George Washington Norton b.1814 in Russellville, Logan, KY July 18, 1889, and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. Married Martha Henry Norton.

George Norton b.1814 KY merchant (1850 census)
Martha Henry. b.1824 KY
Ernest J. b. 1847, KY
Juliette b. 1849, KY
Mary b.1852, KY (1860 census)
Minnie b. 1854 (1880 census)
Susan b.1856 , KY (1860 census)
Lucy or Lucie b.1859 KY (1860 census)
Mattie b.1864 KY (1880 census)
George b.1876 KY (1880 census)

George Norton was a wealthy man in Russelleville, KY 1850. He was living between Lawyers and Doctors with taxable land of $20,000 and taxable worthof $40,000. In 1860 his value in real estate is $150,000 in 1860. Not bad for a merchant.

He established the Southern Bank (Norton-Long Bank) in his native Russellville, KY. The bank in Russellville was robbed by the Younger-James gang. George moved to Louisville in 1866. He then started another banking house that had his name and invested in western land, some of which I believe was land here in Runnels County Texas where Norton, Texas is today.

Russellville was a rough place to be in during the Civil War. During the Civil War, over one million dollars of currency was removed from the bank and hidden to avoid confiscation by soldiers. There's no mention of which side Norton was on, but he owned 5 slaves, his brother William 9. He was 46 when the war started and would have been in a very prominent position on either side. Russellville was headquarters of the Confederate government of Kentucky. An interesting thing is that George Norton had living with him in 1860 a West Point Cadet named M W Henry who was 21. This was probably his wifes family since she was a Henry. I wonder if this was the Col MW Henry who commanded a confederate artillery brigade in the Civil War?

In any event, George seems to have come through the Civil War with his fortune intact. Although any trace ofhis family extended or otherwise is missing in 1870. By 1880 he's in Louisville.

It looks like George was 67 when he went to Texas and died just 7 years later.

Georges father was: William Norton was born in Pennsylvania and lived in Logan, KY from at least 1820 and seems to have died before 1860 which co-incides with George moving to Louisville.

William Norton 1b1782 PA hardware merchant (1850 census Logan, KY)
Mary b.1800 PA
Geoerge Washington b.1815
Presley b.1819 KY
William F. b,1823
Eckitein?(male) b.1829 KY also a merchant.

Williams father:

As to William's father, there are 10 Norton candidates in PA 1790. The best choice is George Norton of Water Street East Side, Philadelphia, PA.

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no researchers

Picture of the bank
Russellville, Kentucky - Nimrod & Co. Bank March 20, 1868 about $12,000 taken

From the Nashville Banner, March 22, 1868

About ten days ago, a man calling himself Colburn, and claiming to be a cattle dealer, offered to sell to Mr. Long a 7-30 note of the denomination of $500. As none of the coupons had been cut off, and the stranger, who pretended to be from Louisville, where the notes were worth a premium, offered it at par and allowed interest, Mr. Long became suspicious and refused to take it. On the 18th he returned again and asked Mr. Long to change him a $100 bill. He was accompanied by a man of forbidding aspect, and suspecting the note to be counterfeit, Mr. Long declined changing it. On the 20th, about 2 P. M., as Mr. Long, Mr. Barclay, clerk in the bank, and Mr. T. H. Simmons, a farmer living near Russellville, were sitting behind the counter, Colburn and another man rode up to the door, hitched their horses and entered the bank, three companions remaining outside. They asked for change for a $50 note. Mr. Long pronounced it counterfeit, but was about making a more careful examination, when Colburn drew a revolver, placed its muzzle against his head, and cried out, 'Surrender!' Mr. Long wheeled around and sprang toward the door leading into a room in the rear of the banking office. He hoped thus to make his exit from the building and give the alarm. He was, however, anticipated by one of the robbers, who intercepted him at the door already mentioned, placed a pistol within six or eight inches of his head and fired, without having uttered a word. The ball did no greater injury than grazing Mr. Long's scalp for about two inches, tearing away the hair and flesh, but not fracturing the skull. Mr. L. seized hold of the weapon, and made an effort to wrench it from his assailant, but the robber succeeded in regaining possession of his pistol. He immediately commenced to beat Mr. Long over the head with the butt, and, after a few furiously dealt blows, felled him to the floor. The latter, however, sprang to his feet and again got hold of the pistol, just as the robber was about to cock it for the purpose of giving him the finishing touch. During the scuffle which now took place, Mr. Long managed to reach the back door of the rear room. Here he concentrated his almost exhausted strength into a final effort, freed himself from the clutches of the robber, sprang through the door and closed it after him. He then ran around toward the front part of the building, shouting for assistance. When he reached the street, he found two men sitting on their horses before the entrance to the bank. They were all armed with Spencer's rifles and pistols, and were shooting up and down the street at all citizens who came within range. As Mr. Long ran by, they also fired twelve or fifteen shots at him, but, fortunately, without effect.

Inside the bank, while Mr. Long was struggling with the fellow above mentioned, and before Messrs. Barclay and Simmons could rise from their seats, the latter were confronted by Colburn and his companion with cocked revolvers and threats of instant death in case the least show of resistance was made. Neither of the gentlemen was armed and they had to accept the situation with the best grace they could command. As soon as Mr. Long made his retreat by the lack door, his antagonist returned to the banking office and assisted in the work of plunder. One of the robbers stood guard over Messrs. Barclay and Simmons, while Colburn and the other proceeded to clean out the establishment. They appeared to have an exact knowledge of its resources. As was afterward ascertained, Colburn had made some cautious inquiries as to its capital, deposits, etc., and we have already shown that his previous visits had enabled him to make a thorough inspection of the interior. In the cash drawer they found over nine thousand dollars in currency. From the vault, the door of which was standing open, they took several bags of gold and silver. This specie consisted principally of dollars, half-dollars and quarters, and had been placed in the bank on special deposit by several of the neighboring farmers. The amount has never been ascertained, but it will' not, we understand, exceed five thousand dollars. Several private boxes which were on a shelf in the vault and contained bonds were broken open, but none of the bonds were carried off-doubtless because of a fear that they had been registered and would lead to the detection of the robbers. Two robbers kept guard outside while the work of pillaging was going on, and, though the alarm had spread, kept the citizens at bay until a Mr. Owens had the courage to begin firing upon them with a pistol. He was seriously but not dangerously wounded. Finally the sentinels became alarmed and called for their accomplices inside to come out. They quickly complied, bringing with them saddle-bags crammed with gold and greenbacks.

" They were greeted with a heavy volley by a squad of citizens who were advancing up the street. All were soon in their saddles, and, at a signal from Colburn, the party dashed at full speed out of town by the Gallatin pike. Many a leaden missile was sent after them, but beyond the report that one had his arm broken, there is no ground for supposing that any of the shots took effect. Ten minutes later, some forty citizens, mounted on such animals as they could collect from buggies, wagons and hitchingposts, started in hot pursuit. All the advantage, except in point of numbers, was with the robbers. They rode splendid horses, and were as completely armed and equipped as the most daring and accomplished highwayman could desire. Five miles from Russellville the trail was lost in the woods, nor was anything heard of Colburn and his men until the 21st, when a dispatch was received here stating that they had crossed the Louisville and Nashville Railroad early in the morning, near Mitchellsville.