Alanson Norton was born in Granville, New York, on the 26th of March 1814, the son of Allen Norton and Lucy Wilkinson Norton. His grandfather was Josiah Norton and his grandmother was Margaret Bennett Norton. Alanson had a very limited educational opportunities, but made the best of what he had. Like all children of his time in a frontier home, his studies consisted of reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. Common textbooks in these subjects, along with the Bible and Poor Richard's Almanac, were the extent of his library facilities. He was eager to learn and an excellent student.

As he grew older, he took up other studies, including French and German. Only fragmentary pictures of Alanson's early life can be given. His childhood experiences were those of the American pioneer home of a century ago. As he grew into boyhood he may be thought of as assuming his responsibilities in the tasks and chores about the home. It is sage to say that wen free to do so, he might be found fishing in the streams of his neighborhood or gathering nuts and berries in season. He was told about the great flocks of passenger pigeons darkening the skies in their migrations, and how he could stand on the top of a hill and bring some of them down with a pole in their swift flight.

The dwelling place in which he spent some of his early years as a spacious one-room cabin, made to serve all purposes of simple home. The vaulted space under one end of the roof was utilized for a large bin or loft built from wall to wall, and faced at the open end with two or three planks nailed on edge to serve a kind of breastwork to keep articles stored in the loft from falling down. This suspended apartment was reached by way of a ladder permanently fixed on the wall of the cabin; and it served as a convenient storage lace for choice grains, dried fruits and vegetables, and odds and ends generally. Even a bed or two could be crowded into the gallery to meet increasing needs of the family for sleeping quarters. The loft was favorite retreat for the children as soon as they wre large enough to climb up and down without danger. It was the scene of frequent games and frolics and tricks.

On winter evenings around the fireplace below, the children could often be found eating nuts or parched corn, and entertaining themselves with contests in spelling, reading, or arithmetic. Alanson has told how one of his sisters amused the group with her way of reading from the almanac, disregarding all punctuation and pauses in the short, choppy lines, and mixing Poor Richard's maxims in absurd and meaningless combinations. At Christmas their celebrations were simple and homemade. One important delicacy which the children expected and received each Christmas was a glistening sugar egg. During the maple sugar season each year their mother would made these confections by carefully emptying a few egg-shells through small holes in the ends, and filling the shells with maple syrup well boiled down and ready for cooling and congealing into sugar.

In all of his accounts of his early life, Alanson has portrayed a free, active, and wholesome childhood. Sometime before 1836, Alanson had moved to Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York. Here at the age of twenty-two, Alanson married Sarah Marie Freeman, who was born in Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York on April 24th, 1817. They were parents of seven daughters. Their first daughter, Harriett Emeline, was born in Clymer, April 22, 1837. From Clymer they moved to Ontario County, and later to Prattsburg, Steuben County, New York, where their second daughter, Lucy Ellen, was born April 1, 1840. Their third and fourth daughters –Mary Eliza, born July 11, 1842, and Emma Louisa, born March 10—both died in infancy. In 1842 Allen Norton died. This event left Alanson largely responsible for the care of his mother, brother, and two sisters. His mother lived with him until her death twenty-five years later.

Alanson was a wool carder and clothier, in which occupation he was apprenticed in his early youth. In his day, the woolen manufacturing industry was carried on in nearly every settlement to meet ordinary local needs. Alanson's work was to take the wool and make it up into broadcloth, fullcloth, and various kinds of flannels and dress goods. This occupied his time during the Summer. Having had a good education for his time, he taught school in the winter. Alanson and his family belonged to the Methodist church; he was a diligent student of the Bible and was active in his church as a class leader. He often discussed religious questions with his intimate friend and brother-in-law, Parley Cutler, who married his wife's sister. They were not satisfied with the common religious teachings of their time and earnestly hoped for a better plan of worship and church organization.

For some years they had heard more or less about Joseph Smith, the Mormons, and the Book of Mormon, but it was not until about 1840 that the new religion received much attention among them. January 1843, Mormon missionaries came into their neighborhood. Chief among these was Luman Heath and his wife Louisa Young Heath, a niece of Brigham Young. From the first meeting he attended, Alanson was tremendously impressed by Luman Heath's testimony. He invited the missionaries to hold meetings at his home and became an earnest investigator of the new religion.

