Jesse VanWinkle, P. O., Norton. Founder of the town of Norton, and the son of Job and Elizabeth VanWinkle, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, January 15, 1825. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Kentucky. After marriage they moved to the then territory of Illinois; they were greatly exposed to the attacks of Indians, and had often to seek shelter in a fort. They lived and died within twenty-five miles of St. Louis. The subject of this sketch pursued farming until 1850, and then went to California, staying over a year, and then returned to his home in Illinois. In 1866 he came to Saline county, and settled on the land he bought of Dudley Cooper, upon part of which the town of Norton now stands. September 18, 1856, he was married to Miss Lucinda Padfield, daughter of James and Lavinia Padfield, of Christian county, Kentucky. They have seven children; John H., Nevada A., Ella J., Jessie, Mary, Florence L., and Nora, all living.
