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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.