Patrick Daniel Norton (May 17, 1876 – October 14, 1953) was an American politician who served as a member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from 1913 to 1919, representing North Dakota's 3rd congressional district as a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

Born in

Ishpeming, Michigan Ishpeming ( ) is a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. Located in the Upper Peninsula, the population was 6,140 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, less than it was in the 1950s and 1960s when the Iron ore mines employ ...

, Norton moved with his parents to

Ramsey County, North Dakota Ramsey County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,605, and was estimated to be 11,510 in 2024. The county seat and the largest city is Devils Lake. History The Dakota Territory legislat ...

in 1883 where he attended public schools. He graduated from the

University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (UND) is a Public university, public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It was established by the Dakota Territory, Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishm ...

in 1897, and studied law at the

University of North Dakota School of Law The University of North Dakota School of Law is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the University of North Dakota (UND). It is the only law school in North Dakota. It was established in 1899. The law school is home to approximately 240 stud ...

Career

Norton was admitted to the State Bar Association of North Dakota in 1903 and began his own legal practice in

Devils Lake, North Dakota Devils Lake is a city in and the county seat of Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 7,192 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 7,314 in 2024. It is named after the nearby lake called Devils Lake. The first ho ...

. He served as the superintendent of the schools of Ramsey County from 1905 to 1907, and as the Chief Clerk of the

North Dakota House of Representatives The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate. North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as ...

in 1907 and 1908. He moved to

Hettinger, North Dakota Hettinger ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1,074 at the 2020 census. North Dakota State University operates a livestock research station near Hettinger, which often partners ...

, in 1907 and served as prosecuting attorney of Adams County from 1907 to 1911. He became known as a statewide politician when he served as

Secretary of State of North Dakota The North Dakota secretary of state is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The incumbent was Michael Howe. Duties of the secretary of state include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state document ...

from 1911 to 1912. Norton was elected as a Republican to the

63rd 63rd may refer to: ;Metro stations *Ashland/63rd (CTA station), on the Green Line *East 63rd-Cottage Grove (CTA), on the Green Line *63rd (CTA Red Line), on the Red Line *63rd Street station (SEPTA Market–Frankford Line) on the Market-Frankford L ...

, 64th, and 65th Congresses (March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919). He opted not to seek re-election in 1918. After leaving the House, he moved to

Mandan, North Dakota Mandan is a city on the eastern border of Morton County, North Dakota, Morton County and the List of cities in North Dakota, eighth-most populous city in North Dakota. Founded in 1879 on the west side of the upper Missouri River, it was designat ...

in 1919 and engaged in farming, livestock raising, banking, and the practice of law. He served as the National bank receiver at

Brookings, South Dakota Brookings is a city in and the county seat of Brookings County, South Dakota, Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 23,377 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in South Dakota, fo ...

. from 1924 to 1927. He moved to

Minot, North Dakota Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 2 ...

in 1927, and served as delegate to the

1928 Republican National Convention The 1928 Republican National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 12 to June 15, 1928. Because President Calvin Coolidge had announced unexpectedly he would not run for re-election in 1928, Commerce Sec ...

Personal life

Norton was married to Louise Fitzgerald, with whom he had two sons and several grandchildren.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Patrick Daniel 1876 births 1953 deaths People from Ishpeming, Michigan Secretaries of state of North Dakota University of North Dakota alumni People from Adams County, North Dakota People from Mandan, North Dakota Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives