"Thomas M. Norton was a man noted for his good citizenship. He was a member of the first board of workers, trustees, in Anderson, serving on the board ten years. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was an active member and liberal supporter of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He had gone back to his native land in 1896 on a pleasure tour, and soon after his return to this country turned over his business affairs to his sons and lived practically retired for more than
ten years.
"Thomas M. Norton married at Piqua, Ohio, in 1861, Miss Catherine McCarthy. They had four children: Mrs. J. C. Kreuch,
Mrs. M. J. Crowley, Martin C. and William J., all residents of Anderson." - Indiana and Indianans: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood, Jacob P Dunn - 1919.

"The president of the Norton Brewing Company is Martin C. Norton; William J. Norton is secretary and treasurer; and Mrs. J. C. Kreuch is vice president. William J. Norton was born at Anderson April 9, 1869, and grew up in that city, attending the public schools and one year in high school. At the age of sixteen he started working for his father in the brewery, and has been in practically every department, acquiring both the technical and business training. The Norton Brewing Company is widely known all over Central Indiana for its high products, the " Gold Band" and "Special Brew" of bottled beers, besides the Norton draft beers. A modern brewing plant was constructed in 1910, and from seventy-five to eighty people find employment in the business." - Indiana and Indianans: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood, Jacob P Dunn - 1919.

"A liquor plot in which it is alleged that beer made In Anderson was marketed In Cincinnati, Hamilton and others In Ohio through a series of agencies is believed to have been uncovered by Federal officers under the direction of Bert Morgan, Indiana prohibition officer, here early today.

Prohibition Enforcement Officer Morgan, a squad of six of his operatives, Sheriff Daniels and the local police surrounded the Norton brewing plant here last night. About 1 o'clock this morning the officers watched two large auto trucks loaded with barrels at the loading platform of the Norton brewery, which is located in the heart of Anderson and is adjacent to the jail.

After the trucks had been loaded, Morgan and Federal officers accosted the drivers, placing them under arrest. The driver of the two trucks gave their names as William Schramm, agent for Indianapolis Brewing Company at Hamilton, Ohio and Frank Houser.

The officers confiscated forty half barrels and nine barrels of beer which were found on the trucks. The beer, which Federal officers say is believed to test 5 per cent, was confiscated by the officers as evidence and placed under lock and key In the basement of the county jail here." - Indianapolis Star, June 18, 1923

U. S. DRY OFFICERS TAKE INVENTORY OF BREWERY

"ANDERSON. Ind. State Prohibition Officers George Winkler and Seth Ward of Indianapolis and William Ray arrived here this afternoon and started taking an Inventory of the property of the Norton Brewery. Following completion of the Inventory a return will be made to United States Commissioner Howard S. Young. The Inventory marks seizure of the brewery by United States authorities. The Federal officers state that a warrant has been sworn out for the arrest of William Norton, owner of the Brewery" - Indianapolis Star, June 26, 1923

"At about 1 a.m. lightning struck Emdee's Brewery." - Tippecanoe County Historical Association - July 27, 1851.

During the summers of 1878 through 1882 temperance people, mostly women, had protested in vain against licensed beer and gambling stands at the Tippecanoe County Agricultural Association's annual fairs. Now they petitioned against the same practices for 1883, but were turned back on grounds the $1,000 licenses brought money and people to the fairs while the women "did not contribute to the industries of the county and therefore should have no voice in the matter." - Tippecanoe County Historical Association

"Partners Stephen J. Hannagan and Patrick L. Fitzgerald had tried a short-lived brewing operation about 1900, producing "Pride Of the State" beer." - Tippecanoe County Historical Association

"Marion Brewing association has made announcement that it will retire from business at the end of this month. This is the first brewery of any considerable size to quit business in Indiana since the anti-liquor agitation started several years ago.

The Marion brewery is a big one and for years it turned out a great output of beer. Its owners were among the leaders in the brewing business in Indiana, and in the state associations organized by Indiana brewers from time to time. They were leaders and took a prominent part in every brewery activity or movement. They were also powerful in local politics at Marion, because there were more than a hundred saloons in Grant county a few years ago, and nearly all of them sold Marion beer.

For many years, however, there existed a strong prohibition sentiment in which for years cast more prohibition votes than any other county. There has never been any cessation of activity on' the part of the temperance people of Grant county. Not only the prohibitionists, but the Woman's Christian Temperance union has been strong there. Grant county temperance people were leaders in the fight for the enactment of the county option law and did as much as any other county in the state to bring it about and they have fought to retain the old liquor laws and to prevent their repeal by the democrats, so when the county option law was passed and the temperance people had a chance to make the fight they brought on a local option election and made Grant county dry. The matter was fought through the courts and the drys won, and the usefulness of the brewery at Marion was over. The saloons of Grant county went out of business and the brewery lost its trade.

Later, when the county option law, was repealed and city and township option, was substituted, the temperance people of Grant county did not lose heart, but they went at it and succeeded In making Marion and all the rest of the county dry again. This was the straw that broke the back of the (brewery and) it had to quit.

The brewery has announced that it will turn over to the revenue officers whatever beer is on hand at the close of the month. In some of the counties of the state, breweries closed or greatly curtailed their output when the county option law was in force, but this is the first time that a brewery of considerable size has found it necessary to quit business under the fire of the temperance people.

The Anti-Saloon league is in rather a quiescent stage, judging from the little noise that has been made for some time past in liquor circles by that organization. It is said that some of the members cannot see much to be gained by any special activity at this time, or while the democrats are so firmly entrenched in power in Indiana, for the democratic legislation on the liquor proposition has been such as to leave little for the anti-saloon people to hope for from them. But the Anti-Saloon league is going ahead in its own quiet way. keeping its lines well drawn and standing ready to make a fight at any when the occasion calls for it. Persons who have the idea because the league is quiet it is riot in a healthy condition have another think coming." - Fort Wayne News, June 26, 1913

“In the course of the summer of 1807, however, the pioneers established a nearer route, running to Eaton into Wayne’s Trace, which led to Hamilton. A county road was early established along the lands of Jeremiah Meek, Alex. Grimes, &c., down the hill-side to Cox’s Mill, and thence up the ravine between Boat-hill and Buhl’s brewery, the land on which Richmond stands then having no roads passing over it.” - Reminiscences of the History of Richmond, John Plummer, 1857.

The first brewery in Richmond was commenced by Ezra Boswell about the time the town was incorporated (1818 - ed). Of the quality of the beer we have now no opportunity of forming a judgment, but it is said that some of the Councilmen of that day—who, of course, served their fellow-citizens gratuitously—one day sent to Ezra for some of his brewing, and we presume, they quaffed it until they were satisfied, but, like all men in place, they, by this simple act, subjected themselves to the tongue of slander. By the citizens, who took it upon themselves to watch over the pecuniary interests of the place, a rumor was set afloat that the Councilmen were drinking beer at the expense of the corporation.

The price of beer, sold at taverns, was in that day fixed by the court at 12½ cents a quart, while the same authority rated whiskey, per half-pint, at 12½ cents, the same quantity of common brandy, at 18¾ cents, and cognac, rum, and wine were to be sold at 37½ cents by the half pint. The care of the Court in this particular is further evinced by their allowing George Hunt, clerk, a certain sum for the purchase of whisky, during the sale of lots in Salisbury. - Reminiscences of the History of Richmond, John Plummer, 1857.