Frederick D. Norton, ironmaster, Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio, was born in Richmond, Virginia May 13, 1821. His parents were Thomas Norton and Mary Mower, both natives of Pennsylvania. Thomas Norton was a brass founder in Frankfort, Pennsylvania, and died in 1823 at the age of thirty-three years.
Our subject enjoyed very meager educational facilities. At the age of nine years, he began working in the nail factory at Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where his mother resided. In this factory, he continued to work until he reached the age of fifteen years.
At this trade, he worked till 1853, being employed at Pittsburgh from 1836 to 1842; at Rapid Forge, Ross county, Ohio, for about eighteen months; at Norristown, Pennsylvania, till 1844; at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, till 1846; and at Wheeling, West Virginia, till 1849.
Built the Bellemont Nail Works
At this time, he became one of a company to build the Bellemont Nail Works of Wheeling. Having worked for four years in this establishment, Mr. Norton was elected manager, running under Norton, Atchison & Co.
These works were, at that time, among the most extensive in the United States, the largest in Wheeling, and under Mr. Norton’s management, were very successful. In 1863, he sold out his interest here and removed to Ironton, where he has since continued to reside except for a short interval.
Mr. Norton and his brothers, George and Edward M. Norton, and L. T. Dean, with sixteen others, bought the Bellefont Iron Works, at this point, in 1863. Mr. Norton was the largest stockholder and was immediately elected company manager. In 1865, he resigned from his position as manager and moved to Wheeling.
Returned to Ironton
Here he became a stockholder in the Benwood Iron Works, taking charge of the furnace department, and until 1857 [sic 1867], officiated as manager of this furnace. He then returned to Ironton and superintended the building of the Belfont Furnace, owned by the Belfont Iron Works Company. Upon its completion in 1868, he was made manager of the furnace, a position we filled with success until 1872, when he retired to accept the company’s presidency, held by his brother.
Sarah Furnace
The property of this company consists of a blast furnace, a rolling mill, a nail factory, and ore and coal mines, all of which are operated by them. They employ in all departments over five hundred hands and produce an average of two hundred thousand kegs of nails annually. The business has had a remarkable period of prosperity, and its stock today stands above par.
The firm’s financial status is excellent, and the very profitable business this company has conducted has given it rank with any similar establishment in the West. The officers, at present, are F. D. Norton, president; L. T. Dean, vice-president; B. H. Burr, secretary, and treasurer.
Was a Staunch Republican
Mr. Norton has always been a staunch adherent to the principles of the Republican party. Although he has mingled little in political contests, he has always been prompt and active in exercising the privileges of a voter. He has served on the board of trustees of the Ironton Water Works and for several terms as a member of the Wheeling city council.
He married, in 1845, Nancy Williamson of Pittsburgh and has two sons living. Jesse, the oldest son, a Swarthmore College and Harvard University graduate, is attending Harvard Law School. Howard is a student at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.
Mr. Norton is a man of remarkably modest and unassuming manners and a reticent disposition. He is strictly a self-made man, and by the efforts of his inherent abilities, supplemented by the excellent business qualities of those associated with him, he has reached his present position as one of the leading men, not only in Lawrence county but in the iron industry of Ohio.
In the building up of which he has played such a prominent part, the business has developed into one of the country’s largest establishments of its kind. His remarkable success has arisen from his energy, pluck, and indomitable perseverance, together with a shrewdness that has shown itself not only in his enterprises but in the advancement and growth of the whole city.
He is strictly moral in habits, and to all these characteristics, he superadds the bearing and deportment of a courteous gentleman.
Biographical Cyclopaedia and Portrait Gallery…
Obituary of F. D. Norton
IR December 17, 1891 – Death of F. D. Norton.
Another of the prominent ironmen of this region has breathed his last. F. D. Norton died last night, the 15th, at 10:30, after a sickness of about two weeks. The grip was the immediate cause of his death, and he was a typical case. For four or five days, it was known that the chances of his recovery were all against him, but it was not thought that death would come so soon.
He had been lying quietly for some time, speaking only in a whisper and almost failing to recognize anyone, when he turned over and almost instantly expired. It was a quiet, painless death.
Born in Richmond
Frederick Drake Norton was born in Richmond, Va., on May 13, 1821, and was in his 71st year. When he was a child, he came to Pennsylvania and was thrown early on his resources because of his father’s death. He began working in a nail factory in Phoenixville, Penn. when he was only nine years old, where his mother lived.
Here he worked until he was 15 years old when he went to Pittsburg, where he labored at his trade till 1842; then he moved successively to Rapid Forge, Ross county, Ohio, where he ran a one-machine nail mill with water power; thence to Norristown, Pa., Brownville, Pa., and Wheeling, W. Va., at which latter place he became one of the founders of the Belmont mill, which he managed for several years. This was one of the largest establishments in the country.
He Bought Old Star Mill
In 1863, he, in connection with his brothers, Col. E. M. and Capt. George W. Norton and twelve others bought the old Star nail mill at Ironton, which name they changed to Belfont Iron Works. F. D. Norton moved here and was the manager of the mill. He bought the “Means farm” at Hanging Rock and lived there for two years when he resigned from his place at Belfont and returned to Wheeling.
He became a stockholder in Benwood mill and was chosen as the furnace manager. In 1867 he returned to Ironton to build and take charge of the Belfont furnace, and he has lived here ever since. He managed the furnace from 1868 till 1872, when he resigned from his position to accept that of President of the Belfont Iron Works Co., which he held until 1865, when he retired from active business.
Married to Nancy Williamson
He was married on November 11, 1845, at Pittsburg, to Miss Nancy Williamson when he worked at Brownsville. They have had four children, all boys, two of whom died in infancy. The other two are Jesse R. and Howard Norton, esteemed and popular young men everybody knows. Mrs. Norton survives her husband but, sad to relate, is very sick at present.
She and her husband were attacked with a grip at the same time. She is improving, but amid the dark affliction that has come upon her, she is suffering more than words can express.
Mr. Norton was one of our most honored citizens. Everybody held him in high regard. He was a modest, unassuming man but possessed a native intelligence that made him interesting. His ideas of right and justice were clear, and he has ever sought to be honorable and generous with all people. He was a man of tender heart, inclined to overlook the failings of others and administer to their comfort. His heart was always warm toward others, and many an unfortunate one has reason to bless his memory.
As a businessman, he was prompt and clear-headed. Ironton owes him and his brothers very much for the importance it has attained in the business world. They took hold of dead concern, brought it to life, made it a grand property, added to the town’s citizenship, and paid the community millions of dollars. The deceased was that rare combination – a good mechanic and businessman. Success always smiled upon him.
Was a Union Man
In the early days of the war, he lived at Wheeling and was a pronounced union man. He did much to save that state for the Union. In 1860, he was a delegate to the national convention that nominated Lincoln to the presidency. While living in Wheeling, he served for several years as a member of the City Council, and in Ironton, when the Water Works was built in 1869, he was placed on the Board of Trustees, where he served for some years. But he never left the quiet ways of private life, which he loved so well, except for a pure sense of duty.
The memory of our dear departed friend will dwell brightly in all hearts. His friendly salutations and happy smile will be missed. Through a slight debility in his hearing, he might have been considered distant by some, but to those that knew him well, he was as sweet as summer. He took hopeful views of things and shed about him a genial radiance. The whole community mourns because they will see him no more.
The funeral will take place from the residence, on Friday afternoon, at 2 o’clock.
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