William M. “Billy” NORRIS (22 Feb 1824-7 Dec 1908) +
Lucinda THOMPSON (~1829-187x)

William R. (~1845-????) — m. Eliza Jane Sanders on 4 Jul 1866

John (Oct 23 1847-16 May 1931) — m. Mary Elizabeth Sanders Johnson on 31 Dec 1865

Thomas “Big Tom” (29 Dec 1849-27 Apr 1930) — m. Mary Susan Tompkins about 1869

George Washington (~1850-????) — m. Nancy Melvin McDowell on 26 Mar 1871

Louisa Jane “Jane” (22 Sep 1854-6 Jul 1938) — m. Joseph Reuben Kirtland in 1871

Mary Ellen (15 Sep 1858-1 Oct 1936) — m. Samuel Wells on 22 Aug 1880

Perry H. “Bud” (10 Dec 1862-18 Aug 1943) — m. “Tint” Sanders on 14 Jan 1883

Paralee Virginia (Mar 1865-28 Oct 1930) — m. Jesse Wheeler on 7 Aug 1885; m. John W. Darnell on 14 Aug 1898; m. Curtis Jandreau on 31 May 1922

Missouri (Sep 1869-????) — m. Thomas Thompson on 29 Mar 1890

Minora (Sep 1869-????)

Minnie (18 Aug 1870-1951) — m. Louis “Woods” Norris on 29 Dec 1888; m. Abraham “Abe” Beach on 25 Sep 1901; m. John Francis Willett on 28 Jun 1919

Billy was born in Missouri to Nicholas Norris, Sr. and Nancy Tucker from Tennessee. My grandmother’s records support that. His family moved into Lawrence County, Arkansas in the late 1820s. By 1840 they were living in Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, an area that is now in Sharp County. Billy was described by contemporaries as “half-colored”, with dark skin and curly black hair.

Lucinda was the daughter of William R. Thompson and Elizabeth Wells, originally from Tennessee, who reportedly lived in Kentucky before settling in Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas sometime in the 1830s.

Billy and Lucinda married in Lawrence County, Arkansas on 21 Mar 1844, a couple of months after their siblings, John Norris and Minerva Jane Thompson, tied the knot.

The 1850 census listed them (ages 28 and 20) in Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas, under the name “Noris”, with children William R. (4), John (3), Thomas (2), and George W. (2 mos.). Billy was a farmer.

The 1860 census listed them (ages 36 and 29) still in Lebanon Township, Lawrence County. Their children were William R. (14), John (12), Thomas (11), George W. (10), Louisa J. (5), and Mary E. (7 mos.), all born in Arkansas. They were next door to Billy’s father Nicholas.

Billy joined Clayton’s Company of 30-Day Volunteers mustered at Ash Flat in late 1861 to fight for the Confederacy. There are records of a William A. Norris from Pocahontas, Arkansas who joined the 6th Arkansas Infantry in 1861, rose to the rank of 3rd sergeant, was wounded, captured, shipped north to Louisville, and later released in 1862, but this might be a different William Norris.

In 1870, ages 49 and 42, Billy and Lucinda were still in Lebanon, with Jane (16), Mary (12), Perry (7), Paralie (5), and twin girls Missouri and Minora (both 11 months old). Their sons John and Thomas and their wives lived nearby. Can’t find sons William and George.

Lucinda apparently died during the 1870s. Billy remarried to Anna (Mar 1849-6 Nov 1926) from Tennessee, last name unknown. They had one child I know of:

John William (31 May 1878-5 Jun 1904) — m. Mollie S. Campbell on 22 Dec 1898

The 1880 census listed William (56) and wife Sarah (32) in Strawberry Township, Sharp County. (All later records call her Anna or Annie.) With them were Mary (21), “Peter” H. (16), Parilee (15), Missouri (10), Minora (10), and Minnie (9), Billy’s children by his first marriage, plus the newest addition, William (2).