In February, 1843, he and his wife, together with his mother, brother and two sisters were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Parley Cutler and his family joined the church at the same time. On March 2nd, following, Alanson was ordained a Priest under the hands of Elder Heath, Gilbert Belknap and Harvey Redfield, and in August of the same year he was ordained an Elder by Luman Heath and Frederick Squires. In the spring of 1844, he was appointed president of the Branch and set apart to travel and preach in the vicinity as circumstances would permit. In this calling he labored diligently for a year and a half, baptizing many converts, and meeting with the opposition and abuses experienced by early missionaries of the church. On May 20, 1845 his brother Charles was married to Fanny Elizabeth Hiscock in Prattsburg, Steuben County, New York.

Like all converts in the early days, Alanson, his family and the members of his Branch were dominated with the desire to move to the headquarters of the Church. In the early fall of 1845, Alanson organized his branch for the journey, and in October set out with the branch for Nauvoo. They traveled overland until they reached the headwaters of the Allegheny River where Alanson had hired a flat boat. They then floated 400 miles to Pittsburgh. There they secured passage and arrived at Nauvoo on November 18,1845. Alanson lived in Nauvoo for five months. He had cast his lot with the main body of the Church members, determined to share with them whatever their fortunes might be. His ultimate hope was for peace and freedom of religious worship. In the unrest and insecurity which he found, he could make only temporary provision for his family. Nauvoo was in the midst of the crisis following the assassination of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Relentless opposition to the Mormon people was at its height on every side. Mass meetings held in surrounding towns had made uncompromising demands that the Mormons should leave the state. Frequent acts of depredation against them occurred in the vicinity. Houses were burned and acts of personal violence committed. The Church leaders had issued a public statement declaring the intention of the Mormon people to leave in the spring and asking for forbearance and cooperation on the part of their neighbors. The people of Nauvoo were in much apprehension and great activity, strenuously preparing for the move westward. The migration started in February, 1846, when hundreds of families crossed the Mississippi on the ice.

During the next few months the movement continued as rapidly as the people could leave. In January 1846, Alanson was ordained a Seventy and made a member of the Third Quorum. In April he left Nauvoo with his family, including his mother, and started for the west. During the next four years he lived in the temporary settlements of the Latter-day Saints, devoting his time where it could be most advantageously employed in the interest of the migrating people. Aside from his Church work, in which he was very active, his chief occupation was running wool cleaning and carding machines, making the wool into rolls preparatory for spinning and weaving. He also taught school part of the time. His first stop was in Van Buren County, Iowa. It was probably here his daughter Martha was born, September 12, 1846.

In August, 1847, he moved on to Winter quarters where he remained until the following January. Then he returned to Iowa and lived for more than two years in Potawatamie County. In the spring of 1849, he was made Bishop of the Farmersville Branch and presided here for a short time. In the fall of that year he was at Little Pigeon where his daughter Althea Marie was born, November 27, 1949. In the spring of 1850, he was appointed president's counselor in that region and assigned to travel and preach among the settlements for a year. In the spring of 1851, the family prepared to abandon their temporary home and cross the great plains. In May, they left Kanesville, Iowas, as part of the John G. Smith Company. This company was given the special duty of blazing a new trail that would avoid the high flood waters of the larger streams which had given the earlier companies much trouble in crossing. Alanson was made clerk of the first division of this company. Their course led them northeasterly about two hundred miles along the divide between the Missouri and Elk Horn Rivers. They they turned west and crossed the Elk Horn.

From this point they continued their course over numerous sand hills and across sloughs which they forded or bridged with grass and brush. Their progress was slow but steady. It was not interrupted by any difficulties with the Indians. At last they came to the established pioneer trail, which they followed for the remainder of the journey. They reached Great Salt Lake City on September 17, 1851. Alanson went to work at once operating a carding machine, but soon decided to move to Provo, at which place he arrived with his family in November, 1851. In Provo Alanson took advantage of an opportunity to go into partnership with Shadrach Holdaway in setting up a wool carding mill on the north bank of Provo River.

From the beginning of its operation the mill proved to be a very useful asset of the new community. The mill cleaned and carded the wool and made it into rolls; then the housewives continued the manufacturing process with their spinning wheels and looms. In 1853, the carding machinery was moved into the city and installed in a two-story adobe building on what is now 5th West Street. In its new location the mill increased its output, and supplied rolls and batting to the homes where weaving became an important activity.

