At 08:24 AM 6/10/98 -0400, Steven Manitt wrote: >Hi from Canada! > >I'm researching the PRATT family also of Bureau County. Have you run >across any Pratt family in your tree? Marrying neighbours was so common. > >Thanks, Jennifer Pratt-Manitt, Montreal >benjy@total.net > > Passing this one along for a twofold reason: The Robert referred to in it as "killed by a tree in Barren Grove" was my great great grandfather; also for Jennifer, look at the listing of children of George Norton...one of the girls married to a Pratt. George Norton George Norton, Neponset, was born March 24, 1817, in Brawby, Yorkshire, England. He is the son of John and Sarah (Noble) Norton, both natives of England. They were the parents of six children who reached maturity, viz; Robert, William, Thomas, George, our subject; Ann and Fannie, the last two deceased. The oldest child, Robert, was killed in Barren Grove by a tree falling on him; he left a wife Mary (Robinson) Norton, and nine children. John and Sarah (Noble) Norton came here November 1, 1840, and died here; they were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are well remembered by our old settlers. George Norton, the subject of this biography, came to Neponset in the spring of 1841. About 1844, he entered some land where he now resides, and to this he added from time to time till at present he has accumulated a handsome property of 320 acres of good land. His success in life may be attributed to his own perserverance and industry, as he started in life without any parental aid. Mr. Norton was married here, April 13, 1847, to Miss Ann Studley, born January 6, 1827 in England. She came to Morgan County, Ill. about 1836, with her parents, William and Annie (Chapman) Studley, who were the parents of eight children, and who were the first settlers in Neponset Township. Mrs. Ann Norton is the mother of ten children, viz; Mrs. Sarah A. Hood, Mrs. Eliza Sadler, Thomas N., Mrs. Emma Scaife, Levi G., Mrs. Addie J. Pratt, Moses J., Fannie E, Edwin F. and Irene C. Mr. Norton is identified with the Republican party and is interested in every good cause. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois; edited by H. C. Bradsby, World Publishing Co, Chicago, 1885 Page: (Biographies) p 608 Susie Martin-Rott Henry Co ILGenWeb Project CC http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilhenry/index.html Hillsborough Co FLGenWeb Project CC http://www.rootsweb.com/~flhillsb/hills.htm Muscatine Co IA Genealogy Home Page http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8613 Decatur Co IA Genealogy http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/7094 Rootbound Genealogy Research Services http://www.angelfire.com/il/Rootbound/research.html