CLASS OF 1878

Nathaniel Willis Norton died suddenly September 12 at the summer home of his daughter, Mrs. Seth S. Spencer, Jr., at Great Barrington, Mass. He had been in poor health for some weeks, and a hemorrhage of the lungs was the immediate cause of his death.

Mr. Norton was born in Porter, Maine March 5, 1853, the son of Ebenezer and Martha (Sargent) Norton. Herbert F. J Norton '92 is a brother. He prepared for college at Nichols Latin School, Lewiston Me., and entered Bates in 1874, transferring to Dartmouth at the beginning of sophomore year. His "fraternity was Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was a man of fine physique, and took an active part in the athletics of that day. He also gained prominence because of his ardent participation in the political debates of the time, and will always be affectionately remembered by his classmates as Jim, an abbreviation of his full sobriquet of Jim Blaine," because of his enthusiasm for the ''plumed knight."

After graduation he taught school for a year at Ware, Mass., and then studied at Albany Law School, graduating in 1880. In that year he entered upon the practice of law at Buffalo, N. Y., in partnership with a brother, under the firm name of Norton Bros. In 1888-90 he served as assistant United States district attorney, and soon gained recognition as a leading member of the bar. From 1905 to 1907 he was county attorney of Erie county. He was active in politics in early life, and was always an earnest Republican, although not an office holder or seeker. In later years he devoted his attention more to civic and educational affairs, and exerted a wide influence in them. In 1894 he became a member of the directing board of the Buffalo Library, and was always interested in extending the use of the Library, In 1897 he took the lead in a movement to obtain an agreement between the Buffalo Library Association and the city of Buffalo, which resulted in the establishment and maintenance of the free public library.

June 30, 1880, Mr. Norton was married to Mary Estella, daughter of Dr. Julius Miner of Buffalo, who died June 26, 1889. They had one daughter, who is mentioned above. June 17, 1903, he was married to Mary Louise Cilley, who survives him without children.

He was a member of the. Buffalo and University Clubs and the Westminster Presbyterian church, and was active in the affairs of the Buffalo Alumni Association.

Mr. Norton, was one of the most loyal members of the class, always eager to greet a classmate and willing to go far out of his way to meet one. He was a man of exceptional personal presence, and age seemed to add dignity and beauty to a physique always notable. He grew also in the warm regard of his classmates, who will greatly miss his presence at the few future gatherings which are possible for them on this side of the great reunion.