Soon after reaching Provo and even before his new business was well established, Alanson lost his wife who had been his companion through nearly sixteen years of changing scenes and strenuous experiences. On January 16, 1852, the seventh daughter, Aldura, was born. Six days later, January 22, the mother died at the age of 34. She was buried in Provo. The home care of the five girls, ranging in age from six days to fourteen years, now rested upon the grandmother. There was also in the family at this time an adopted son, Charles Waterbury. He was drowned in Provo River in June, 1853, at the age of 17. It was the high water season and he was trying to cross the stream on horseback. It so happened a few days later, that Alanson narrowly escaped drowning in the same stream. He was assisting a woman to cross on a log from one bank to a partly constructed bridge. Both of them fell into the raging current, and the woman, Mrs. Mary Benson, was drowned. 

While he lived in Provo, Alanson was active in the community affairs of the new settlement. In the spring of 1853, he was elected alderman in the City Council. He thus became a member of the second council of the new city, which had been chartered by the legislature two years before. The aldermen, in addition to holding full powers as members of the City Council, were justices of the peace, and were associate justices of the municipal court when called together as a court by the mayor, who was the chief justice. This second council had many problems to deal with incident tot he development of the frontier community. Policemen were appointed for the different wards. Regulations were made for the construction of irrigation ditches, and for the protection of public roads from being flooded by irrigation water. Penalties were fixed for petty thievery in vegetable gardens, and for disturbing lawful public and religious gatherings. The city cemetery was located on its present site, terminating burials on temporary grave yards. A system of property taxation was worked out for the support of the city government. School districts were empowered to levy and collect taxes for the erection of school houses.

The record shows that Alanson was active on a number of committees appointed to consider these matters. The Walker Indian War, which broke out in 1853, gave the council special problems. Emergency ordinances were passed to provide against attacks by the Indians. The city was placed under martial law and available men were called to military duty for the protection of the city. Special provision was made for guarding and caring for the crops and other property of those who had gone to the settlements farther south to fight in the war. After peace was restored, it was decided to build a new wall around the main part of the city as a precaution against future outbreaks. It was necessary for the settlers to assume the burden of building the wall in addition to their ordinary obligations of paying taxes and working on public roads and water ditches. It is related that in the consideration of plans for building the wall, it was partly agreed that the work should be divided equally among the settlers. Some men, with an eye to future returns, had acquired a number of vacant lots, to be sold to settlers and the population should increase.

Alanson urged that those who were holding more lots than they could use should build a larger proportion of the fort wall. He proposed that if they did not wish to do this, they might relinquish their claims to vacant lots in favor of young men, who would be glad to have the lots and to assume the responsibility of wall building which went with them. The matter became an issue of lively discussion, and was referred to Pres. Young. The President went to Provo and called a public meeting to decide the question. After the plan was presented, Alanson Norton was asked to defend his proposition. Then the President called for an expression of the assembly by vote, which was overwhelmingly in favor of the Norton plan. The final decision seems to have been a compromise, by which each man was to build a certain portion of the wall, and lot owners were required to do extra work. Much of the proposed wall was actually built, but the fortification was never completed because the need for it disappeared as the city grew in population and more friendly relations with the Indians were established.

In the fall of 1853 Alanson made first counselor to Bishop Elias H. Blackburn in the 3rd Ward of Provo. He served in this capacity for two and one-half years. After three or four years in the woolen manufacturing business in Provo, Alanson accepted an appointment by President Brigham Young to operate a carding mill in Sugar House south of Salt Lake City. He left his children with his mother at their home in Provo. This arrangement made it necessary for him to be away from his family most of the time. At the Sugar House he stayed at the home of Andrew Williams, there he became acquainted with the daughter, Julie Ann Williams, whom he married in 1856. Just before his marriage he visited his family in Provo and told his younger children that the next time he visited them he would bring them a mother. This pleased them very much. He told them that if they would be good to her, she would be good to them.

In later life the children testified how completely this promise was fulfilled and how well the young mother discharged her difficult task. Martha was then ten years old, Althea was seven, and Aldura was four. Lucy was married about this time, and Emeline had been married a year to two before. In the spring of 1856, Alanson moved his family to Sugarhouse, where he was still employed in the wool working plant. Julia's first child, Lucina, was born in 1857. She died in infancy. About this time reports came that Johnston's army was approaching the territory. The plans of the people to leave Salt Lake City and the northern settlements made it necessary for Alanson to give up his work in Sugar House, and he returned to Provo in April, 1858, two months before the arrival of the army.