The 1900 census showed William (76) and Annie A. (51) “Narris” in Big Creek & Strawberry Townships, with their son William J. (22) and daughter-in-law Mollie (21). This census asked month and year of birth, so we get that Billy was born Feb 1824, Annie in Mar 1849, William Jr. in Mar 1878, and Mollie in Nov 1878. The Minnie Norris (27) living next door was Billy’s youngest daughter Minnie, and also the widow of his grandson Louis Norris. See her entry at the bottom of the page for more about that unusual arrangement.

Billy died in 1908 and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery, Nelsonville, Sharp County. The tombstone lists his wife’s name as Anna, no mention of Lucinda. The 1910 census showed his widow Annie E. Norris, 62, living alone in Strawberry Township but next door to her widowed daughter-in-law Mollie. She was still there in 1920, reported age 70. She died in 1926. Burial place is unknown.

I’ve assumed that Billy’s wife in 1880 and his wife in 1900 were the same woman, and that she was just using a different name in 1880. This could be incorrect, although the 1900 census says Annie was the mother of one child, still living, which seems to confirm that she was John William Norris’s mother.

Children

William R. Norris (~1845-????)

William married the older, twice-widowed Eliza Jane Sanders (~1834-????), daughter of the elder Major Sanders, in 1866. They had at least one child, born in Missouri:

Lucinda (Jan 1874-1909) — m. George W. Jones on 1 Nov 1896

I don’t know what became of William and Eliza. Maybe they died out in Missouri? In the 1880 census, their daughter, age 6, was living with her uncle Samuel Blake Sanders (1822-1901) and his family in Lebanon Township, Sharp County.

John Norris (1847-1931)

John has his own entry in the family tree.

Thomas “Big Tom” Norris (1849-1930

Big Tom had his nickname either because he stood 6'2" tall, or because of his younger cousin born 1854 and also named Tom Norris. He married Mary Susan Tompkins (1854-1923) from Tennessee about 1869. There are records of 16 children:

Thomas Marshall (4 Jun 1870-23 Jan 1928) — m. Sarah Rachel Himes on 1 Sep 1892

William Silas (23 Mar 1872-13 May 1960) — m. Sarah L. Biggs on 10 Dec 1896; m. Mary A. in 1897; m. Annie Croom

Francis Marion (29 Jan 1874-2 Jan 1934) — m. Nancy Lulu Brandon on 13 Sep 1894; m. Mary Ann Elizabeth Brannon on 4 Jul 1897; m. Vallie Mae Mullins in 1913

Carroll Jefferson/Jeffery “C. J.” (30 Nov 1875-13 Jun 1958) — m. Callie B. Brandon on 10 Oct 1895; m. Lou Dora “Dora” Gay on 3 Oct 1897; m. Ola Brown on 7 Mar 1951

Sarah Cala (10 Dec 1877-5 Oct 1935) — m. Francis Marion Biggs on 8 Mar 1894

Martha “Luna Mae” “Lunie” (9 Oct 1879-Sep 1912) — m. James Bowden Gay in 1895

Emaline Tish (3 Sep 1881-17 Jan 1965) — m. George Hiram Alexander Brandon on 1 Aug 1900; m. George Washington David Russell on 1 Sep 1912

Charlie Alexander (17 Nov 1883-13 Jun 1957) — m. Low Ella Goff on 23 Jul 1903; m. Gertrude Mosley in 1945

Alonzo Newton “Lon” (2 Jan 1887-28 Jan 1940) — m. Mary Evie Ratliff on 2 Dec 1906; m. Maude Sanders on 13 Dec 1908

Susan “Little Sissie” (15 Nov 1888-21 Nov 1888)

Dudley Homer (18 Feb 1889-1936) — m. Maudie Pickett on 4 Feb 1914; m. Myrtle Graham on 25 Jun 1922; m. Gertrude Mosley about 1935

Pernie Maude (17 Nov 1890-12 Mar 1960) — m. Grover Sanders on 11 Feb 1917

John Albert (6 May 1891-24 Nov 1976) — m. Almeta M. “Allie” Norris on 8 Sep 1912

Walter Felix (9 Aug 1892-20 Apr 1982) — m. Allie Zion Norris on 3 May 1914

Harmon McCullar (18 Nov 1894-Jul 1977) — m. Stella Belle Smith on 6 Sep 1914

Lucian Constance (27 Jan 1897-May 1979) — m. Mary A. Metcalf on 14 Aug 1926

One of the children, John Albert, was adopted. Family accounts say he was Tom’s son but not Mary’s, and that his mother was the midwife who helped Susan give birth to Maude in 1890.

