Sullivan County PA Biographies
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JOSEPH S. NEWMAN
JOSEPH S. NEWMAN, an enterprising and progressive citizen of Nordmont, Sullivan County, Pa., is general station agent on the W. & N. B. R. R. and express agent at that point, where he has faithfully served the company's interests since 1890. He is a son of
George Newman, and was born in Prince, Williams County, Va., March 7, 1866. He is of English descent and is a great-grandson of Thomas Newman, who was one of the early settlers of Lycoming County, Pa., where he was known far and wide as a man of integrity and honesty in his every business transaction. He now lies buried in the Newman cemetery of that county. He was the progenitor of one son, Joseph, who became the owner of the old homestead in Lycoming County. He disposed of that property and settled at Tivoli, in the same county, where he followed lumbering and farming. He closed his eyes in final sleep at the age of seventy-four years. George Newman, the father of our subject, was born near Hughesville, Lycoming County, but moved to Tivoli with his father, where he resides at the present time. He is a man of great industry and, as a dealer in lumber and a farmer, success has attended his every effort, and he is now one of the substantial men of that section.
Joseph S. Newman, the subject of this biographical record, obtained his mental training in the public schools and in the high schools of Williamsport and Tivoli. In 1884 he was offered the position of station agent at that town, which he accepted and retained for one and one-half years, serving in Sonestown for a time subsequent to 1886. He was the first and is the only member of the Newman family whose lot has been cast within the bounds of the Seventeenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. From Sonestown he went to Muncy Valley, where he remained until 1890, when he accepted his present position at Nordmont, Sullivan County. He has a thorough understanding of the many responsible duties of his position and has discharged them to the entire satisfaction of the patrons of the road, thereby gaining the approval of his employers. For some years he was financially associated in the mercantile business in Nordmont, under the firm name of Botsford & Newman, with M. W. Botsford. whose sketch appears elsewhere in this book.
Mr. Newman was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Mary S. Sinclair, a daughter of William and Martha J. Sinclair of Laporte township, and their happy union is blessed by two children: Hazel Martha and Lester S. Politically our subject is a stanch Republican, whilst in religious attachments he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America and of the Odd Fellows. He is a man of admirable character and habits and has won many friends since his residence in Nordmont.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 250 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
POWELL NORTON
POWELL NORTON, who is located at Campbellville, Sullivan County, is one of the most enterprising business men of Forks township. He was born January 31, 1841, in Forks township, being a son of Thomas and Mary (Bird) Norton.
Thomas Norton, the father of our subject, was born in England, May 6, 1808, and in 1830 immigrated to America with his brother Charles. Both bought tracts of wild and uncultivated land of Dr. Priestly, Thomas buying one hundred acres on what is now known as Norton's Ridge in the northwest part of Forks township. After clearing a small part of the land which was heavily covered with timber, Mr. Norton built a small log cabin and began life there with small resources, but a most resolute determination to succeed. Mr. Norton married Mary Bird, born November 8, 1816, and a daughter of Powell Bird. As the years passed they cleared the farm and made many new improvements thereon. Mr. Norton was a blacksmith by trade. In his younger days he worked some at Eagles Mere; later in life he did all of his own blacksmithing and most of that of his neighbors. He was a stanch member of the Democratic party, and served the township as supervisor, collector, etc. Mr. Norton died February 2, 1884, at the age of seventy-six years, and was buried in the Bird cemetery. He and his good wife were the parents of eight children, as follows: Esther, wife of George Schill of Elkland township; William, a farmer in Forks township; Powell, our subject; Emeline, who died at the age of fifteen; Ira, who died at the age of one year; Lydia, wife of Daniel Miller; Maria, who married W. S. Pieffenbauch; Washington, who died at the age of twenty-five; George B., who married Jennie Campbell of Estella, Pa.; and James, who died at the age of fourteen.
Powell Norton married Mary B. Bedford, daughter of Rev. Richard and Arvilla (Wheat) Bedford. Rev. Richard Bedford was a son of Richard Bedford, and was born in England. His father immigrated to this country when he was about twelve years of age and two years later his mother died. His father then married Laurena Waller. He moved to Forks township, Sullivan County, Pa., where he settled on the estate now owned and lived upon by Mrs. Watson Fawcett. His children by his first wife were named Richard, Hannah and Franklin. By his second union he had two children: Varley and Alice, both deceased. Rev. Richard Bedford studied theology and was ordained a Methodist minister, which profession he followed many years, settling in his later life on the old Bedford homestead in Forks township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was one of the most active and prominent men in his district. He was a man of superior education and fine intellect and, although books in his day were high-priced, he gathered the largest and most up-to-date library in Sullivan County. A portion of the library is now in the possession of Mr. Norton and he has added many valuable volumes. Mr. Bedford was the first superintendent of schools in Sullivan County and served as one of the first associate judges of the county, filling the judgeship for two terms. He also represented Sullivan County two terms in the State Legislature. Rev. Mr. Bedford's useful life was closed at the age of seventy-one years, his wife departing this life at the age of sixty. Their children were: Mary B., wife of our subject; Ada, who married Watson Fawcett; and three who died in infancy.
Powell Norton, the subject of this biography, attended the public schools of his native place where he received a good fundamental education. When a young man he started as a farmer for himself, buying the Rogers farm in Forks township which consisted of 140 acres. Besides making many improvements on the land he built a new house and barns. Together with John W. Norton he bought the Campbell flour and feed mill. John W. Norton was succeeded as our subject's partner by S. M. Hotteinstein, the firm now being Norton & Hotteinstein. They do a large custom trade, dealing extensively in flour, feed, meal and grain, and also handle all kinds of agricultural implements necessary in that section. They own a traction engine and do threshing, silo-work and the like. Mr. Norton erected at Campbellville a house and store which he rented for a period of years to Mr. Merithew, but now he conducts a country store in the place. He is also postmaster, having served in that capacity for fifteen years. This post office was established in 1843 by the father of our subject's wife and John Campbell was the first postmaster. Mr. Norton owns his father's homestead which is conducted by his only son now living, Richard W., who married Lizzie Hotteinstein. George I., a second son, died at the age of seven years.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 134 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
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