NORTON JACOB was born on the 11th day of August 1804 in the town of Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, the son of Udney Hay and Elizabeth Hubbard Jacob, the paternal grandson of Richard Jr. and Elizabeth Kellogg Jacob, and the maternal grandson of Prosper and Elizabeth Norton Hubbard. His ancestry dates back to the 1500s when one finds Sir Edward Standish, Lord of the Manor Standish in England, and his wife Ellen Helene Radcliffe, Lady. The Radcliffe line also seems to extend many generations, well into the 1300s and beyond, even into the royal lines of England. Norton’s father received his name in honor of Col. Udney Hay, a revolutionary officer and companion to his father, Richard Jacob, Jr.

Excerpts From Norton’s journal:
“I am the eldest son of Udney Hay Jacob, married in Busti, [Chautauqua Co., New York] November 20, 1830 to Emily Heaton. (Norton and Emily had six sons and five daughters, as he described.)
1) The eldest son, Benjamin, was born January 1833 and died of small pox when two days old.
2) Oliver Barr Jacob, born January 5th, 1834 in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York. Died August 14, 1848, near Independence Rock, [Sweetwater Co., Wyoming].
3) Lucian Heaton Jacob born February 22, 1836, near Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois.
4) Ira Norton Jacob was born [in] Pilot Grove, Hancock County, Illinois, October 16th, 1840.
5) Joseph Jacob was born in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, May 20th, 1845, [and] was named after the prophet Joseph Smith.
6) Elsie Pamelia Jacob was born in Busti, Chatauque County, New York, May 13, 1831; married in Nauvoo to Jesse Snyder May 17, 1846.
7) Elizabeth Jane Jacob was born inPilot Grove, Hancock County [Illinois], April 8, 1838, and died same place August 24, 1839, buried on the ridge east of my house.
8) Emma Jacob was born in Nauvoo November 16, 1842, and died October 27, 1844. Buried on the ridge north of my house.
9) Emily Amelia Jacob was born in the land of the Pottawattamie Nation, near Council Bluff, on August 12, 1847, while I was out with the pioneers on the day after I started from the camp of Israel in Salt Lake Valley to return home.
10) Mary Eliza Jacob was born in North Canyon Ward, Salt Lake Valley, December 25, 1849.
11) Isaac Jacob was born in the 17th Ward, Salt Lake City, on June 24, 1852.
(The following were the children from the marriage to Elizabeth Graham Jacob. Norton described them in the following manner in his journals but did not mention their mother’s name.)
12) Norton Kellogg Jacob was born April 2, 1860, in Spanish Fork City, Utah County, Utah Territory.
13) Frank Graham Jacob was born May 7, 1862, Mound City, Provo Valley (Midway, Heber Valley), Wasatch County, Utah.
14) Sidney Osborne Jacob born March 22, 1865, in Mound City, Provo Valley (Midway, Heber Valley), Wasatch County, Utah.
15) Benjamin Alonzo Jacob born June 18, 1868, in American Fork, Utah County, Utah. “

“I was first led to investigate the principles and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the summer of 1840 by reading a little pamphlet which I think was entitled, ‘A Review of LeRoy Sunderland’s Review of Mormonism Unveiled,’ by Parley P. Pratt…I heard some of the elders preach and obtained the Voice of Warning by Parley P. Pratt,…and on the 15th of March 1841, I was baptized by Elder Zenos Gurley at Lahart. My father, mother, brothers, and sisters opposed me violently, and my father said he had rather heard I was dead than that I was a Mormon. [I soon] gathered with [the] Saints in Nauvoo, their new city. I moved my family there, [and] built me a house on the prairie seven miles from the city and moved into it in the fall of ’41. The first of November 1842, I removed my family to the city of the Saints [Nauvoo].” 