In the 1880 census for Lebanon Township, Sharp County, Tom (31) and Mary (25) had children Thomas (10), William (8), Francis M. (6), Carroll J. (4), Sarah C. (2), and Martha (6 months).

In 1900, Thomas (52) and Mary S. (48) “Narris” had children Emaline (19), Charley E. (17), Elonzo N. (13), Dudley H. (11), Maud (10), Walter (8), Harmon (6), and Lushen (3).

Family lore has preserved some colorful details about Tom. On 10 Mar 1882, he was fined $12.50 for assault and battery, and his brother John was fined $15, apparently for the same incident. He reportedly once killed a man with his bare hands for “aggravating” him. He kept a corn-liquor still, and always had a bottle in a bucket on his front porch, where he would start every day with a big swig. He buried money in jars around his property. One time he threw a rock at a bull, but missed and hit his daughter Martha in the head, with the result that she suffered from seizures thereafter. Tom occasionally made trips to Cave City and Batesville some 30 miles away, hauling a load of farm produce for sale and returning with dry goods and other things his farm and family needed. Each spring Tom would collect the shoes from all the children and store them in the basement. The following fall each kid would be fitted for a pair of shoes to wear that winter. The kids that couldn’t be fitted got a new pair of shoes.

More family color: One night in the early 1920s, sons Dudley and Harmon got drunk and robbed and murdered a schoolteacher. As the sheriff was bringing them in, they jumped from his car and ran for it. Harmon was caught, but successfully feigned insanity and spent just a year in prison. Dudley, with the aid of his brother Charlie, hid from the sheriff and took a train to Missouri, where he changed his name to Jack Kelly and eventually married again. After Dudley/Jack died, Charlie left his own wife to marry Dudley’s widow.

Tom received a grant for 80 acres of land on the Strawberry River on 13 Feb 1896. This included the site where his grandfather Nicholas Norris had been buried. It’s now part of a wilderness preserve created by the Nature Conservancy.

Mary died in 1923, and Big Tom in 1930, the same year as his cousin Little Tom Norris. His obituary said that 12 of his 15 children were still living, although I make it 13 of 16; guess they weren’t counting Albert. Tom & Mary are buried in Spotts Cemetery, Sharp County. That obituary:

“Thomas Norris, aged 81, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Grover Sanders at Sitka, Sunday, March 27. He was born on Dec. 25, 1848, and in early manhood was married to Miss Mary Susan Tompkins. To their union were born 15 children of whom twelve are living. Mrs. Norris died in 1922, and since that time Mr. Norris has made his home with his children. When still a young man he united with the Primitive Baptist church, and was a firm adherent to its principles all of his life, his membership being at Old Antioch church near Poughkeepsie.

“Mr. Norris was a splendid specimen of physical manhood until he became old, and within his bosom was a heart corresponding to his size and strength. He was firm in his convictions, ruggedly honest, and in all ways, a friend to man. Funeral services were held at the Spotts cemetery by Rev. W. R. Jones, and were attended by a large crowd of relatives and friends.”

George Washington Norris (~1850-????)

George married Nancy Melvin McDowell in 1871 in Carroll County. No record of them after that.

Louisa Jane “Jane” Norris (1854-1938)

Jane, who sometimes went by Eliza per 1880 and 1910 censuses, married Joseph Reuben Kirtland (3 May 1850-14 Nov 1939) from Tennessee in 1871. Known children:

Martha Elizabeth (18 Dec 1872-22 Sep 1894) — m. Earl V. Peebles on 31 Dec 1891

George W. (1874-????)

