THE NORRIS FAMILY

The southwest quarter of Section 15, Township 4 South Range 4 was homesteaded by Amos Austin and title was received in 1875, July 30, transferred to Horace Austin who traded it to Charlotte J. and Henry S. Norris for a sawmill in Clinton County, Michigan on May 31, 1876.  The Norris family still owns this farm.  It is owned by a granddaughter, Ruby Norris Blosser and her husband Martin Blosser and James Henry Norris, a great grandson of Henry S. and Charlotte J. Norris, farms the land.

Henry Stuart Norris was born in Clinton County, Michigan and married Charlotte Jane Ware, also of Clinton County, Michigan.

They came to Kansas arriving at a small town near Hebron, Nebraska, by railroad and from there by ox team to Norway Township in 1873.

Mr. and Mrs H. S. Norris reared three children; Hattie, who married Ben Kerchman and moved to Seattle, Washington, Matilda who married Charles Dutton, a pioneer and moved to Philadelphia, Pa., and Arthur who married Ollie Long.

Ollie Long came to Kansas from Missouri about 1888, with her two brothers, Quilla and Tome and her sister Myrt.  They lived a mile and a quarter north of Norway until they married.

Their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Long, came originally fro Ohio.  Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Norris then lived on the Norris farm place where he engaged in farming.  They were charter members of the E.U.B. Church in Norway and Mr. Norris was a member of the Norway I.O.O.F. Lodge and Masonic Lodge.  Mrs. Norris was a member of the Norway Rebekah Lodge and a charter member of the Wednesday Club and a member for over forty years.

Mr. Norris served Norway Township as clerk and as Justice of the Peace for several years.  Mr. and Mrs. Norris were active in all church, community and school projects.

Mr. Norris passed on February 26, 1950.  The Norris farm home burned to the ground in 1954.  Mrs. Norris passed on in 1957.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Norris reared six children: Clarence, born Nov. 22, 1894, married Bertha McGeorge of Concordia, Kansas in 1919.  He attended the Norway schools and graduated from the Concordia Business College.  He took the Civil Services Examination and entered the Post Office of Concordia, Kansas.  He later moved to North Platte, Nebraska and then to Council Grove, Kansas.  He is now a retired rural mail carrier.  In the Army during World War I Clarence served the Quarter Masters Corps.  He is a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Kiwanis Club.  They have two sons, Robert and Jerry.  Robert served in the Air Corps in Alaska during World War II.  He married Elaine Hanson of Council Grove in 1947.  They have two daughters and live in Topeka.

Robert has one son, Jerry, by a former marriage who lived with his mother in Florida.  Jerry served overseas in the Air Corps during World War II.  He married Peggy Wilcox of Concordia, Kansas, and they, with their two daughters and one son, live in Denver, Colorado.  Ruby was born April 29, 1897.  She graduated from Norway High School and taught in the Consolidated Grade School in Norway and in Fairview Dist. 93.  She taught Martin Blosser in 1922 and they now live in Jamestown.  Ruby is a member of the Methodist Church, Eastern Star and C. L. and H. Club.  They have two daughters, Andrea Sue, who died in infancy, and Kay Annette in school at home.  Graydon attended school in Norway and served in the Marines during World War I.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the E.U.B. Church.  He passed away at his home in Modesto, California July 11, 1954.  He had been employed in the City School System there as a bus driver and mechanic.  He married Miss Mabel Kenyon of Concordia, Kansas in June 1922.  They reared five children.

Ediatha married Milton McKinney of Plymouth, Indiana, who served overseas in World War II.  They live in Plymouth, Indiana with their two sons.  Harvey in Army Medical in World War II.  He was married to Mabel Judd and they live in Garden Grove, California.  They have one son and two daughters.

Ila Jean marred Frank Johnson.  They have a daughter and a son and live in Modesto, California.

Naomi married Irvin Anchutz.  They have three sons and a daughter.  Their home is in Hayward, California.

Linda who is in high school lives with her mother in Modesto.

Lloyd was born January 10, 1903.  He attended school at Norway and was engaged in farming in that community for several years.  He married Edith Smith of Scandia in 1924.  They later moved to Scandia.  At the time of his death April 23, 1958, he was employed at the Boeing Aircraft plant in Wichita.

Lloyd was a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, Scandia, RAM Hiram Council #10 Belleville, the Concordia O.E.S. and was a member of the IOOF at Norway, the first eighteen-year old man to be admitted to the Odd Fellow Lodge in the Stated of Kansas.  Lloyd and Edith Norris reared three children: James Henry, a graduate of Norway High School, served in the Navy in World War II and graduated from the Dallas Aviation School.  He is a member of the E.U.B. Church at Norway where he lives, and of the Masonic Lodge at Scandia.  He is engaged in farming in the Norway community.  He married Iva Gray of Jamestown in December, 1952.  They have one daughter and two sons: Jean, Jim, and Donald.  Jean and Jim now attend the Norway school.



Ruby, a graduate of Scandia High School, married Morris Moravek of Munden.  They have two sons and a daughter and live in Scandia.

Clyde is a graduate of Norway High School.  He is a member of the Methodist church and the Masons Lodge.  He was a Chevrolet sales man for several years and is now engaged in farming.  He married Ella Aspergren of Scandia, December 23, 1928.  They now live in Belleville.

Vivian May was born December 13, 1907 and passed on in March of 1910.