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Dr John Nelson Norris

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Dr John Nelson Norris

Birth	:	7 Jun 1816 Steuben County, New York, USA
Death	:	28 Jul 1891 Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.8778020, -91.9354496
Plot	:	Section 2 Row 1
Description	:	Note: the following biography is presented "as is"; be aware that these types of biographies that were published sometimes had name, location, and other family information that could be interpreted differently using other sources. Use it as a guide but with caution. ------------------ From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890 JOHN NELSON NORRIS, M.D. John Nelson Norris, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon of Van Buren County residing in Birmingham, was born in Steuben County New York, June 7, 1816, and is a son of James and Hettie Hyatt Norris. The family is of... Read More	Note: the following biography is presented "as is"; be aware that these types of biographies that were published sometimes had name, location, and other family information that could be interpreted differently using other sources. Use it as a guide but with caution. ------------------ From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890 JOHN NELSON NORRIS, M.D. John Nelson Norris, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon of Van Buren County residing in Birmingham, was born in Steuben County New York, June 7, 1816, and is a son of James and Hettie Hyatt Norris. The family is of German origin. Shadrach Norris, the grandfather of our subject, emigrated from Germany to this country and settled in New Jersey. His wife was a native of County Antrim Ireland. After their marriage they removed to Steuben County, New York. The father of the Doctor was born in New Jersey in 1784. He served his country in the War of 1812, and after his return from the army was married in Steuben County in 1815, to Miss Hyatt who was born in the same county in 1790, and came of pure English stock. He was a farmer by occupation but at the time of his death, which occurred in 1829, he was working at contracting on the Ohio canal. His wife died some six years later in the faith of the Baptist Church, of which she was a member. In political sentiments, Mr. Norris was a supporter of Democratic principles. In their family were four children, of whom three are yet living—Rebecca, widow of Isaac Young, a resident of Albany Oregon; John Nelson of this sketch, and Weltha, widow of Dr. William Miller, also residing in Albany Oregon. In the days of his boyhood and youth our subject spent upon a farm and in the common schools of that day acquired a good English education. However, not desiring to follow the pursuit to which he had been reared, he left the parental roof and bidding goodbye to home and friends started out in life to make his own way in the world. The first pursuit to which he turned his attention was that of clerking, being employed in a store at Millersburg Ohio. He conceived the idea of making the practice of medicine his life work and during his leisure hours gave his time to the study of that science. In 1837, he and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Miller, came to Iowa, and in February of 1838, located adjoining the site of the present town of Birmingham, which has since grown up around them. They built a cabin of hickory poles, which they adorned with a stick chimney and though the roof served well in dry weather it proved hardly adequate in the rainy season. The Doctor was his own cabinetmaker; with auger and ax he constructed a bed which at least possessed one admirable quality, that of strength. Soon after arriving, Dr. Miller and his wife were taken sick and Dr. Norris, being an "all around man" served as housekeeper, nurse, doctor and cook. To fill the last position required no little ingenuity. They had brought a sack of meal with them but it has gotten wet and spoiled and he therefore had to improvise a grater and provide the breadstuff. Salt was wanting but he boiled salt beef bones, and thus obtained the much desired article. Stagnant pond water was not very palatable but who cared for that when with one stroke of the bucket you could drive the scum away and scare the tadpoles to the bottom. Is it any wonder that a person who could find some way to surmount such obstacles as this should succeed in professional life. The Doctor was blessed with a liberal patronage from the first. He would often have to drive twenty or twenty-five miles to visit a patient and became known all over the county. Having practiced until 1854, he was graduated from the medical department of the State University, then at Keokuk. Twenty-two students have prepared themselves for college under his instructions; he has been very successful in surgery, having cut out some twenty-two tumors and has had an extensive and successful course of practice on the eyes, patients coming to him from different states to receive treatment. On July 26, 1842, Dr. Norris was united in marriage with Miss Margaretta S. Culbertson, a native of Ohio, and unto them was born two children—Hettie F. widow of C.M. Selvey, and Samuel C. who served in the Third Iowa Cavalry during the late war. He was taken prisoner near Memphis Tennessee, and then sent to Andersonville, where he remained in captivity for four months. He died in 1871 (sic. headstone says 1870), from the effects of prison life. The mother of these children was called to her final rest in September of 1847. The Doctor was again married on October 26, 1848, the lady of his choice being Barbara Miller, who was born in Highland County Ohio, December 22, 1823, and came to this county among its early settlers. Their union has been blessed with six children—Izora M., wife of John S. Ragsdale, a druggist of Birmingham; John M. who died when about two years old; Dr. W. Pitt, who for some sixteen years has been a partner of his father, and Dr. Jay C. who has shared in their business for some seven years. (sic. inadvertently or omitted for unknown reasons was a son, Wilmot P "W.P." Norris, 1858-1926, who moved to Holdrege, Phelps county, Nebraska to live and raise his family) In early life, Dr. Norris supported the Whig Party until the rise of the Abolition Party. On the organization of the Republican Party he joined its ranks but within the past fifteen years he has been independent, voting alone for the man who he thinks will best fill the position. Religiously, he grasps the broad idea of the brotherhood of all Christians, making the test of fellowship, loyalty to Christ. The Doctor has the honor of having aided in laying out the town of Birmingham and giving it its name. In 1839 John Harrison took a claim on which the city now stands. The Doctor after much argument and many promises of assistance induced Mr. Harrison to make the venture of founding the town and the result shows that his ideas were correct. He has witnessed its growth, has been identified with its advancement and has done not a little for it building up. For fifty-one years he has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Van Buren county, during which he has won a reputation equal to any in this section and as a true student still keeps himself well informed concerning the progressive movement of the science. ---------- Buried directly adjacent in the same row to Dr. John N Norris are Samuel C Norris, Claude B Norris, and Beecher Norris - three sons of John N Norris. To the immediate south is a daughter, Izora M Norris Ragsdale. The burial location of John's first wife Margretta is in Winchester cemetery, Van Buren county, Iowa. An infant son from his second marriage, John M Good Norris, is also buried in Winchester cemetery. Despite a number of searches of cemetery, WPA, and Ancestry.com sources this contributor has not found the burial location for Barbara Miller Norris (1823 - ????), the second wife of John N Norris. Any clarification or information about where she is buried would be greatly appreciated.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dr John Nelson Norris's memorial?
Dr John Nelson Norris's memorial is located at: Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA.
When did Dr John Nelson Norris death?
Dr John Nelson Norris death on 28 Jul 1891 in Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Dr John Nelson Norris's memorial?
Latitude: 40.8778020
Longitude: -91.9354496

