Past & Present

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 child who died unnamed. Minerva was the daughter of the father's first marriage, the mother bearing the maiden name of Polly Foreman.

   James M. Norton was reared upon the old homestead farm and acquired his education in the country schools. He assisted in the work of field and meadow until seventeen years of age, when, in response to his country's call, he enlisted in defense of the Union cause on the 12th of September, 1861, for three years' service with Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry. He re- enlisted as a veteran in the same regiment on the 23d of January, 1864, and continued with the army until the close of hostilities. His first engagements with the enemy was at Wild Cat, Kentucky, and he afterward participated in several skirmishes in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap. Later he was at Thompson Station, Tennessee, and there the entire regiment was captured and sent to Libby prison, where Mr. Norton remained for thirty days, when he was released and exchanged. With his regiment he then returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and took part in the battle of Resaca, after which the command was under fire constantly for sixty-five days, or until the fall of Atlanta, Georgia. During this time the battles of Dallas Wood, Kenesaw mountain and Peach Tree Creek were fought. Following the capitulation of Atlanta the Thirty-third Indiana joined Sherman on his march to the sea and afterward participated in the engagements at Salisbury and Goldsboro, North Carolina, following which the regiment went to Washington, D. C., and took part in the grand review there, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. The regiment then proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, where the men were honorably discharged on the 21st of July, 1865.

   Mr. Norton returned home with a most creditable military record, having ever been faithful and loyal to his duty no matter where it called him. He was often in the thickest of the fight and he never wavered in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented. Again taking up his abode in Vermilion county, Illinois, he continued farming there until 1866, when he came to Pike county, where he afterward devoted his energies to general agricultural pursuits, but now he is practically living a retired life.

   On the 27th of May, 1869, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Ellerslie Foreman, a daughter of Peter and Cloe Foreman, who were among the early settlers of Pike county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been born five children, of whom four are living: James W., Winfield C., Guy W., William H. and Clyde A., but the last named died October 18, 1901. Mr. Norton is one of Milton's representative citizens, a man who in business relations has been found honorable and in social circles reliable. He is devoted to the welfare of his family, for whom he has provided a comfortable competence and in citizenship he is to-day as loyal to his country as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battle-fields of the south.

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                                       MARCELLUS MAYS

   Marcellus Mays, an enterprising farmer residing on section 31, Pittsfield township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, November 17, 1849, and is a son of A. and Rebecca J. (Davis) Mays. The father was born in Ohio and was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in the Buckeye state until 1864, when he came to Illinois, settling in Pittsfield township. He bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres and resided thereon until 1884, when he went to California, establishing his home near Ventura, where he now resides at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His wife also survives and is now seventy-seven years of age. He has retired from active farm life, but is still the owner of a large fruit farm in California, which is well situated and returns to him an excellent annual income. His political allegiance has long been given to the democracy and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. In the family were three children, of whom two are now living: Marcellus, of this review, and William Mays, who is a resident of California.

   Marcellus Mays was educated in the schools of Ohio and Illinois, and after putting aside his  

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