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Norton, James (Educator jurist public)

educator, jurist, public official, was born Sept. 9, 1833, in Hiram, Ohio. He was the son of a carpenter, and was disabled by an accident in 1845. In 1851 he began school teaching at Hiram, Ohio, the same term as did A. Garfield. teaching for several years he was elected county recorder of Portage county in 1861; was re-elected and served six years James After school in all, residing in the county seat of Ravenna. In 1867 he returned to Garrettsville, which has ever since been his home. He was one of the founders of a bank in Garrettsville, and was its cashier. He subsequently became superintendent of the Garrettsville schools; was mayor of his city two terms; has been a member of the board of education for seven terms of three years each; was clerk of the board for twenty years; and for many terms served with distinction as a justice of the peace.

His son, James Edgar, was born March 18, 1866, in Ravenna, Ohio. In 1873 he Ohio. commenced his course in the Garrettsville schools schools and completed the course when sixteen years old. The subject of his oration at graduation was The Heirs of the Ages; suggested by Tennyson's Poets of Locks Hall. In 1884 he was examined by the county board of school examiners and received a certificate for three years. As he was hastening to his rooms in the Garfield House he slipped and fell against the east corner of the upper step, and died from his injuries on May 3, 1887.