442 NORCROSS. NORCROSS. postmaster of Westfield from 1857 to '61, and was again appointed by President Cleveland in 1886, but resigned in 1S88. He was a member of the House of Repre- sentatives 1874, '75, and '76 ; and was an efficient member of the railroad committee those years : was Democratic candidate for lieutenant-governor in 1S6S, and for congressional honors in 1870, Henry L. Dawes being the opposing candidate; and again in 1882, George D. Robinson being the opposing candidate. He was delegate to the national Democratic conventions of i860, '64, '68, '76 and '80. Mr. Noble has been throughout his life closely identified with the prosperity and development of his town and section of the State. He is a business man of integ- rity, and enjoys a well-earned success. He is a gentleman of generous impulses, and possessed of a strong individuality. In politics he is a staunch Democrat of the old school. NORCROSS, John Henry, son of John and Eleanor (Estabrook) Norcross, was born in Lincoln, Middlesex county, October 29, 1841. He attended a district school at East Lexington and the high school at Lexing- ton. At fifteen years of age he went to work in a dry-goods store in Lexington, and subsequently was in the same business in Medford, and in Portsmouth, N. H. In 1863 he entered the well-known and enterprising house of Lewis Coleman & Co. of Boston, and in five years had made himself so valuable to the firm that he was honored with a partnership. For fifteen years he was an important factor in the growth and prosperity of that house. In 1883 he severed his connection with Lewis Coleman & Co., and in 1884, with Wil- liam H. Brine, purchased the business of the late John Harrington of Boston, and formed a partnership known as Brine & Norcross. The new firm has had a steady and sturdy growth. Not satisfied with their first purchase, they have added to their stock, and opened two other stores in different parts of the city, and have started branch houses in Springfield, Mass., and Manchester, N. H. Mr. Norcross was married, June 6, 1866, in Medford, to Cynthia Josephine, daughter of John T. and Mary (Chadbourne) White. Four children have blessed this union : Charles Merrill, Edith Gertrude, Eleanor Josephine, and Theodore White Norcross. Mr. Norcross, since his residence in Medford, has been identified with nearly every movement of a public nature looking to the improvement and welfare of the town. He has often been called upon to serve in a public capacity, having served as selectman, overseer of the poor, sur- veyor of highway, water sinking fund com- missioner and auditor. He was for twelve years in succession a member of the Repub- lican town committee, and so popular a man ■ J. HENRY NORCROSS. with his fellow-townsmen, irrespective of their political affiliations, that at the last election, in 1888, when he was chosen to represent the town of Medford in the General Court, he received the entire Dem- ocratic strength, and was honored with a majority larger than that ever given before to any town official. He was appointed to serve on the committee on finance, a position he is easily qualified by his past experience to fill with ability and credit. He worships with the Mystic Congrega- tional church, but his benefactions are by no means confined to that society. There is scarcely a benevolent, military, religious, or social organization in his town but that often has had occasion to thank him for unostentatious but practical assistance. He is a trustee of several Masonic bod- ies, having taken full degrees in York and Scottish rites, is a trustee of the Medford Savings Bank, and is vice-president and a trustee of the Medford Co-operative Bank.
