John Milton Norman, who went by Milton, was born August 11, 1870 to Ananias Norman & Eunice Delany Lee. At the time of his birth, the 1870 census revealed that the family was living near Sulphur Springs in what is now the area around Creal Springs. At the time of the census, his father was working as a carpenter and Milton had 6 siblings.
By the 1880 census, Milton was living with his parents in Marion and had 5 siblings.
In July 1895, an unmarried Milton was working as a carpenter and paid Joab Goodall $100 for Lot 5, Block 10 of Joab Goodall’s 1st Addition to Marion where he would go one to build a large two story home at 704 N. Van Buren St.
On September 11, 1889, Milton married Mary E. Felts in Williamson County. Mary was 22 years old and was the daughter of G.W. Felts. Mary and Milton would go on to have three children named Adelaine, Leonard and Helen over the next 8 years. Mary died of dropsy on November 20, 1898 and was buried in Norman Cemetery.
Milton remarried on December 6, 1899 to his second wife, Effie Trout, from Saline County. She was the daughter of Joe Trout and Amanda Arnold. The 1890 federal census recorded the couple living in their home at 704 N. Van Buren St. in Marion. Milton was listed as a 29 year old carpenter/contractor, Effie was 23 and their children were listed as Addie 9, Leon, 4, and Helen 2. They owned their home free of mortgage.
Milton was listed in the 1904 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County as serving as Worthy Advisor for the Modern Woodmen of America Camp 5337. An article in the local paper from 1907 indicated that Milton was active in an Anti-Saloon Convention held in Marion in 1907.
He served as Marion city Alderman in 1909 and 1910 under Mayor J.C. Mitchell. The 1910 census still listed Milton as a carpenter and living in their family home. At the time, he was 40 and Effie was 32. Living in the home at the time was son Leon 14, daughter Helen 12 and Milton’s 73 year old mother Delaney.
In 1915 the first Norman Homecoming was held in August at the Wiliamson County Fairground. It would be the first of many that would run for decades and be officiated by Milton for over 30 years.
Between the 1910 and the 1920 census, Milton bought a partnership with Alvin Norman in the Heyde Hardware Store located at 212 N. Market Street. The store sold hardware, paints, fencing, stoves and building supplies. By the 1920 census, their son Leonard had gone off to serve in the U.S. Army in 1914 during the WWI period and served five years in the Philippines and France. In the 1920 census, all the children are gone and the couple were in their 40’s. By the 1930 census, the couple was still living alone in their family home on N. Van Buren St. and were in their 50’s.
By the late 1920 and early 1930’s Milton had become active in the local retail merchants organization and often served as the mouthpiece for the local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce. Milton dressed the windows for the hardware store he operated and apparently became famous for his displays, since local citizens drove from the county to see them.
From the early days of Marion for Milton until near his death he always served as the Grand Marshall of all of the parades and could always be seen at the head of the parade riding a splendid white horse. This was precisely the case for the Williamson County Centennial Celebration and Parade held in August of 1939 as well as all of the significant events held in Marion over the decades.
On March 4, 1943, Milton’s wife, Effie, died in their home at the age of 64 years and 10 months. Burial was in Norman Cemetery.
Milton died of a heart attack on June 2, 1945 and was buried in Norman Cemetery. Milton was a former carpenter and building contractor early in life and later one of the owners of Heyde Hardware Company for 25 years until his retirement around 1942. He was a member of the David Herrin I.O.O.F. Lodge 1036, the Odd Fellows Encampment, a charter member of the Royal Neighbors, Modern Woodsmen, Rebekahs, the Carpenters Union and the Marion Merchants Association. For many years he was an officer of the Williamson County Chapter of the American Red Cross and was active in promoting the Boy Scouts.
In his youth, he was affiliated with the old Cross Roads Presbyterian church, but in later years attended the Primitive Baptist Church at Johnston City where his funeral services were held. Burial was in Norman Cemetery.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Addie Baumler of Marion and Mrs. Helen Rogers of Chicago. One son, Leon Norman of Louisville, Kentucky. Two brothers and one sister also survive. They are Melvin and William C. Norman and Mrs. Myrtie Goddard, all of Marion.
The house that J. Milton Norman built ca 1896 at 704 N Van Buren Street and served as a family home for over 50 years was demolished in 1991 and turned into a rental quadplex in 1999.
Notes on Children:
Adelaine Norman Baumler, 1890-1972, married Charles Baumler in 1910
Leonard Norman, 1896-1963, WWI veteran, married Clara Anz in 1919, had two children Ervin E. & Milton Leon Norman
Helen Norman Rogers, 1898-1949, married a Rogers
(Sources: Marion Weekly Leader, Egyptian Press, Federal Census Records. Williamson County Deed Records, Events in Egypt, 1904 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, 1913 Opportunity City booklet., Compiled by Sam Lattuca 2/17/2024)