Back again in Provo Alanson continued in the woolen manufacturing business and reestablished himself in the life of the community. That fall the Forty-fifth Quorum of the Seventy was organized in Provo, and on October 17, 1858, Alanson Norton was made of the quorum presidents. In February, 1861, Alanson was again elected an alderman in the Provo City Council The Council records make frequent references to his activity. He took his turn in presiding at meetings, offering prayer, and accepting important assignments. He is mentioned as chairman of the Committee on Revenue and as helping in formulating an ordinance pertaining to the work and responsibility of the assessor and collector. He served on the Council until February 11, 1862, when he resigned in preparation for removing to Salt Lake City. The Council minutes of that date include a resolution of appreciation for his services. While the family lived in Provo, Julia's second daughter, Luella Abigail, was born, April 8, 1859. Delinda Amelia was born March 31, 1862. This was about the time when the family left Provo for Salt Lake City in response to a request by President Young for Alanson to take charge of a carding mill in City Creek Canyon.

This location of the mill did not prove satisfactory because of the difficulty of controlling the stream in the high water season. On this account the machinery was moved back to Sugar House. Ten daughters had now been born in the Norton family, and birth of the first son, Alanson, April 4, 1863, was greeted with unusual interest. The joy of the family, however, was soon followed by disappointment and sorrow, for the child died in his second year. He was buried in Salt Lake City. The next move was to the south of Parley's Canyon. The carding machinery was set up on the stream there and the Norton Family lived nearby in a fort built in the early days by Reramorz Little, as protection against the Indians. Later the family occupied a house not far away.

While they were living at this place, the brother, Charles Norton, died at Alanson's home. Charles had been living in Coalville, but came to his brother for assistance and care in what proved to be his last illlness. His death is remembered by the older children as the occasion of great sorrow. President Young showed his kindness and sympathy, and sent his carriage to convey the family to Salt Lake City, where Charles was buried. Early in 1865, Alanson decided to try farming. He took his family to Coalville where he had procured some farm land two or three years before. At Coalville he was elected Justice of the Peace. This position, which ordinarily is of little importance in a small community, gave Alanson unusual responsibility. Cattle thieves were operating from hideouts in the mountains and stealing cattle from the public range. They killed and dressed the animals and sold the meat to overland immigrants and distant settlers.

Some local residents were suspected of being in league with the cattle thieves, and there was considerable turmoil in the community. As a climax in the lawless situation a man was secretly killed one night in Coalville , and his body was found on the street the next morning. Alanson was frequently called upon to try law violators, and to swear in deputy officers to make arrests and serve as special guards. Alanson became prominent in other ways. He was orator of the day in a Fourth of July celebration which was carried out in a more elaborate manner than might be expected in a small settlement. A carriage drawn by four horses conveyed him at the head of the procession from his home to the public hall.

While Alanson was living in Coalville, his daughters Martha and Althea were married. Here also the family rejoiced in the birth of another son, William Andrew, on August 8, 1865. In September 1866, the grandmother, Lucy Wilkinson Norton, died. She had been with her son, Alanson, practically all his life up to this time, and had been a great help to him in his home. Her death was a severe blow to him and his family. She was buried in Coalville. In 1867 Apostle Lorenzo Snow invited Alanson to go to Brigham City and take charge of the woolen factory then in course of construction at that place. Alanson accepted the position and moved his family to Brigham City. His first important assignment in his new position was to go east and purchase machinery for the factory. 

With some thousands of dollars in a concealed belt, he went to New York and other eastern points and made the purchases. He supervised the installation of the machinery and then had charge of the factory for a few years. Heretofore the mills operated by Alanson in Utah were limited in their work chiefly to wool cleaning and carding. The factory in Brigham was equipped for the complete process of cleaning and scouring the wool, carding, spinning, and weaving. This factory, therefore, gave Alanson the first opportunity he had had since leaving New York for carrying the wool manufacturing work through the complete process from raw material to finished product.

At Brigham City two daughters were born – Erminnie Viletta on January 1, 1868, and Ida Eleanor on April 17, 1870. In 1869 a missionary call came to Alanson. The newspaper report of the October General Conference includes his name in a list of men called on short missions to the Eastern States. Some time later he responded to this call. He labored in the state of Illinois and Iowas. His experiences were similar to those of other early missionaries. While he encountered much opposition, he made friends and baptized converts to the Church. 

