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The Norton-Orgain House sits on a site believed to have been a part of the land that impresario Sterling C. Robertson contracted to settle in the 1820's. After disputes with Mexico, The Republic of Texas, and the State of Texas as to the ownership of the land, Elijah S. C. Robertson received title to approximately 1,280 acres which included the site upon which the house now sits. Historically, the site included a cistern in the rear and a picket fence between the house and the old Goodnight Cattle Trail. No remains of other structures have been found. Prior to his ownership of the Norton-Orgain House, Nimrod Lindsay Norton had an illustrious history in Kentucky and Missouri. Norton was born in 1830 near Carlisle, Nicholas County, Kentucky. His parents were also children of American pioneers who contributed to the American Revolution. After education at Fredonia Military Academy in western New York and at the Kentucky Military Institute, Norton moved to Missouri and began farming. The After the war, Norton was pardoned and moved to south Texas and later to Bell County. He soon became well known in the Central Texas area. In 1873, Norton became a charter member of the Texas Grange No. 1 and later acted as General Manager of the Central Texas Fair from 1873 to 1875. In 1879, Governor Oran M. Roberts selected Norton to survey lands designated by the State to be sold to finance a new State Capitol building. Norton surveyed all or parts of Dallam, Hartley, Deaf Smith, Palmer, Castro, Bailey, Lamb and Hockley Counties. His diary and letters to Governor Roberts described the country, camp life, and flora and fauna of the Llano Estacado (staked Plains). Norton's surveys and descriptions were important in opening the High Plains to settlement. In 1880, Norton was selected, along with the Hon. Joseph Lee, to serve as the Capitol Building Commission. Their duties included design and materials review and oversight of construction of the new Capitol Building. During the early part of their tenure, Norton and Lee had to choose between Indiana limestone and Texas pink granite as the exterior building material for the new Capitol. To end the controversy, Norton and his business partners, W. H. Westfall and G. W. Lacey, donated the Texas pink granite from their quarry in Burnet County. Norton later resigned from the Building Commission to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest as a result of this gift. It has been stated, "To Col. Norton, more than any other person, Texas is indebted for the magnificent structure that adorns Capitol Hill." The Texas Legislature extended it's thanks by passing a Resolution of Gratitude and by offering Col. Norton the use of a free office in the Capitol Rotunda acknowledging his contribution. Norton continued to live in Salado for some time after he sold the house in September of 1882 to John H. Orgain and his wife, Kate Alma. He subsequently moved to Austin and in 1893 built a home there. Norton died in 1903 and is buried in Austin's Oakwood Cemetery. John Orgain and his wife, Kate Alma, were significant figures in Salado and Central Texas throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. John Orgain was born in 1829 near Paris, Tennessee and after coming to Central Texas, he was considered to have been one of the founders of Salado in 1859 while managing the family farm near Hutto. After being wounded while seeing limited duty during the Civil War, Orgain returne Kate Alma Galvin was born in Chicago of wealthy parents. After her education was completed, she moved to the Round Rock area where she taught music and art. After her marriage to John, Kate taught school at Salado College in the late 1860's. During this time, Kate served as the first President of the "Amasavourian" reading society. This group, whose name literally means "love of knowing," raised funds for the purchase of books which became the basis for the Salado circulating library. Beginning in 1890, Kate taught music for several years in Thomas Arnold High School. Frustrated at the lack of reading and teaching materials available, Kate wrote or edited several books from 1900 to 1904 which included, Southern Authors in Poetry, Supplementary Reader and A Waif from Central Texas which was later published in The Bohemian- a nationally distributed literary magazine.
It seems most fitting that the Norton-Orgain house should be recognized with a Texas Historical Marker. The house, a fine example of the Greek Revival style in Central Texas, is an integral part of the historic community of Salado, and was the home for many years of individuals who made very significant contributions to the growth and development of the State of Texas.
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Home History Rooms Highlights Meetings Weddings Location Family owned and operated
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House in the center of Salado, Bell County, Texas. An integral part of the historic fabric of Salado, the house was built circa 1871 by Mr. Edward R. A. Buckles, who was the owner of the famous Stagecoach Inn and one of the founders of the city. 
Civil War saw Norton organize a company of troops and rise to the rank of Colonel as a Field Staff Officer to General Sterling Price. In May of 1864, Norton was elected to serve as a Missouri representative in the Second Confederate States Congress.
d to the Salado area to pursue businesses which included the Davis Mill and other enterprises with Captain Barbee. John Orgain was later instrumental in the organization of Thomas Arnold High School and served as County Superintendent of Schools in 1898.
