Myron Norton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Myron Norton (1822–1886) | |
| Born | (1822-09-23)September 23, 1822 |
| Died | April 16, 1886(1886-04-16) (aged 63) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers |
| Years of service | Mexican–American War |
Myron Norton (1822–1886), was an American attorney, and an officer in the1st Regiment of New York Volunteers, fighting in theMexican–American War, and remained in California afterward to become active in both San Francisco and Los Angeles legal circles and politics. He drafted California's first state constitution.
Norton was born inBennington, Vermont, on September 23, 1822, and studied atHarvard University.[1]
The day after he graduated from Harvard, he joined the Army and served under GeneralWinfield Scott in theMexican War. He then joinedJonathan D. Stevenson's1st Regiment of New York Volunteers, with which he came to California.[1] He was a lieutenant.[2]: 166
In 1850–51, the settlers were fearful of anAgua Caliente Indian "insurrection" under ChiefAntonio Garra, so "Regulars and volunteers were accordinglymustered to guard against this danger." The Los Angeles volunteers were commanded by GeneralJoshua Bean, with Norton ascolonel andchief of staff.[3] In a letter written toGovernor John McDougall, Bean commended Norton for his bravery.[4]
Later, Norton was second in command of the first legal militia organization in the state, the First California Guard,[2]: 207 where he was commissioned afirst lieutenant on July 23, 1853.[5]
In their requisition for arms[,] the company requested that seventy-five rifles and accouterments be sent to them immediately, as there were very few arms in the Los Angeles area except what was held by bands of organized villains of the worst type. The members preferred rifles[,] as part of the time they would be engaged in cavalry routine, especially when dealing with gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.[5]
Norton was one of the organizers and was elected chairman of a "large number of citizens assembled at the Montgomery House" on December 7, 1857, to demand protection by the U.S. Army from a feared invasion ofMormon fighters through theCajon Pass in the wake of what was called theMountain Meadows massacre, a Mormon attack inSouthern Utah upon an emigrantwagon train in September of that year.[6]
In 1849, Norton was in San Francisco, where he was the county's firstjustice of the peace and thenpolice magistrate. He also had a law office in theLaffan Building.[2]: 170, 211
In avigilante-type trial in San Francisco, Norton was appointed to bedefense attorney for a group of men calledThe Hounds, who were charged with serious crimes resulting from a rampage against Chilean immigrants.[2]: 204
As soon as news arrived from Washington, D.C., that Congress had failed to pass a bill authorizing territorial status for newly conquered California, Norton andKimball H. Dimmick convened a committee inSan Jose that nevertheless issued a call for a stateconstitutional convention.[2]: 177–78 In March 1849 he was on a committee in San Francisco that urged the drafting of astate constitution instead of aterritorial one. In a California-wide election for delegates, Norton received the second-highest number of votes, afterEdward Gilbert. When work began inMonterey, Norton, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, wrotethe first draft of the constitution.[1][2]: 177–78, 181
Norton resettled in Los Angeles and in 1851 was elected a judge of theSuperior Court. On May 4, 1852, he was elected to theCommon Council, the city's governing body. He served until May 3, 1853, and he was again elected in a special election on December 27, 1856, for a term ending May 6, 1857.[1][7]
He died on April 16, 1886, and is buried atEvergreen Cemetery,Los Angeles, California.