Individual Details

In 1837 the family is in Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York.
In 1840 the family is in Canadice, Ontario County, New York.
In 1841, Alanson's father died, which left him with the responsibility of taking care of his mother and his siblings. His mother would live with him until her death twenty-five years later. Alanson was a wool carder, the occupation in which he had been apprenticed at the age of 14. At the time, the wool manufacturing industry was carried out in almost every town to meet the needs of local residents. During certain periods of his life, he followed his occupation in the summer and taught school in the winter.
In February of 1843, Alanson, his wife and his mother, brother, and two of his sisters were baptized and confirmed members of the Latter Day Saints church. Alanson was the Branch President in Steuben County, New York.
Alanson set our for Nauvoo, Illinois in October 1845. The family traveled overland until the Allegheny River, then by flat boat to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then by steamboat to Nauvoo arriving on November 18, 1845.
In 1844 the family is in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa.
In 1849 the family is in Little Pigeon, Pottawotamie County, Iowa. Alanson was asked to establish a temporary community and farm to assist those traveling to Utah after the death of Joseph Smith. Little Pigeon, Iowa was the community which was a sister city to Mount Pisgah, Iowa a city where James Stapleton Lewis was. Lewis being a connection to many of the Nortons in later years.
In the 1850 Census the Norton family (Lanson/Lawson) is living in District 21, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The children include Harriet Emaline, Lucy Ellen, Martha Elmina, Althea Marie, and Alanson's mother Lucy. Also included is Charles Waterberry [Waterbury] who some researchers record as being adopted or fostered by the Norton's. Charles' sister Lucy lives a few families away with her husband Stephen Wight [White in the Census index] and another brother Haskell [listed as Hastle or Nastle in the index].
In the spring of 1851 the family heads west with the John G. Smith Camp, arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah on 17 September 1851 where he operated a carding machine.
In November 1851, they moved to Provo, Utah where Alanson went into a partnership with Shadrach Holdaway to set up a wool carding mill on the north bank of the Provo River. This was the beginning of the textile industry in Provo. In 1853 the carding machine was moved to 5th Street West in Salt Lake City. At about this time, Alanson accepted an appointment by Brigham Young to operate a carding mill in Sugar House.
In April of 1858 the family returns to Provo, Utah.
In 1859 and later, Alanson was apparently involved in the early settlement of Coalville, Summit County, Utah although from the birth locations and locations of Alanson's work it is clear that the family did not reside there permanently. Alanson's father-in-law, Andrew Bokman Williams, was also involved.
In the 1860 Census the Norton family (Lancen) is living in Provo, Utah County, Utah. Along with his wife Julia are children Martha, Althea M., Sarah M. and Luella along with Alanson's mother Lucy.
By 1862 the family left Provo to return to Salt Lake City in response to Brigham Young's request for Alanson to take charge of the carding mill in City Creek Canyon. This did not work out because of the problems in controlling the water during the high water season. The mill was then moved back to Sugar House.
By 1865 Alanson moved to Coalville, Summit County, Utah (where so many members of the extended Lewis family lived) to farm on land he obtained early. The Nortons and the William were among the original pioneering families in Coalville.
In 1867 Alanson accepted a position at Brigham City at a woolen factory.
In the 1870 Census the family is living in Brigham City. The children include Luella, Delinda, William, Erminnie, and Ida Eleanor. Also living with them are two of Julia's siblings; Amos Williams and Harriet L. Williams. Also, Phillip Lewis, the son of David and Mary Gibson Lewis as Mary died in 1863.
In 1872 began work at a small wool processing facility in Logan, Cache County, Utah where he moved both his families.
By 1876 Alanson removed the family from Logan as a result of an accident and broken leg and settled in Brigham City, Utah.
Early in 1877 he moved his families to West Jordan, south of Salt Lake City where he operated another wool factory.
In the fall of 1878 Alanson and family return to Brigham City.
In the 1880 Census, Alanson is living with both his families. The Maren family is in Brigham City and the Julia family is in Wanship, Summit County, Utah.
The federal government began prosecuting men who had taken plural wives. Several left Brigham City and moved to the Bear Lake area in an effort to keep families together and to avoid imprisonment. However, Alan did serve a prison sentence for the crime of cohabitation. Desert News, March 27, 1880, "Alanson Norton of Box Elder released from the penitentiary. He served a term of imprisonment for living with his wives plus 30 days additional for fine."
By 1900 Alanson and Julia Norton family moved to Portneuf Precinct, McCammon Bannock County, Idaho. The census indicates that Julia had 12 children, 9 surviving. Residing there are children Charles, Lemuel, Julia's father Andrew Williams, Eathen Cutler and his wife Harriet (Julia's sister) and their two daughters.
One recording of Alanson's death date is 20 August 1902.

Michael A. Peterson holds a biography on Alanson and family which is too large to include in this database. Contact him for a copy.

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Birth	26 Mar 1814	Granville, Washington County, New York
Marriage	Apr 1836	Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York - Sarah (Sally) Marie FREEMAN
Baptism	Feb 1843
Marriage	26 Sep 1855	Sugar House Ward, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah - Julia Ann WILLIAMS
Marriage	5 Feb 1872	Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah - Maren JENSEN
Burial	Aug 1904	Norton Cemetery, McCommon, Bannock County, Idaho
Death	19 Aug 1904	McCommon, Bannock County, Idaho

Spouse	Sarah (Sally) Marie FREEMAN (1817 - 1852)
Child	Charles WATERBURY (1836 - 1852)
Child	Harriet Emaline (Emmeline) NORTON (1837 - 1920)
Child	Lucy Ellen NORTON (1840 - 1915)
Child	Mary Eliza NORTON (1842 - 1844)
Child	Emma Louisa NORTON (1844 - 1846)
Child	Martha Elmina NORTON (1846 - 1885)
Child	Althea Maria NORTON (1849 - 1934)
Child	Sarah Aldura NORTON (1852 - 1923)

Spouse	Julia Ann WILLIAMS (1839 - 1911)
Child	Julia Ann Lucena NORTON (1856 - 1857)
Child	Luella Abigail NORTON (1859 - 1927)
Child	Delinda Amelia NORTON (1861 - 1902)
Child	Alanson NORTON (1863 - 1865)
Child	William Andrew NORTON (1865 - 1927)
Child	Erminnie Viletta NORTON (1868 - 1935)
Child	Ida Eleanor NORTON (1870 - 1902)
Child	Anna May NORTON (1873 - 1949)
Child	Charles Ethan NORTON (1876 - 1949)
Child	George B. NORTON (1878 - 1880)
Child	Clara Graves NORTON (1881 - 1960)
Child	Lemuel NORTON (1883 - 1961)

Spouse	Maren JENSEN (1846 - )
Child	Elvin J. NORTON (1877 - )
Child	Joseph Asa NORTON (1882 - )

Father	Allen NORTON ( - 1841)
Mother	Lucy WILKERSON ( - 1866)
Sibling	Charles NORTON ( - 1864)

Notes