Eva L. (25 Aug 1887-9 Jun 1979) — m. James H. Miller on 19 Jan 1905

They lived in Strawberry Township, Sharp County. In 1880, they had a Thomas J. Norris (35) staying with them – who was that? He was too young to be Jane’s uncle Tom, and too old to be her brother Tom, who in any case had a family of his own. Jane died in 1938, and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery, Nelsonville, Sharp County. Joseph died the following year and is buried with her.

Mary Ellen Norris (1858-1936)

Mary Ellen married Samuel Wells (28 Sep 1854-4 Nov 1936) on 22 Aug 1880. Known children:

Zana Rosetta (Jul 1885-1967) — m. James Perkins Goff on 9 Dec 1906

Eliza C. (29 Aug 1886-31 Dec 1971) — m. Joe Goff on 31 Dec 1905

Virgie D. (Dec 1889-19xx) — m. William Henry Croom on 22 Aug 1908

Delphus Roe “Roe” (15 Oct 1894-4 Mar 1977) — m. Lela Hutchison on 24 Dec 1916

Mary died in 1936 and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery. Sam died shortly after, and is buried with her.

Perry H. “Bud” Norris (1862-1943)

Bud married “Tint” Sanders (4 Oct 1865-2 Feb 1963), daughter of Clark ancestor Martha “Tennessee” McFarlin, on 14 Jan 1883. They had four children:

Arrie Edna (21 Jan 1884-14 Apr 1968) — m. William Henry Willett on 6 Jan 1904

Martha L. (8 Nov 1887-25 Oct 1973) — m. John Daniel “J. D.” Himes on 18 Feb 1917

Cordelia “Corda” (16 Apr 1889-17 Dec 1974) — m. Jesse Goff on 16 Dec 1913

Olar Vastie “Viola” (21 Feb 1891-5 May 1972) — m. John Marion Parsley on 30 Nov 1910

Bud died in 1943 and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery. Tint died in 1963 and is buried with him. Daughter Corda is buried there as well.

Paralee Virginia Norris (1865-1930)

Paralee married Jesse Wheeler (~1863-1892) from Tennessee on 7 Aug 1885. They had one child I know of:

Pearly Mae (3 Dec 1892-6 Jul 1977)

Jesse died in 1892, and is buried in Monroe County, Arkansas. Paralee married in 1898 to John William Darnell (1872-7 Nov 1921). In 1900, they were in Johnson and Sullivan Townships, Sharp County. Pearly was still with them. They moved to Oklahoma in the 19-oughts, accompanied by John’s probable brother Neal Darnell (1874-19xx) and his family. In the 1910 census, Paralee said she was the mother of four children, one still living.

After John’s death, Paralee married again in 1922, to Curtis Jandreau (1858-2 Feb 1930) from Alabama. She died the same year as Curtis, and is buried in McGee Cemetery, Stratford, Garvin County, Oklahoma. Pearly Mae reportedly died in 1977 in Los Angeles.

Missouri Norris (1869-????)

Missouri married Arkansas native Thomas Thompson (~1852-????) on 29 Mar 1890. And then they disappeared.

Minora Norris (1869-????)

Minora, Missouri’s twin... nothing after 1880.

Minnie Norris (1870-1951)

Minnie married her nephew Louis N. “Woods” Norris (May 1870-1898), the son of her much older brother John, in 1888. The marriage record gives her last name as Thompson, which of course was her mother’s maiden name. Probably it was just to get around the consanguinity issue. They lived in Strawberry Township, Sharp County, and had two children:

Florence Milessa (19 Apr 1893-27 Aug 1979) — m. William Franklin Beach on 23 Dec 1908; m. Benjamin O. Brightwell on 16 Aug 1914

Jasper A. Shelby (11 Nov 1894-21 May 1987) — m. Mary Belle Ring on 4 Nov 1914

Louis died in 1898 and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery. On 25 Sep 1901, Minnie married Abe Beach (1863-1928) from Alabama, with whom she had two more children:

Roscoe N. (16 Jul 1903-30 May 1968)

Bertha May (1906-1993)

Minnie and Abe presumably divorced, since she married John Francis Willett (1861-1945) on 28 Jun 1919. She died in 1951 and is buried with Louis.

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