Welcome!

Norton County KSGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. It is a member of KSGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Norton County ancestors.

What's New at Norton County KSGenWeb since your last visit
Search Norton County KSGenWeb for a specific name

Please consider contributing your pieces of Norton county family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!

County Coordinator: YOU? Norton KSGenWeb is Available for Adoption.

Temporary County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney maloneys7193@gmail.com

COUNTY FORMATION

Norton County was first settled by Civil War veterans in the early 1870s and the population was relatively diversified. Most of the early settlers were of Scotch, English, or Irish background and probably at least, second or third generation Americans. Within the next few years German Catholics did settle around New Almelo in the southwestern corner of the county, probably due to the presence of a Catholic church. However, the church had been started by Canadian immigrants, some of whom were of French ancestry. A former New Almelo priest who wrote a brief history of the parish in the early 20th century called it "the French community." Today, though, you would be hard pressed to find any signs of French influence there.

In southeastern Decatur County a sizable number of Czech immigrants settled around Jennings and some lived near the Norton-Decatur county line in the Clayton vicinity. Some attended the Catholic church in New Almelo. On the western border of Phillips County, a number of Dutch settlers settled in and near Prairie View with some living in eastern Norton County. Norton built a large Catholic church, but also boasted Methodist, Lutheran, Christian, and Episcopalian churches offering further evidence of diversity. There were also settlers that were of Irish ancestry who settled in this county. Rockwell City was founded by the Dunkard Brethren.

German Lutherans settled about 10 miles northwest of Norton and organized a church in April 1907. The church is connected with the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church.