Van Norman

Joseph Van Norman is a native of New Jersey, a son of John and Sarah (De Pue) Van Norman, and was born May 12, 1796. His mother was of Huguenot descent, her ancestors escaping from France at the time of the persecution of the Protestants. When he was a small boy the family emigrated to Canandaigua, in Western New York, where he received a moderate education, picked up some knowledge of the iron manufacturing business, and having a talent, as well as a natural taste, for mechanics, he built a small furnace, and operated it for two or three years; … Read more

George Robinson Van Norman, Q.C., County Crown Attorney and Clerk of the Peace, is a son of Joseph Van Norman, whose sketch appears on preceding pages, and was born in Canandaigua, New York, March 12, 1821, the family removing to Canada before he was a year old. He finished his literary education at Cobourg Academy, now Victoria College; studied law two years with William Salmon, of Simcoe, and three years with Hon. Robert B. Sullivan, of Toronto, afterwards Judge of the Superior Court; was called to the Bar at Hilary term, 1847, and created a Queen’s Counsel in February, 1873. … Read more