Family Members:

Spouse

Barbara Miller Norris

(1823 - 1904)

Children

Samuel C Norris

(1845 - 1870)

Izora M Norris Ragsdale

(1849 - 1904)

William Pitt “W P” Norris

(1851 - 1909)

Henry W Beecher Norris

(1853 - 1938)

Dr Jay C Norris

(1856 - 1931)

Wilmot P. “W. P.” Norris

(1858 - 1926)

Claude B Norris

(1868 - 1873)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Maple Hill Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8778020, -91.9354496

2. Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8788000, -91.9427000

3. United Presbyterian Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8796000, -91.9438000

4. Parkerville Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8666920, -91.9001710

5. Smith Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8807983, -91.8964005

6. Clinkinbeard Family Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083300, -91.9583300

7. Winchester Cemetery
Winchester, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8499985, -91.9047012

8. Topping Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8500000, -91.8879670

9. Thompson Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9155998, -91.9772034

10. Bethel Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8967018, -92.0056000

11. Cumberland Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9248000, -91.9903000

12. Pattison Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9444008, -91.9049988

13. Fordyce Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8388000, -91.8556000

14. White Chapel Cemetery
Birmingham, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8417015, -92.0203018

15. Wiley Pioneer Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9087000, -91.8457000

16. Kilbourne Cemetery
Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8045000, -91.9705000

17. Jefferson County Poor Farm Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9416900, -91.9996200

18. Miller Chapel Cemetery
Mount Zion, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8045000, -91.8905000

19. Roth Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9589005, -91.9574966

20. Wilson Family Cemetery
Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7951500, -91.9681000

21. Wright Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9524000, -91.8728000

22. Gilbert Cemetery
Kilbourn, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7916926, -91.9779510

23. Rogers Cemetery
Mount Zion, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7916800, -91.8890600

24. Trumbo Cemetery
Stockport, Van Buren County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8166943, -91.8418354