Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Henry W.B. Norris , Copper Kettle


In 1860 Van Buren County, Iowa, J. N. Norris is 44, Barbara 36, Hetta F. 17, Samuel C. 15, Izora M. 10, Wm P. 8. H.W. B. 6, J.C. M. 4,and Wilmot P. 1.

In 1870 Van Buren County, Iowa, J. N. Norris is 53, Barbara 45, J. M. 20, N. P. 18, H. W. B. 16, J.C. M. 13, N. P. 11 and C.S. 1.

"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.
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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. "


In 1900 Hastings, Nebraska, Henry is a plumber, born August 1853 in Iowa, married 14 years to Sarah M. Oct 1854 Indiana. Jay N. Nov 1887 was born in Iowa, Paul W. July 1893 in Nebraska.

Henry timber-claimed 160 acres in section 25, 3S 44W in 1902.



In 1910 Henry is a jeweler in Woods County, Oklahoma, 56, with Sarah M. 54, James N. 22, and Paul W. 17.

In 1920 Hastings, Nebraska, Henry W. is 66, Sarah M. 64.
Lissa Norris is buried in Hastings: 1/1/1854 - 1/16/1922
Section: CEM Block: Q Lot: 16 Space: 02
FindaGrave # 186555527.

In 1930 Hastings, Henry and Mary E. Norris are both 76.

WHEREAS, Sarah M. Norris and Henry W. B. Norris, her husband, whose address la Hastings. Nebraska, grantors by their Trust Deed, dated October 25. 1921 and recorded November 4. A. D. 1921. In the office of the Clerk and Recorder of Yuma County, Colorado. In Book 131 at Page 554 of the records of said County, conveyed to the Public Trustee of said County the following land In said County, towlt; The Northeast Quarter of Section Twenty-five; Township Three South. Range Forty-four West In trust to secure the payment of one principal note of even date with said Trust Deed for the sum of $700.00 payable to the order of Wm. M. Lowman on November 1. A. D. 1926, after date with Interest thereon at the rate of eight per cent per annum payable semi-annually and evidenced by Interest notes thereunto attached, AND WHEREAS Default has been made by the said grantors In said Trust Deed In the performance of the covenants and conditions Imposed upon them by the terms of said Trust Deed in this, to-wlt: That said grantors failed to pay said principal note when due, and have failed to pay the Interest due on the said note on November 1, 1934, and May 1, 1934, and Interest from said dates; and have failed to pay the taxes on said real property for years 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 and penalties thereon: AND WHEREAS. The legal holder of the Indebtedness represented by said note has filed with said Public Trustee notice and demand In writing, declaring said default and electing to declare the whole debt represented by said note and interest thereon to date of sale due and payable, and demanding the sale of said land under said Trust Deed.
NOW, THEREFORE, Public notice is hereby given that pursuant to said notice, election and demand, and under and by virtue of the authority vested In me by said Trust Deed and the law. I, Robert L. Sheverbush. Public Trustee of said Yuma County, will sell the above described land for cash, at public auction, to the highest bidder at the west front door of the County Court House at Wray, In the County of Yuma, and State of Colorado, on Saturday, the Second day of July, A. D. 1938, at 10 o'clock In the forenoon, for the purpose of paying said note. Interest to date of sale, delinquent taxes and the expenses of this sale, and will give to the purchaser thereof a certificate of purchase therefor as provided by law.
Dated May 23, 1938
ROBERT L. SHEVERBUSH, Public Trustee of Yuma County, Colorado. "

Henry Ward Beecher Norris, born August 30, 1853 in Birmingham, Iowa to John N. Norris and Barbara Miller, died January 10, 1938 in Van Buren County, Iowa, wife Mary Brown Norris.
The informant was Jay Norris of Birmingham.
He's buried in Birmingham # 71522453.

Mary Jack (Brown) Norris 1854-1939 is buried in Van Buren County # 95912001>
" In February 1924 she was married to H.W.B. Norris of Hastings, Nebraska. They resided there until 1929 when she and her husband moved to Birmingham which place was their home until Mr. Norris' death in January, 1938.
Following the death of Mr. Norris she was unable, owing to her advancing age to maintain her home in Birmingham and for the past few months she has lived with Mrs. E.M. West at 306 East Madison Street in Fairfield, where her spirit took its flight in the early morning hours of May 18th, 1939."


"Jay Nelson Norris, son of H. W. B. and Melissa Kelley Norris, was born in Birmingham, Iowa, Nov. 16, 1887, and passed away at his home in Birmingham Sunday morning, June 26, 1949, at 5 o’clock at the age of 61 years, seven months and ten days.
He was united in marriage to Miriam Herod, at Wichita, Kans. June 9, 1915 and to them were born two children, Mary Miriam Birdsong and Jay Nelson Norris, Jr., both of whom with the mother survive. He is also survived by three granddaughters, Kathleen Jayne Birdsong and Sharon Kay and Barbara Norris, and one son-in-law and one daughter-in-law. He was a member of the Ft. Madison, Iowa Elks and was a member of the Methodist church in Hastings, Nebr. as a boy.
He was born in Birmingham and returned here with his family in 1934 which has since been their home. He has been in the employ of Roy Hinson, jeweler, as watchmaker in Fairfield for a number of years.
Funeral services were held at the Catcott funeral home Tuesday afternoon, June 28, 1949, at 2 o’clock in charge of Rev. H. C. Irvine. Burial in Maple Hill cemetery. "
FindaGrave # 95911273.

Paul W. Norris and Dora J. Curl married in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma on August 12, 1918.

Paul is a piano salesman in Red Willow County, Nebraska, in 1920, 27, with Dora 23 and newborn Howard.

Paul W. Morris 1893-1927 is buried in Enid, Oklahoma # 91007353, with Dora J. (Curl) Norris 1896-1987.

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