While operating the woolen factory, he became acquainted with Maren Jensen Cutler, the wife of Sheldon B.Cutler, his nephew and son of his brother-in-law Parley Cutler, who joined the Church with him in New York. Sheldon had died in 1870 and his widow, Maren, was later employed in the factory. Their acquaintance grew into mutual attachment, and they were married in 1872 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. From this time on he had the responsibility of two families. Maren lived a short distance north of Brigham City on a little farm left by her first husband. She had three small sons, John, Parley, and Andrew, born during her first marriage. 

Shortly after this, Alanson resigned his position with the woolen factory in Brigham City and was employed to run a small plant of wool-working machinery in Logan. He moved both of his families to Logan with him in the fall of 1872. Here Annie May, Julia's daughter, was born May 1873. At Logan Alanson met with a serious accident and suffered a broken leg. As a result of this setback and other difficulties, he gave up his work in Logan and returned to Brigham City in 1873. For the next few years he was engaged chiefly in farming. On January 6, 1876, Julia's third son, Charles Ethan, was born in Brigham city, and exactly one year later –January 6, 1877 –Maren's son, Elvin Jensen, was born on the little farm north of Brigham.

Early in 1877 Alanson moved his families again, this time to West Jordan, south of Salt Lake City, where he operated another plant of wool-working machinery. Here he renewed acquaintances of earlier days, and enjoyed again, for a brief time, the association and counsel of President Brigham Young, who died in August, 1877. Shortly before his death, President Young visited the Norton home and ate dinner with the family. Julia's son George was born at West Jordan, June 11, 1878. In the fall of 1878 Alanson returned with his families to Brigham City. Alanson was now over sixty years of age. Nearly all his life he had worked in the wool manufacturing business. Farming had been a secondary occupation for him. But now, with the completion of the transcontinental railroad, goods were shipped in from the east in abundance and local manufacturing declined. In spite of his age, he was obliged to enter into farming and other occupations to support his numerous family. 

It was arranged that Maren and family would return to her little farm north of Brigham, while the father with Julia's family undertook to make a living elsewhere. The first undertaking was to start a dry farm at Deweyville. Meeting with little success in this enterprise, he accepted, int eh spring of 1880, an invitation from his son-in-law, Thomas Nixon, to move to Wanship in Summit County. As he journeyed up Weber Canyon east of Ogden, one of the wagons tipped off a dugway, and a load of his household goods was lost in Weber River. At Wanship he worked part of the time on the Nixon farm. He was also employed on teamwork, hauling coal from Coalville to Park City, and unloading ties from cars and distributing them along grades for railroad construction at Echo. 

While the family lived in Waship, Julia's son George died in his third year. He was taken to Salt Lake City for burial. In 1881 the family was living again in Brigham City. Clara Grace, Julia's youngest daughter, was born in Brigham on July 2, 1881. About this time the father secured employment for a few months running a wool carding machine in Ogden. The family remained in Brigham. On February 14, 1882, Maren's youngest son, Joseph Asa, was born on his mother's farm. The following summer the father rented the Jones farm about a mile north of Maren's home. Julia and her family lived on the Homes place until after the fall crops were gatherd, when they moved back to the dry lands of Deweyville.

These were difficult years. Alanson had many things to learn about farming; and since the best lands had been taken, he was obliged to gain his experience on dry farms and other land difficult to manage and not very productive. After remaining for a short time at Deweyville, he filed upon land at the warm springs, north of Honeyville. Here Lemuel Julia's youngest son, was born on May 28, 1883. Lemuel is the youngest of Alanson Norton's twenty-one children. Shortly after Lemuel's birth, Alanson, with Julia's family, moved to Mink Creek in Idaho, where he operated a saw mill for one season. In the fall of the year he was offered the Mink Creek School and, although he had not taught school since he left Iowa, more than thirty years before, he qualified for a certificate and conducted the school through the winter.

In the spring of 1884, the father took Julia's family back to the warm springs near Honeyville. Here the family lived for three or four years. Soon after returning to the springs, Alanson was called to the funeral of his daughter, Martha, who died at Mink Creek, June 15, 1885. Martha was the first of the Norton children who died after reaching maturity. She was the wife of Thomas Wilde,and the mother of six surviving children. T here were darker days ahead. The land which the family occupied at the Springs was claimed by the railroad as part of the Government grant when the transcontinental line was constructed. The father's first real venture in farming was thus doomed to disappointment. He had filed under the homestead act with only nominal cost. He must now face the expense of a law suite at best; and if he lost, he would have to pay the railroad fro the land or move off. Under the circumstances he relinquished his claim to a neighbor, receiving very little for his relinquishment because of the uncertainty of the title.

