The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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Mrs. Griffin has been an active member of the Methodist church since her childhood.  She has one child, Alice, born here December 26,1883.

Clate Sponsler came here from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1885 and remained here as cashier of the Farmers' Exchange Bank until 1889.  He then removed to St. Joe, Missouri where he still resides.  He is credit man now for Noys, Nurman & Co. in the wholesale boot and shoe business.

duvall.JPG (36407 bytes) Frederick M. Duvall was born in Pennsylvania November 10, 1852, moved with his parents to Chicago when a child where he remained until 1877.  He attended the common schools and later spent fours years at different times in the Chicago university.  He learned the painter's trade and worked in the day time attending school at night.  He has worked for himself since he was fourteen years old.  He bought and paid for his education with his own labor.  He came to Norton county in April 1877 and in the fall of that year he opened the first hardware store in this county under the firm name of W. Henry & Co.  Duvall was the resident partner and manager.  As the county advanced and developed this firm kept pace with the demands oh their stock until January 2, 1886, when they lost their entire stock and building valued at $22,000 in the great fire which occurred on that date.  Their insurance had expired on the last of the preceeding (sic) year.  Duvall was negotiating for a reduction on insurance the companies demanding eight per cent, for a renewal.  Pending these negotiatians (sic) the fire came and left him a bankrupt.  He then took charge of the Norton Courier and became editor on April 1, 1886.  On July 7, 1887, fire again consumed his business, destroying his presses and plant.  Although this fire left him with matured obligations against the Courier his nerve and pluck never for a moment left him; he rallied at once and with a little assistance from the business men of Norton he immediately purchased a new plant and continued the issue of his paper without missing a number.  In the fall of 1887 he built the fire proof building, where he is now located.  He has since increased the size of his plant and paper until he now issues one of the leading weeklies of north-west Kansas.  On January 23, 1877 he married Miss Alice Newell.  Five children have been born in born to them; the four youngest are still living.  The eldest Valorous accidentally shot himself while playing with a pistol that he supposed was not loaded.  This accident occurred in April 1891.  Duvall has taken an active part in politics since coming here; has been a delegate to nearly every county convention held in the county.  He was a delegate to the Millbrook judicial convention in 1885 and supported 

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