The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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positions of honor by his party he has refused them all, prefering (sic) to remain a private.  As a citizen of Norton has always been first and last in favor of all its improvements that have a tendency to build up at home or give us credit abroad. 

Dan Hart was born in Morrow county, Ohio, November 6. 1855.  He lived with his parents on the farm and attended the district school.  In 1873 he attended the high school at Mt. Gilead, Ohio; attended Normal school at Worthington, Ohio, in 1877 and at Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1879.  He was married to Lizzie Gregg of Knox county, Ohio, June 6, 1880; removed with his family to Missouri in the spring of 1882, where he farmed in summer and taught school in winter.  He removed with his family to Norton county, Kansas, in the spring of 1885 and settled on a claim in Solomon township, where he continued the business of farming and teaching until the winter of 1890.  His wife, formerly Lizzie Gregg, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, June 18, 1861.  Five childen have been born to them; four of whom yet survive, viz: Wm. B. born May,16, 1881; Mary born March 8, 1884; Leslie born April 4, 1887; Ethel born November 4, 1890; Howard was born July, 19, 1882 and died April 1886. 

Hart was a republican until 1890.  He has been a populist since that time.  He was nominated and elected clerk of the court in 1890 and was reelected in 1892.  He is regarded as one of the leaders of the conservative element of the populist party. 

holcomb.JPG (42296 bytes) Lewis J. Holcomb was born in Wyoming county, New York, March 6 ,1848.  He was raised on a farm and received a common school education.  He moved with his parents to southern Indiana in 1859.  He worked for two years on the Wabash and Erie canal.  He was married in 1869, to Caroline Fettic [Fetric ?].  Eight children have been born to them, seven of whom are living.  His eldest son, Claude, is married and lives in Garfield township.  He moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1871; and from there to Norton county in 1885.  Mr. Holcomb was an enthusiastic republican until 1890.  He has since been populist, standing high in its councils, and a speaker of considerable force. 

John T. Smith was born May 4, 1842, near Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio.  He enlisted in Company E. 13th Ohio infantry June 10, 1861.  First battle at Carnifax Ferry, West Virginia, second at Gauley Bridge, third at Colton's Mills, fourth at Shiloh, April, 7, 1862.  He was wounded in right foot and left breast on the 7th.  The next battle he was in was a three days, battle at Stone river.  Here he was wounded in the head and taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison via Atlanta, Georgia; was in Libby forty days when he was exchanged.  He was with a regiment four days at Chicamaugua, also at Mission ridge, with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign,

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