Norton married Emily Heaton on the 20th of November, 1830, in Busti, Chautauqua, New York. She was the daughter of Elias Heaton and Mary Hubbard, having been born on the 28th of November 1810 in Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Her baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recorded as July 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Her endowment was on 12 December 1845, and her sealing to Norton was performed one month later on the 19th of January 1846 – both in the Historic Nauvoo Temple. Soon after, like all of the other Saints, they were required to abandon the City of Joseph and cross the Mississippi River ahead of angry mobs.

Norton’s journal continues: “At [the cornerstone laying of the Nauvoo Temple on the 6th of April 1841], I was ordained into the Elder’s Quorum. My wife, like her father, was naturally skeptical but, by means of living with the Saints and hearing the prophet preach, was induced to be baptized in July 1843 in the city of Nauvoo. [Also] my daughter Elsie and oldest son Oliver were baptized. (Oliver was the oldest ‘living’ son. His older brother, Benjamin, had been born one year prior and died at just two days old.)

“At the spring conference 1844, …I took a mission to the state of Michigan, and on the 14th day of May, I started in company with Elders Charles Rich, David Fulmer, and Moses Smith in a two-horse carriage. 1844 – A report just reached us that our beloved prophet Joseph and Patriarch Hyrum Smith were murdered in Carthage Jail. 

“On October 6th, a conference assembled in the grove east of the temple when Brother Brigham Young was fully established by a unanimous vote of the whole congregation as President of the whole Church. At this conference, I was ordained into the tenth quorum of Seventies. Then, on the 27th of October, my youngest daughter, Emma, died of black canker [severe diphtheria – an acute contagious disease causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system].

“Towards the close of January 1845, I commenced work on the Nauvoo Temple as a steady hand. During the spring and summer, I worked constantly, being foreman of all the framing of the roof and tower. On the 16th of August, I finished framing the tower. There began to be rumors of the mob meeting in several parts of the country of Hancock. On Tuesday the 16th [of September], the military was called together, [and] as I had command of the fifth company of artillery, I met with the regiment when it was reorganized. I reorganized my company, having George P. Stiles first Lieutenant, M. Lerrine second, William Burton third, and Charles Dalton ensign.

That next fall, on the 19th of October 1845, Norton attended the general conference of the Seventies in the Nauvoo Temple, where he was called to act as one of the seven presidents of the fourteenth quorum. 

The following spring of 1846 found Norton preparing to move his family west with the Camp of Israel. In May, he and his father, Udney, obtained wagons, and they both “went up into McDonough County and bought 14 steers and two heifers of John Huston, paying $20.00 a piece for them.” On 17 June 1846, Norton left the bank of the Mississippi River to head west to Winter Quarters with his family, which was composed of himself, his wife, Emily, daughter Elsie P. and her  usband Jesse Snyder, sons Oliver B., Luician J. Ira N. and Joseph Jacob, together with his father and his wife, along with another member, Sister Boice and her son, William.

After living at Winter Quarters for almost a year, Norton was chosen as a Captain of Ten for Pres. Brigham Young’s Vanguard Company. This company departed for the Great Salt Lake Vally on 16 April 1847 and arrived at the mouth of Emigration Canyon three months later on 21 July 1847. Thefollowing year, he again traveled as a ‘captain of the guard from Douglas, Florence Co., Nebraska.’

In the 1850 Census of the County of Great Salt Lake, Deseret, a young lady named Maria Van Valkenburg is listed as 15 years old and living next door to Norton with his father, Udney, who was 69. The following year, she and Norton married, becoming a polygamous wife. This event occurred on 20 April 1851 in Salt Lake City, Utah, when Norton was 46, and Maria was two months shy of her 16th birthday. Maria Van Valkenburg was born on 23 June 1835 (parents are unknown) in Hector, Tompkins Co., New York. There were no recorded children by this marriage. It was presumed that Norton married Maria at this young age with the intent of her helping to care for his first wife, Emily.

On 29 June 1859, Norton took a third (polygamous) wife, Elizabeth Graham. She and Norton were married in Salt Lake City and would have four children together. This marriage took place just six months before his first wife, Emily, passed away. 

