Shepherd F. Norris
was born April 8, 1814, at Epping, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, but removed when a young man to West Union, Ohio, where he read law. He was admitted to the bar at Georgetown, and practiced in Adams County, where he was elected prosecuting attorney in October, 1839. He served until March, 1843, when he removed to Batavia, and Joseph McCormick was appointed in his place. He was a member of the Legislature from Clermont County in 1847 and 1848.
In 1851 he was appointed presiding judge of the court of common pleas of Adams County, Brown and Clermont, under the old Constitution, and served until the new Constitution took effect. He was elected common pleas judge in the three counties in the fall of 1851, and again in 1856, and served two full terms. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1851, from Clermont County. He was a candidate for Supreme Judge on the Democratic ticket in 1854, but was defeated. The vote stood, 186,498 for Joseph R. Swan, and 109,025 for Shepherd F. Norris.
The writer of this sketch, Mr. Evans, remembers when he sat upon the bench as common pleas judge in Adams County. He wore a very full and long brown beard, and was a snuff taker. He was constantly taking snuff while sitting on the bench, and his beard was full of it. He was considered a very good and fair judge by everybody but Judge Owen T. Fishback, of Clermont County, who maintained a contrary opinion, perhaps growing out of some personal matter. However, he was kindly remembered by the people of his own county and the lawyers of his subdivision. He died August 23, 1862. He was a Democrat in politics.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900