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ROBERT F. NORTON, of Homer, was born in Washtenaw county, Michigan, February 10, 1836. His father, H. B. Norton,
was a native of Victor, New York; Margaret (Martin), his mother, was a native of Sligo, Ireland, and is of Scotch
descent. In 1846 he went to learn the printer's trade at Ann Arbor, Michigan. All the education he ever had was
received in the district school prior to this time. In 1852 his parents moved to Rockford, Illinois, where young
Robert worked at his trade for some time. He came to this county in 1854, settling in Minneoah, where he followed
various pursuits until the opening of the rebellion. August 17, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 7th Minn., and was
on the Indian raid through the north part of the state. March 25, 1863, he was commissioned a sergeant. On account
of disability he resigned August 17, 1863, and came home and worked for awhile as a wood workman. August 6, 1872,
he opened at Homer a stock of merchandise, the cost of which was $52. 88. The business has since increased until
he now carries a stock of general merchandise worth $4,000. In the November following he issued the initial number
of the "Novelty Press," devoted to home news. This was sold in 1876 to Norton and Trueman and merged
into the "Winona Democrat." June 28, 1871, he was appointed postmaster at Homer, a position which he
retains. January he issued the first number of "Bob's Own," a paper devoted to his own interests. August
25, 1881, he married Mrs. George Eagle.
FROM:
The History of Winona County
Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc.
BY: A. T. Andreas
H. H. Hill and Company, Publishers
Chicago 1883.
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