Emily Heaton Jacob passed away from consumption (tuberculosis) in Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah, on 6 December 1859. She was only 49 years of age and is presumed to have been laid to rest in the Pioneer Heritage Cemetery in Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah. Within that cemetery is a large monument erected in 2012 by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers – Utah South Center Company, and on the stone face is inscribed, “To the best of our knowledge, these are the persons interred in the Pioneer Cemetery.” The name “Emily Heaton Jacob” can be found among the many names inscribed on the monument.

Norton’s father, Udney Hay Jacob, passed away on 10 April 1860 in Salt Lake City at 79. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. His wife and Norton’s mother, Elizabeth Hubbard Jacob, passed away sometime in 1871 at 90, though the location cannot be determined.

According to the 1860 U.S. Census, the Jacob family was now living in “Provo Valley” (Heber Valley), Wasatch County, Utah, just six months after the birth of Norton, Jr., to Elizabeth. The family had moved into Fort Heber, living in a home along the fort’s south wall. This census describes the family members in the following manner:
– Norton Jacob, 58 (head of house), profession: Millwright, born in New York
– Elisabeth, 29 (wife), born in New York
– Lucian, 24 (son), farm laborer, born in Illinois
– Joseph, 15 (son), born in Illinois
– Emily, 13 (daughter), born in (Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa) Illinois
– Perces, 12 (female – relationship?), born in Illinois
– Mary, 10 (daughter), born in (Woods Cross, Davis Co. ) Utah Territory
– Isaac, 8 (son), born in (Salt Lake City) Utah Territory
– Norton (Jr.), 6mos (son), born in (Spanish Fork, Utah County) Utah Territory

The 1870 U.S. Census for Santaquin, Utah Co., Utah Territory lists Norton Jacob and other family members, all of which have the surname ‘Jacobs’ with the letter ‘s’ at the end. Based on all other records and documents of Norton and his family, the surname should not contain the letter ‘s’ at the end. Here is how the 1870 census lists all persons residing with Norton – this is the exact order of names)
– Elizabeth Jacobs, 39, Keeping house, born: New York
– Norton Jacobs (Jr.), 10, at home, born: Utah
– Frank Jacobs, 8, at school, born: Utah
– Sydney Jacobs, 3, at home, born: Utah
– Norton Jacobs (Sr.), 68, Carpenter, born: Illinois
– Purcess Weed, 20 (female), Housekeeper, born: New York
– Henry Weed, 3, at home, born: Utah
– Edwin Weed, 3mos, born: Utah
– Benjamin Jacobs, 1, at home, born: Utah

Norton married a fourth (polygamous) wife, Sarah Clark, on 31 October 1873 in the Salt Lake Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Sarah was almost 57 years of age at the time of their marriage, having been born on 7 January 1817 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, to John Woodruff Clark and Sarah Sally Swain. Norton was, of course, 69 years and 2 months at that time. Sarah had previously become the widow of Augustus Button, with whom she had had six children. There are no records of any offspring for Norton and Sarah.

The book Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia explains that Pres. Brigham Young appointed Jacob as the foreman of the carpenters and joiners  working on public works when he was living in Salt Lake City. In 1855, he designed a bridge erected over the Weber River. On 24 July 1860, he delivered the (Pioneer) oration at Heber City, where he had made his home and was appointed justice of the peace in 1862. (Andrew Jenson, 1850-1941, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Andrew Jenson Memorial Association – Deseret News Press, Utah, 1936), vol.4, 708; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org : accessed 30 Oct. 2024)

In 1874, Norton was called to labor on the construction of the St. George Temple.

