(On the 1880 Census Akinzo said his father and mother were born in VT.)

Norton, Zacheus H. d. Apr. 27, 1839. Age 50/4/10. s/o Joe Norton. w/ Sylvia Thompson of Vt.

Zacheus H. Norton's ancestors had been living in New England for some time when he decided to move to New York. In 1811, Zacheus moved from Rhode Island to Geneseo, NY. There he met and married Sylvia Thompson. In 1813 Zaccheus and Sylvia moved to Gerry Township in Chautauqua County and settled on the road from Sinclairville Station, a stagecoach stop across the Cassadaga Creek. This is now known as Red Bird Corners and is where the old Norton homestead was. Zaccheus was a skilled hunter and trapper. That he was a good hunter can be seen from part of an old newspaper clipping: "Zacheus H. Norton who made his headquarters on Cassadaga Creek back in the days when the country was a trackless forest, accounted for 300 deer in one season." The year 1816 was an especially hard year all over North America. There was no summer. Even during June there was snow and freezing temperatures. Because of the cold weather, there were very few crops. It was called, "The Cold Year" and "The Season of Scarcity". Alonzo "Pigeon Wing" Norton was born that year. The only reason that people didn't starve to death was because they had meat and fish to eat. A History of Chautauqua County, N. Y., published in 1894 has this to say about Zacheus: "During the season of scarcity, Zacheus walked to Hamburg, N. Y., forty miles for a peck of corn carrying his rifle." This report is saying: Zacheus walked 80 miles, 40 of it while carrying a fourth of a bushel of corn and his rifle. That's quite a feat. An 1820 census book in Mayville, NY, showed the Norton household with the following assets: Five males and three females, 20 acres of land, 8 cattle, 9 sheep, 11 pigs, 14 yards of cotton, 24 yards of flannel and woolens, and 42 yards of linen. When Zacheus and Sylvia died, they were buried in Red Bird Cemetery, near their home. Their oldest son, Alonzo "Pigeon Wing" Norton grew up to be an entertainer. He was a stage whistler. His nick name may have come from a kind of Buck and Wing Dance that he did while he was whistling.

Norton, Sylvia (Thompson). d. July 20, 1842. Age 48/5/4. w/o Zacheus H. Norton.

About two miles southwest of Sinclairville, is one of the earliest places set apart for the burial of the dead, in the central part of the county. It is near what was once known as the Barnes Place, in the northeast corner of the town of Ellery, close to Cassadaga creek, and not far from a pleasant natural grove of original forest trees. It was in use from the earliest period of settlement by the people who reside upon Pickard street in Ellery, and upon the town-line road between Ellery and Gerry, and in South Stockton, and by some who resided in the vicinity of Sinclairville. Over three hundred burials have been made here. The earliest inscription is that upon an old head-stone at the grave of Margaret Love, who died February 3, 1823. Among those best known, interred in this ground, are John Pickard, a soldier of the Revolution; Elisha Tower, John Love, Jared Nicholson, Zaccheus Norton, Peter Pickard, a soldier of the war of 1812, Abel Brunson, Levi Love, John Tompkins.