The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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county with his father when he was 19 years old and has resided here continuously ever since.  After Judge Gibbon died Bert bought his claim at administrator's sale and used his homestead rights on it.  He was married December 6, 1875, in Vernon county, Wisconsin, to Electa A. Williams; they have had four children, one dead and three living.  Bert takes an active part in the adjustment of all public questions; was the Populist nominee for county clerk in 1891, but was defeated by Jesse S. Wright.  He is an active member of the Christian church.  He and his wife are always ready to lend a helping hand in caring for the sick and participating in all other charitable and benevolent work.  Among his many virtues is the one that he never tasted intoxicating liquors.  But few men of his age can truthfully say as much.  He owns a farm three miles east of Norton which is occupied by a tenant: he resides in Norton at this time and is employed in the implement business by Kimmell & Marsh.  He was master of the Masonic lodge in 1892, and again in 1893.  In 1891 he represented this district in the national convention at Cincinnati when the Peoples party was organized.

The remaining three children of Richard Williams are dead: Sallie born July 13, 1841, died when a child.  Lewis N. born May 26, 1843, died before they came to Kansas.  Thomas Austin, born April 20, 1858; he came here with his parents but shortly after went to Brown county to attend school where he died.

grant_wm.JPG (33518 bytes) William Grant was born in Upper Canada at a place called Smith's Falls Oct 31, 1831.  When he was four years old his parents moved to Montgomery county, New York, and in 1840 to Henry county, Illinois.  In the spring of 1852 accompanied by his younger brother John he went across the plains to California with an ox team, remained there until November 1866, when he returned home by the way of Nicaraugua (sic) and New York, arriving at home in January 1867; remained in Illinois until August 1873; came to Norton county and settled on Cactus Creek and has resided there ever since.  He was married in Henry county, Illinois January 11, 1869, to Permelia E. Straight who was born December 9, 1850.  They have four children, two boys and two girls; the boys were born in Illinois, the girls in Kansas: grant_d.JPG (35375 bytes) Dwight W. their eldest son, was born February 19, 1870.  He lost his left arm by accidentally shooting himself while in Utah July 20, 1850.  As soon as he could travel he came home.  When he was 17 years old he became a member of the Methodist church, took up the ministry in 1889, was elected county clerk on the Populist ticket in the fall of 1893.

John E. was born November 20, 1871; he was married November 15, 1891, to Ina M. Heacock; they have one child and reside in Grant township.

Grant's two daughters Lulu and Letty were born 1877 and 1885, respectively: Letty lives at home with her parents, Lulu is acting as deputy county clerk in the office of her brother.  When Grant settled on Cactus Creek his only neighbors

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