A summary of Norton’s children with their mothers follows. The number in parentheses is their I.D. found in FamilySearch.org :
Emily Heaton Jacob (1810-1859, KWJB-883) married Norton on 20 Nov. 1830 in New York:

o Elsie Pamelia Jacob (KWVQ-21X), daughter, was born on 13 May 1831 in Busti, Chautauqua Co., New York, when her mother was twenty, and her father was twenty-six.She married on 17 May 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, to Jesse Snyder – four children. She died on 2 March 1891 in Snyderville, Summit Co., Utah Territory, at 59 years, 9 months, and was buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Park City, Summit Co., Utah Territory.

o Benjamin Jacob (KWVQ-ZZB), son, was born on 10 January 1833 in Busti, Chautauqua Co., New York, when his mother was twenty-two, and his father was twenty-eight. He died in Busti, Chautauqua Co., New York, just two days after being born. 

o Oliver Barr Jacob (KWVQ-ZDH), son, was born on 5 January 1834 in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York, when his mother was twenty-three and his father was twenty-nine. He died on 14 August 1848 at the young age of 14 years and 7 months at Independence Rock, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, while crossing the plains with his family. His name is inscribed on the ‘Pioneer Children’s Memorial in Salt Lake City at This Is The Place Heritage Park.

o Lucian Heaton Jacob (KWVQ-ZDH), son, was born on 22 February 1836 in Warsaw, Hancock Co., Illinois, when his mother was twenty-five and his father was thirty-one. He married on 28 February 1860 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, to Janet Anderson Clotworthy – four children. He died on 18 May 1875 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, at 39 years 2 months, and was buried in the Midway City Cemetery.

o Elizabeth Jane Jacob (KWVQ-Z89), daughter, was born on 8 April 1838 in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock Co., Illinois, when her mother was twenty-seven and her father was thirty-three. She died just short of one and a half years later, on 24 August 1839, at 1 year 4 months, in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock Co., Illinois. She was buried, according to Norton’s journal entries, “on the ridge east of my house.”

o Ira Norton Jacob (KWJJ-PSX), son, was born 16 October 1840 along the banks of Crooked Creek, near Pilot Grove Township, Hancock Co., Illinois, when his mother was twenty-nine, and his father was thirty-five. He married first on 5 January 1863 (location unknown) to Julia Ann (or Julia Jemima) Gerber – one child. When Julia died fourteen months later, he married for the second time on 27 March 1865 in Salt Lake City to Lovia Ellen Clift – six children. Ira died on 8  February 1906 at age 65 years, 3 months, in Loma, Mesa Co., Colorado. He was buried in the Mound City (Midway) Cemetery, Wasatch Co., Utah.

o Emma Jacob (KWVQ-ZZD7), daughter, was born on 16 November 1842 in Pilot Grove, Hancock Co., Illinois, when her mother was thirty-one and her father was thirty-seven. She died on 27 October 1844 as a very young child of 1 year, 11 months, in Pilot Grove, Hancock County, Illinois. She was buried, according to Norton’s journal entries, “on the ridge east of my house.”

o Joseph Jacob (KWNV-6VX), son, was born on 20 May 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, when his mother was thirty-four and his father was forty. He married on 8 May 1864 in Snake Creek (Midway), Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, to Ellenora Helena Gerber – eleven children (nine of which were born in Wasatch County, Utah). He died on 16 August 1918 at 73 years, 2 months, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was buried on 19 August 1918 in the Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah Co., Utah.

o Emily Amelia Jacob (KWJB-8WR), daughter, was born on 12 August 1847 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, when her mother was thirty-six and her father was forty-two. She married on 5 January 1863 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, to Louis Emanuel Gerber – fifteen children (ten of which were born in Sevier County, Utah). She died on 3 January 1933 (after seventy years of marriage) at 85 years 4 months, in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, and was buried on 8 January 1933 in the same city.

o Mary Eliza Jacob (KWNL-Q7W), daughter, was born on Christmas day, 25 December1849, in Woods Cross, Davis Co., Utah Territory, when her mother was thirty-eight, and her father was forty-four. She married for the first time on 12 December 1874 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Robert Hyrum Snyder – two children. When Robert died five years later, she married for the second time on 5 December 1880 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah Territory, to Thomas William Preece – five children. Mary died on 1 February 1933 at 83 years 1 month, in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, only one month after her older sister and in the same location. She was buried in the Rock Point Cemetery in Maeser, Uintah Co., Utah.

