KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XL]

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A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 
Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and 
incidents of men connected with the county from its first 
settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, 
representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, 
treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other 
officers of the county, also of those who have served in a 
military capacity from its first organization to the 
present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and 
other institutions of learning and religion within the 
county. 
By A. Banning Norton.

Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862
Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 
by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern 
District of Ohio.
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CHAPTER  L.

It will be expected that a history of this county will devote 
more than a passing notice to the memory of that citizen of 
whom, in July, 1819, the editor of the Times said, "We are of 
opinion that none of the earliest pioneers of our town have 
ever done so much to promote its growth and prosperity as 
Mr. Norton. If Mt. Vernon is specially indebted to the 
enterprise and liberality of any one man, that man is Daniel S. 
Norton."
The Democratic Banner of Nov. 1, 1859, says "One of 
our most eminent and highly valued citizens died suddenly, of 
congestion of the lungs, on Tuesday morning, October 25th, 
aged 72 years." The following extract from that notice of his 
death evidences the regard and opinion entertained for his 
services and its republication will not be inappropriate:
"He first visited Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1816, and. in 
the summer of that year, introduced the first complete 
Carding Machine in this part of the State, and set it up at the 
mill of William Douglas, now occupied by J. S. Banning, In 
the summer of 1817, he moved to Mt. Vernon, and in the fall 
of that year, having secured the admirable mill seat and water 
power which his sagacious eye had discovered the summer 
previous, he built the mills, which, improved and enlarged 
from time to time, as the wants of the county required, he 
continued to occupy and operate until his death.

He engaged also in the mercantile business, and carried it 
on prosperously for many years. He erected a woolen and a 
cotton factory, and an oil mill, and engaged extensively in 
agriculture and the raising of cattle and horses, and 
contributed much to the improvement of the stock of both in 
the county.
"He was elected to the Senate from Knox and Richland counties, and while 
in that body took lively interest and an active part in inaugurating and 
establishing the wise canal policy of the State, He was a member of the 
committee appointed to welcome De Witt Clinton. At the canal celebration 
in July. 1825, he first met Bishop Chase, who served as chaplain on that 
occasion, and during the interview he suggested to the Bishop the eligibility 
of site grounds which were afterwards chosen for the location of Kenyon 
College. He contributed liberally to the establishment of that institution, and 
was always its steadfast friend.
He was always among the foremost in all public enterprises calculated to 
increase the growth of the town, or improve and develope the resources of 
the country.
As a man of business, he had no superior. Prompt, energetic and de-
liberate. He appeared to see the end from the beginning. and his plans wisely 
laid, were worked out with a precision which commanded the admiration of 
all.
A man of social qualities, he was the pride of the society in which he 
lived. Remarkable for his address and conversational power, his extensive 
reading, his acute observation and his wonderful memory, he attracted notice 
wherever he appeared, at home or abroad, and entered no circle which was 
not entertained and instructed by his presence.
He had a keen perception of merit in the young and not a few owe the 
beginning of their prosperous career in business, to his kind and wise 
patronage. He was ever ready to aid the industrious, and had a lively 
sympathy for the unfortunate, It was a touching sight to see the poor gather 
around his bier, and not the least of a good mans reward, to hear them call 
him blessed:'
A Brief statement of some of the events of his life, evincing 
his indomitable spirit, extraordinary business qualifications 
great liberality and genuine patriotism, may follow the tribute 
from another pen. The first American settlers in the 
Attakapas of Orleans were the Nortons, who for several 
years endured contentedly the perils and privations in that, 
then foreign, clime, until sickness and death reduced their 
number and deprived them of their

head ; and the management of the affairs of Mrs. Ann 
Norton, and nine children, devolved entirely upon the 
young Daniel S. who, possessed of a peculiar business 
mind and an adventurous spirit, carried on various trading 
operations in the territory and the Mexican provinces. His 
papers, care-fully preserved, show many ventures that few 
would have the nerve to undertake; and yet success 
invariably crowned his efforts. Some of his practical 
operations are worthy of notice. He introduced the first 
sugarcane in the Attakapas, and established that it could he 
cultivated successfully. His active and well informed mind, 
and inventive genius, was always striving to make 
improvements and he first directed attention to the navi-
gation of the Bayous and rivers, and was interested in the 
first boat that engaged in their trade. He traveled on the 
first two boats that made trips on the Mississippi, and 
subsequently on the first boat built by a company at 
Brownsville, Pa.. and run by Capt. Gregg on the lower 
Mississippi and Red River. His suggestions in construction 
and navigation, his knowledge of the rivers and the country, 
contributed much to those enterprises.
It was with the view of carrying on a trade with the 
southern country that lie located at Connelsville, and 
engaged in erecting machinery for manufacturing ; and 
hence his deep solicitude for successful navigation of the 
rivers, to promote which lie carried on correspondence, 
published articles, made investments, and labored 
industriously. The first Cotton Factory on the 
Youghiogheny he erected, and operated successfully, 
bringing the raw

cotton from his old home in Louisiana. His lands in that 
country were of great value, and his business there for about 
half century was faithfully attended to by Gov., Johnson, as 
his agent, who has informed us of his unsurpassed reputation 
as a business man. He never relinquished the idea, which he 
had entertained though life, of returning there to live, and 
which was only broken in upon by his coming to this county 
to marry, and being still further irresistibly attracted by the 
fine water power, fertile lands and beautiful prospects of Owl 
Creek.
The building of machinery and improving of mills and 
manufacturing establishments may be said to have been the 
ruling passion of his life. We find a petition presented to the 
General Assembly of Ohio, when it met in Chillicothe, by 
Daniel S. Norton, John H. Piatt and Herman Long, of 
Cincinnati, Asa Norton, of Kentucky, and Abraham Baldwin, 
of Pennsylvania, who had associated in manufacturing 
business, asking for encouragement of woolen manufactories, 
etc. The first complete carding machines, west of the 
Allegheny mountains, were put up by Daniel S. Norton, and 
our venerable townsman, Wm. Reeves, says that he first saw 
him, in 1805, at Tom Smith's mill, on Whitewater, setting up 
machines.
I have often heard father laugh about how his father 
caused him to trade a valuable lot in Cincinnati for a little 
sorrel pony, saddle and bridle, and leave there for his home 
in the Attakapas. Another trade that amused him very much 
was that of a set of machines, to a man named Lowrie, for a 
scholar-

ship in Transylvania University, which his father, who had 
given him what he deemed sufficient education at Middlebury 
College, did not relish; nevertheless, he procured his books 
and took out the value in Latin, Greek, and mathematics, &e.  
There he formed the acquaintance of many young men who 
have since become eminent in the country, and that friendship 
and regard for Henry Clay which caused him to cling to his 
fortunes through good and through evil report.
His career in this county--his efforts to promote education, 
home manufactures and internal improvements; his 
contributions to objects calculated to benefit the public; his 
assistance to old settler in purchasing their farms and stock, 
making improvements, and providing for their families; his 
kindness to friends, and generosity to relatives will long be 
remembered. His love of country was undoubted, and the 
blood of the Revolution never coursed through veins more 
determined to perpetuate "Liberty and Union," His liberality 
and patriotism in the War of 1812, the Texan Revolution and 
the Mexican War is on record; and were he living today, he 
would be faithful to the Union and true to the principals of the 
Constitution.
 
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NOTE--The cultivation of the cotton plant attracted his attention. and 
among his papers of 1810 are calculations as to its culture and manufacture. 
He planted the first black seed in the Southwest (it had been brought from 
the Bahamas), and he was the first experimenter with the hirsutum and 
herbaceous in that locality.