Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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NORRIS, NOAH A. W. [Newcastle Township]
BIOGRAPHY
Noah A. W. Norris is one of the successful and representative farmers of Newcastle
township. He is descended from the Norrises of colonial days, who settled in New England and
whose descendants are to be found in every state and territory of the Union. Our subject’s greatgreat-gandfather
Norris was a Scotch immigrant. His name was Josepoh and he was one of three
brothers to seek a home in the western hemisphere. He removed his family to western
Pennsylvania and was there a successful farmer and stock dealer. He was murdered on one of his
trips home from market. This man’s son William and his son Joseph were our subject’s greatgrandfather
and grandfather, respectively. The latter was born in Pennsylvania and died in eastern
Ohio. Our subject’s father, John Norris, was born in Pennsylvania, was reared in Ohio, and when
married he entered a part of the town site of Fostoria, Ohio. He afterwrd moved near Findlay,
Ohio, and resided there till his going to Texas, dying there in Denton county some twenty years
ago. He was born in 1808. Was married to Sarah, daughter of George Clark, who was born in
Ireland, settled in Pennsylvania and there married Margaret Wilson, a daughter of Erin. John
Norris’ children were: Joseph, deceased; Nancy, wife of A. J. Anderson, of Denton, Texas;
George W., Saunders county, Neb.; Marion, deceased, and Noah A. W. The last named was born
Dec. 9, 1837, and grew up on the farm; was sparingly educated in the common schools and
perhaps most effectively by the fireside. He was born in Hancock county, Ohio, but left there in
1864, joining a freighting train, crossed the plains to Virginia City, Mont., and served as cook and
wagonmaster. He returned to civilization in the fall of 1865, and the next year came to Fulton
county. He engaged the first summer in clearing under lease of Thomas Norris. He was a partner
with M. V. Cop, saw-milling the next season, and the next year he was a land owner and busily
engaged in clearing his forty acres, for which he had gone in debt $700. He paid out and lived
comfortably and bought forty acres more on the south. He built a house costing $1,500 and grain
house costing $120. He bought twenty acres more and built a barn costing $488. He has since
bought fifteen acres more and now owns 115 acres, all of which he has secured as a result of his
own industry and good management. In December, 1867, Mr. Norris married Elizabeth Anderson,
sister of Robert Anderson, of this township. She died Sept. 12, 1894, leaving these children:
Russell, William W., Viola, John R. and Mary E., all living in this township. Nov. 28, 1895, Mr.
Norris married Emma Murphy, of Miami county. Mr. Norris is an active member of the Baptist
church and ranks among leading citizens.
[Elia W. Peattie, Fulton County History, National Publishing Co., Chicago 1896, pp. 114-
115]
NORRIS, W. V. S. [Liberty Township]
BIOGRAPHY
W. V. S. Norris, trustee of Liberty township, and one of the rising young farmers of
Fulton county, was born in this county, Sept. 23, 1861, a son of Lemuel and Drusilla (Jones)
Norris. The father was born in Miami county, Ind., and by occupation was a farmer, but during
the period of the civil war he put aside all business cares and went to the defense of the Union, as a
soldier in the Northern army. His death occurred in 1868, and his wife passed away in 1876.
Their children are Jennie, wife of “Ams” Watkins, of Middletown, Ind.; William, of Cass county,
and W. V. S. All his life Mr. Norris has been connected with agricultural pursuits. His education
was obtained in the districrt schools and in the Rochester high school. At the age of fourteen he
was left an orphan and since that time has made his way in the world unaided. He worked for
others uninterrupted until 1885. On attaining his majority he began teaching school in the winter
months, following that profession for four years. His first wages were invested in sheep and still
later in land, and the outcome of both was successful. In 1886 he began farming on his own
account northeast of Fulton, and is today the owner of three farms, aggregating 200 acres, besides
valuable personal property, all of which has been acquired through his own exertions and capable
management. He was elected township trustee on the republican ticket in November, 1894, and