o Isaac Jacob (KW8J-MC4), son, was born on 24 June 1852 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was forty-one and his father forty-seven. He married on 27 December 1877 in Salt Lake City to Mary Matilda Gerber – eleven children (ten of which were born in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah). He died on 19 April 1929 at 76 years 9 months, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was buried on 24 April 1929 in the Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah.

Elizabeth Graham Jacob (1826-1911, KWNV-V41) married Norton on 29 June 1859 in Salt Lake City.

 o Norton Kellog Jacob (LQTN-BF9), son, was born on 2 April 1860 in Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-four, and his father was fifty-six. No records were found relating to a marriage or spouse. Neither was a date of death found, though it would have been after 1880, as Norton was listed in the 1880 U.S. Census in Cokeville, Wyoming, at the age of 20.

o Frank Graham Jacob (K2WT-NZQ), son, was born on 7 May 1862 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-six and his father was  fifty-eight. He married on 14 October 1889 in Provo, Utah Co., Utah Territory, to Artemesia “Artie” Knight – no children. Frank died only two years later, in November 1891, at 29 months 5 days. The location of his death and his burial could not be found or verified.

o Sidney Osborn Jacob (218G-717), son, was born on 22 March 1865 in Mound City (Midway), Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-nine, and his father was sixty-one. There is no record of a marriage, death, or burial for Sidney.

o Benjamin Alonzo Jacob (K2WT-N4K), son, was born on 18 June 1868 in Santaquin, Utah Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was forty-two, and his father was sixty-four. No record of a marriage for Benjamin could be found. He died on 20 October 1923 at 55 years 4 months. He was buried on 22 October 1823 in Oakley, Summit Co., Utah. 

No information was found as to when and where Norton’s second wife, Ann Maria Van Valkenburg, passed away, as well as when and where she was buried.

Elizabeth Graham Jacob, Norton’s third wife, passed away on 16 March 1911 in American Fork, Utah Co., Utah. No information was found as to where she was buried.

Sarah Clark Jacob, Norton’s fourth wife, died on 12 August 1895 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, and was buried in the Midway City Cemetery. 

NORTON JACOB died from typhoid pneumonia on 30 January 1879 at 74 in Glenwood, Sevier Co., Utah Territory. He was buried in the Glenwood Cemetery north of that community. He was survived by his fourth wife, Sarah. Within his probate documents, Sarah was given “the city property located namely lots One (1) and Two (2) Block 6, Glenwood City Survey. Secondly that she should have and enjoy one-half of his interest in the flouring mill known by the name of Monument Mill, situate[d[ on the stream southeast of the Glenwood City Survey. And thirdly that his four infant heirs should have and enjoy a one-fourth (1/4) interest in the other half of the flouring Mill namely Norton Jacob, Jr., Franklin Jacob, Sidney Jacob, and Benjamin A Jacob.” (Ancestry.com, Utah, U.S., Wills & Probate, 1800-1985 > Probate Case Files, no 1-42, 1865-1878)

The Deseret News reported his death on 12 February 1879 in the following manner:
“At Glenwood, Sevier County, Jan. 30th, 1879, of typhoid pneumonia, NORTON JACOBS. Deceased was born at Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass., Aug. 11, 1804l. He joined the Church in 1841; moved with his family to Nauvoo in Nov. 1842; shared the trials and persecutions of the Saints, and came to Utah in 1848. In 1874, he was called to labor on the Temple at St. George. He lived and died a faithful Latter-day Saint.” (“DIED,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City, Utah), 08 February 1879, p.3, col.4.; image copy, Utah Digital Newspapers (https://newspaper.lib.utah.edu : accessed 30 Oct. 2024)