April 17, 1838-July 22, 1902

Coopersville Observer, July 25, 1902

The announcement Tuesday morning of the sudden death of Benjamin F. Norton, a pioneer of this county and one of the best known citizens of Wright and Polkton townships, came in the nature of a great surprise to his many friends. Some two years ago he had a fall from his ladder, which confined him to his home for some time, but he rallied from the effects and was seemingly as well as ever. He suffered from it by spells ever since, and this in connection with other ailments terminated in his sudden demise. He was confined to the house only about ten days, and Tuesday morning he got up as usual, dressed himself and was lying on the couch reading a paper while waiting for his breakfast, when he called his sister, who immediately responded and found life extinct.

Mr. Norton was a native of Oakland County, and was about 64 years of age. He came to Ottawa County when a boy, a few years before the Civil War. When the war broke out he enlisted in a Michigan cavalry regiment. After the war he returned to this county and has lived here ever since. Some years ago he left Wright Township and has since been living in Coopersville.

Mr. Norton is a lifelong Republican, one of the workers of the party and while he aspired to an official position in this county but once, had always taken an active interest, and in nearly every campaign worked for the success of some friend, of whom he had many in this section of the county.

Benjamin Norton was one of the grand, good men of this section— a man in whom the public trusted, and who, if he had been inclined that way might have been honored with political office many times. One of his attributes was his devotion to his friends. Square and upright, he was a representative of the best type of citizenship, a man who would be looked up to and honored in any community. In his death, Ottawa County loses a representative citizen.

Mr. Norton served in Co. F, 2^nd Michigan Cavalry Volunteers during the Civil War.
Deceased was a member of the Masonic and G. A. R. fraternities under whose auspices the remains were interred in the Berlin Cemetery yesterday afternoon. Rev. E. M. Abbot, of Grand Haven, officiated at the funeral services at the house.

Mr. Norton is survived by his wife. They never had any children, but had one adopted son.
Lovisa Norton - 2 Sep 1847 - 21 Oct 1918