William L. Norton, postmaster and a prominent citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, November 27, 1839, and is the son of Dr. William Norton, a native of North Carolina, who was born March 2, 1801, and is the oldest physician with a radius of a hundred miles of Tullahoma. He came to Tennessee, and at an early date, a pioneer of Bedford County. He makes his home with his son, our subject.
Mr. Norton was reared in Bedford County and acquired his education in the common schools. He worked on the farm until his twenty eighth year, and then began merchandising at Normandy, Bedford County. In 1876 he removed to Tullahoma and continued his business for six years, when he retired and entered a dry goods house as salesman. He entered the Confederate service, joining Company E, First Tennessee Infantry (Turney’s), and served throughout the war, receiving several wounds, at the second battle of Manassas, and at Gettysburg, the first necessitating the use of crutches for six months.
October 12, 1881, our subject was married to Allie, daughter of Leonard Marbry, of Shelbyville, Tennessee. They have two children: Earl L., born September 3, 1882, and Glyndon Pearl, born January 14, 1885. The mother is a member of the Christian Church. Our subject is a member of the A. O. U. W. and K. of H. fraternities. He was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland and assumed the duties of his office November 16, 1885.