He then moved into Honeyville, and tried in different ways to make a living. He hauled salt from Plain City and traded it to farmers for wheat. He procured a second-hand loom and did carpet weaving in the home. Occasionally he did team work for farmers and others.

In the midst of these difficulties another problem confronted the family. Laws against plural marriage had recently been passed by the national Congress, and deputy marshals were invading Mormon communities, armed with warrants for the arrest of men who had more than one wife. Some of the men left the country or went into hiding to avoid arrest. But Alanson decided he would go about his affairs in a quiet way, without any attempt to conceal himself. He was cautious about appearing in public or among strangers with his second family, but he did not neglect them. He frequently went to the little farm near Brigham, as need arose for his help in planting, cultivating, and gathering the crops. Maren was still there with her two Norton boys. The Cutler boys had now left to establish themselves elsewhere.

Supplementing what her farm yielded with small earnings on her carpet loom, she managed to make a living for herself and her two sons, and to give occasional assistance to the other family. With the homes thus separated, and the father giving most of his attention to Julia's family, it was hoped that he would not be molested. This hope increased as time went on and the intensity of the persecution began to subside. 

But he was not to be so fortunate. In the fall of 1881, he was living in a house in Honeyville belonging to Abraham Hunsaker, for whose arrest warrants had been issued. One day two deputy marshalls knocked at the door. Alanson was sitting in the room mending a harness. He admitted the officers, who told him they had come to search the house to find Mr. Hunsaker. Alanson told them to go ahead, but they would not find their man. After searching from garret to cellar, the officers asked Alanson his name. Upon learning it they said they had a warrant for him, and placed him under arrest. He was then taken before a United States commissioner and placed under bonds to appear for trial. Preparations for the winter were now hastily made. Members of the family in the vicinity of American Falls in Idaho urged their father to move to that place. Deciding this would be a wise plan, he took Julia's family to Idaho and established them on a preemption claim. Then he returned to Utah for his trial.

The day after Christmas, 1888, he appeared in the federal court in Ogden and was sentenced to a term of three months in the Utah Penitentiary. While he was waiting in an adjoining room, the church attorney asked the court to reconsider the sentence, in view of the circumstances and age of the defendant. Thereupon, the judge changed the sentence to two months in prison and a fine of one hundred dollars. The change was a disadvantage to Alanson because he would not be able to pay his fine and would, therefore, need to serve an extra month. Had the sentence remained three months, he would have been entitled to a shortening of the term for good behavior. This privilege was not given to those sentenced for less than three months.

To the children the thought of their father in prison was extremely painful. It was terrible for them to think of him in prison garb, with his white hair cut short and his flowing beard shaved off. These indignities, along with his enforced absence from them, would be almost more than they could bear. Alanson, however, did not show much concern about these matters, and told the children they were unnecessarily worried. As soon as he reached the penitentiary, an escort took him towards the barber shop. He asked the officers whether, in view of his short sentence, they could not excuse him from visiting the prison barber. To his surprise and joy, they granted his request. The children at home were happy when they heard about it. Nothing was said to him about the uniform, so he wore his own clothes.

Although each night the closing and barring of his cell disturbed his feelings, he found life in prison fairly comfortable. He met old friends and mad a number of new acquaintances. In spite of the circumstances that had brought them together, he enjoyed his association with them. The Mormon prisoners were a community by themselves and had much opportunity for reading, writing, and conversation. Prominent among them was Apostle George Q. Cannon, with whom Alanson formed a close friendship. When Elder Cannon was released in February, he gave Alanson a small Bible for a keepsake. The regulations permitted Alanson to write a letter once a week, and he divided his letters equally between his two families. His letters to Maren's family were written and addressed to the boys.

