NORTON, DAVID Z. (1 June 1851-6 Jan. 1928), banker, partner in OGLEBAY NORTON CO., and philanthropist, was born in Cleveland to Washington Adams and Caroline Harper Norton. He began in banking as a messenger for Commercial Natl. Bank in 1868, becoming cashier at 21. In 1890, at the urging of his friend JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, SR., Norton resigned from the bank to join Earl W. Oglebay in organizing Oglebay, Norton & Co., from which he retired in 1924, although remaining a director until his death.
Norton supported the CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA and CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART. He was a trustee of the Cleveland School of Art, Western Reserve University, Adelbert College, Kenyon College, UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HURON RD. HOSPITAL, LAKE VIEW CEMETERY, and Society for Savings. He was a director of Natl. Commercial Bank, Bank of Commerce, Woodland Ave. Savings & Trust Co., Bankers Surety Co., and American Ship Building Co. He was involved with Commonwealth Iron Co., Montreal Mining Co., Castile Mining Co., and several lake-shipping companies. In 1910, Norton became president of Citizens Savings & Trust Co., becoming a director upon its merger into Union Trust Co.
Norton collected Napoleana, left to the Western Reserve Historical Society; and Japanese art, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art. His historic family homestead in Unionville, OH, Shandy Hall, is a property of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Norton married Mary Castle, daughter of WM. B. CASTLE, in 1876 and had 3 children, Miriam (Mrs. Frederick R. White), Robt. Castle, and Laurence Harper. Norton and his wife are buried in Lake View Cemeterty.
Finding aid for the David Z. Norton Residence Photographs, WRHS.
Corporate Records, Columbia Steamship Co. Memorial to David Z. Norton, Jan. 1928.
Oglebay Norton Company—125 Years, 1854-1979 (1979).
Taylor, Harrie S. Oglebay, Norton: 100 Years on the Great Lakes (1954).