Everson E. Norton - updated 3/22/2015

Based on a review of pension records: 

Everson E. Norton was born in 1830 in Orleans County, New York, the son of Daniel (b. 1792 in Connecticut) and Catherine (b. 1795 in New Jersey).

In 1850 Everson was working as a farmer and living with his family in Mt. Morris, Livingston County, New York. His older brother Anson worked as a constable in Mt. Morris and lived nearby with his wife Sarah.

Everson was married to New York native Elizabeth Chapman (1833-1863) on January 16, 1856, in Lima, Livingston County, New York, and they had at least two children: Charles Anson (b. in October 1856) and Elmer (b. 1863).

Everson and Elizabeth were living in New York in 1856 when their son was born but eventually moved to Michigan, along with or joining his brother Anson. By 1860 Everson was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son in Paris, Kent County; also living with them was 18-year-old Marion Norton. That same year Anson and his wife Sarah were living in Grand Rapids’ 5th Ward where Anson worked as a the County sheriff. (In 1859-60 Anson was residing at the corner of Sumner and Shawmut Streets on the west side of the Grand River in Grand Rapids.)

Everson stood 5’6” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 31 years old and was possibly living with his brother Anson, when he enlisted in Company A on May 13, 1861. (Company A was made up largely of men from Grand Rapids, and many of whom had served in various local militia units before the war, specifically the Valley City Guards, or VCG, under the command of Captain Samuel Judd, who would also command Company A.)

He was discharged on November 30, 1861, at the Regimental hospital near Fort Lyon, Virginia, for consumption “which has made its appearance since he entered the service.”

After he was discharged from the army Everson returned to Grand Rapids and may have been a member of Company E, 18th Regiment Veterans Reserve Corps (VRC), possibly stationed at Camp Lee, the draft rendezvous in Grand Rapids. In October of 1862 he applied for a pension (no. 3181), but the certificate was never granted.

Everson’s wife died at her father’s home in Lima, Livingston County, New York, on March 22, 1863, just three weeks after the birth of their son Elmer. Everson was a widower and living with Anson in Grand Rapids when he died, probably of consumption, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 1864. He was buried in Grand Rapids’ Oak Hill cemetery: section 10 lot 99. (There is no Elizabeth Norton buried in Oak Hill or apparently anywhere else in Grand Rapids.)

In November of 1864 Everson’s brother Anson apparently made an application on behalf of Everson’s minor children, which was granted (no. 49253).

In 1870 Charles was living with his uncle, Anson and his wife in Grand Rapids. It is uncertain what became of Elmer. (If he surived, it is possible he remained with his maternal grandparents in Lima, Livingston County, New York after his mother died in 1863.)