On his 75th birthday, March 26, 1889, he was released. After a brief visit at Brigham, he went to American Falls and joined his family there. Word reached him that Indian reservation land near McCammon was being opened for settlement. In spite of his age, he was faced with the necessity of making a new start and this seemed his opportunity. As soon as he could arrange to leave American Falls, he moved to McCammon and selected a homestead claim. With him were his wife, Julia, and four children. A number of his married children and grandchildren went to McCammon about this time and settled on new lands. Along with the others Alanson set about making a new home in real pioneer fashion. He cleared and plowed land, made fences, and built a first section of a little house. He cooperated with other settlers in building a canal and diverting water from the Portneuf River to irrigate the land.

His farm was not large, and was considerably broken up by two railroads and a lava bed; but the soil was good, and in due time he had plenty of water. Within two or three years his labors were rewarded with satisfactory crops of grain, alfalfa, and potatoes. While he did not regain the prosperity he had enjoyed in the old carding machine days and woolen factory days, his circumstances were decidedly better than they had been for a number of years. He completed his house, planted an orchard and added other improvements to his house. For a while at McCammon the Church members identified themselves with the Garden Creek Ward some miles away. 

It was not long, however, until the number of members in the community were sufficient to justify the organization of a local branch. Alanson Norton was made Presiding Elder, November 15, I891. The branch responded to his leadership and became very active. Each Sunday the front room of his home was emptied of furniture and turned into a meeting place. During the week the auxiliaries met either at his home or elsewhere in the neighborhood. The branch organization continued for about three years, then the McCammon Ward was organized with Alanson Norton as Bishop. He was ordained to the new office on January 20th, 1895 by President Joseph F. Smith. He was then nearly 81 years of age, and was told at the time that he was the oldest man in the history of the Church to be ordained a Bishop. He was supported loyally in his new position. Under his direction a small meeting house was built, and much progress was made in the ward. He served as Bishop until the end of the year 1898.

On July 26, 1897, while he was still bishop, he was ordained a patriarch by Apostle John Henry Smith. In this capacity he presided over his family, now numbering well into the hundreds. It is inspiring to recall association with Alanson Norton at that time. He was strong and vigorous and possessed a commanding personality. From far and near his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren visited him, eager to talk with him and receive his wise counsel. They were most loyal to him and his love for them was unbounded. His home was open to all and he was generous beyond his means. His activities as Patriarch were limited chiefly to his family although most of the children born in the ward were brought to him for his blessing. He was the outstanding spiritual leader of the community. He preached funeral sermons for nonmembers as well as for members of the church. He was an eloquent speaker and was frequently called upon to address public gatherings.

At a Fourth of July celebration at McCammon, he interested his audience by recounting some of his activities in public affairs, beginning with his participation in the presidential campaign of 1828, when as a boy of fourteen he joined a parade, tossed his cap high, and cheered for Andrew Jackson. Finally his strong constitution began to break. Along with his failing health, he was called upon to part with three of his children early in 1902. On January 20 Eleanor died, leaving her husband and five children. She was buried at McCammon. On March 16, Joseph died in Logan, where he was enrolled at Brigham Young College. He was taken to Brigham for burial. Delinda died on March 31, survived by six children and her husband. She was buried at McCammon. On April 1, 1902, while many of the family were at McCammon upon the occasion of Delinda's funeral, an organization was effected for the purpose of promoting Temple work and family gatherings. Alanson was the first president of the organization.

With alert mind, but gradually weakening body, Alanson lived for more than two years after the death of these children. During these years he was afflicted with periodic chills, which caused intense suffering. These became more frequent until the summer of 1904, when he was obliged to spend most of his time in bed. During this final illness, on the occasion of a pioneer celebration at McCammon, the band engaged to furnish music for the day's program went to his home and honored him by playing a number of selections. Thus to his sick bed was brought the spirit of celebration. At last, on August 20th, 1902 he passed away. He was in his ninety-first year. 

Beginning in New York almost a century before, his long life had spanned a period of remarkable national growth and had been initially connected with the progress of his pioneer church. He had helped to blaze the trail to the great west, ahead of railroads, telegraph, telephone, and automobiles, all of which came during his time. He witnessed much of the expansion of this great nation, and lived to see his Church emerge from a succession of trying perioeds into a position of strength and influence. To his last day he prayed that his children might live in honor and righteousness. On August 22, his funeral was held in the McCammon Opera House, the largest hall in the community. He was buried in the McCammon cemetery, which is located on his homestead, and which he had set aside as a burial ground. He was survived by his two widows Julia and Maren, and by his children Emeline, Lucy, Althea, Aldura, Luella, William, Erminnie, May, Charles, Elvin, Grace, and Lemuel.