in the Buck churchyard on Brier creek, Screven county, near
their old plantation home. Julia (Greene) Norton, the mother, died in her
sixty-fourth year, and her seven children were named as follows : William B.,
John G., Robert G. Jr., Alexander C., Mary Eugenia, Susan Tallulah and Joseph S.

   Joseph S. Norton, reared in one of the cultured homes of the south, received
a good education, attending school in his native state and in Savannah, where
the family lived during two years of the war. He began his business career with
his brother at Stockton in Clinch county, and from there came to Boston in 1874.
At that time Boston was a mere hamlet, and he was one of the first men of
commercial enterprise to locate here, and was an important factor in the
subsequent development of the town. He opened a store with, a stock of general
merchandise, and kept building and broadening his trade constantly for nearly
forty years. He was at the head of the Norton Mercantile Company. For some time
also he was engaged in sawmilling, and conducted one of the good farms in this
vicinity.

   Mr. Norton was married December 3d, 1874, to Miss Ella May Grovenstein. She
was born in Effingham county, this state, a daughter of Benjamin and Emma
(Metzger) Grovenstein. Both her parents were natives of Georgia, and their
ancestry, goes back to the original German stock that along with the
Scotch-Irish and English composed the first Georgia colony, the Grovensteins and
Metzgers having come in with the Salzbergers. Mr. and Mrs. Norton became the
parents of ten children, named as follows: Binney A., Frederick S., Emma
Augusta, Edward Judson, Bessie May, Hugh Grovenstein, Katie Eugenia, Josie
Maude, Ruby Tallulah and Martha Louise.

   Mr. Norton was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, as is his wife, he
having served as clerk of the board. Fraternally he affiliated with Horeb Lodge
No. 281, F. & A. M., and J. M. Rushin Chapter, R. A. M. In politics he was a
Democrat, and for a time served as mayor of his home town of Boston. He died
July 9, 1912.



Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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