The Norman Shepard Morton Family The Morton School name was derived from the family of Norman Shepard Morton. Norman S. Morton, was born in the town of Amhurst, Massachusetts on August 12, 1808 to John and Rebecca (Moody) Morton. Norman's mother was an educated and religious woman who taught Norman how to read his way through the Bible when he was eight. When he was nine, Norman and his family left Amhurst and moved to Gorham, New York (Ontario County). At 17 Norman left New York for Ohio. On December 2, 1830 he registered land with the land grant office in Wooster, Ohio arriving in the New London area out side of Shelby, Ohio on New Year's day 1830. On June 19, 1839 Norman sold the original land grant property to Jacob Clark and purchased the land where the Morton School now stands. After arriving in the Shelby, Norman married Eliza (Elizabeth?) Ann Gamble. The oldest of Hugh (Judge) and Mary Disbrow Gamble's children. This marriage which took place on the 6th of August 1830 brought forth 7 children: Linus Eugene, John H., Norman, Salma, Caroline, Moses Lewis and William. Eliza (Gamble) Morton died September 6th 1841. On November 22nd, 1841 Norman married his second wife, Ann Elizabeth Douling (daughter of Zachariah C. Duling). To this second marriage were born 3 sons and 6 daughters. It was on the 16th day of November 1883 (according to documents on file in the Tax Department of Richland County, Mansfield, Ohio) that Norman and Ann Elizabeth Morton leased the land where the present day school is located to the Board of Education, Sharon Township, Richland County, Ohio. The School Board at that time was comprised of Samuel F. Ekis, William H. Smith, Eugene Cattey, E.D. Beckingham, Jacob Molder and John Wirtz. Norman Morton died January 30, 1891. He was described by his friends, neighbors and fellow citizens as honest, upright and kind. People said to have found him obliging and the kind of father who taught his children the same pioneer morals that had been instilled in him by his own parents. Norman left 39 grandchildren and 20 great Grand Children the decedents of which still populate the surrounding area and counties.
The above Norman S. Morton Family history appears on the Shelby Genealogy Website http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohscogs/ and was supplied by: Mr. Kim Butler Histed - kbhisted@yahoo.com If you have further questions on the Norman Shephard Morton Family, or if you would like to add to the page, please email us. 
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