John S. Norris Norris Family of Union Township  

....pioneers John and Lydia George Norris who came to the Maxinkuckee area in 1837.. Lorraine married Elisha Lake...Ransom married Mary Lewis....Ransom's son Rev. Schuyler Norris married Anna Wolley..Other sons of Ramson were: Gilson, Bert, William George, Nelson and Harvey, my grandfather, who married Loiusa Alder and had four children: Anna, Allen, William G., my father and Norman. - Marshall County Indiana History - 1986

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From Corwin's One Township Yesterday's

Here is one family of those that came to Union Township in '36, that did not come in from the south. The Norris family came through from Vermont, a northerly State in the New England group, and from the north their overland trek led ultimately to Union Township and to Maxinkuckee shores.

John Norris was the migrating ancestor who came from the rock-ribbed country of Vermont, a hill country that built sturdiness of body and of character. John Norris and his wife, with their eight small children, struck westward from Vermont. At length they came to the waters of the inland lakes. They crossed Lake Erie to Detroit. There, the father bought an ox team and a covered wagon. They were not content to remain; they would go farther. They journeyed in the covered wagon from Detroit in a southwesterly direction until they came at last to a point about three miles east of Lake Maxinkuckee, where, they stopped on land that is now the Ezra Hibray farm, not far from the Maxinkuckee village that was to be, a few years later.

The Norris family arrived in 1836.

The spot where they stopped looked good. They decided to make it the end of their long journey. They stayed.

One of the eight children was named Ransom, and when he grew up he bought the farm adjoining his father's.

This farm is now occupied by Everett M. Norris. It is located on the Norris Road and is known widely for its orchards.
Ransom Norris purchased it from the Erie Canal Company and paid $1.25 an acre for it. The Canal Company had obtained the land from the government, it is asserted, as pay for digging the Erie Canal. The company got a tremendous tract when land was almost worthless.

The name of Ransom H. Norris is given by the historian Thompson in the list of Union Township pioneers who settled prior to 1840.

The Norris Inlet, a stream tributary to Lake Maxinkuckee, was so named due to its nearness to the Norris land.

A grandson of Ransom Norris and great grandson of the pioneer John Norris resides today in Culver , in the person of Dr. Norman S. Norris , a leader in the ranks of the dental fraternity. Dr. Norris has practiced in Culver since his graduation from the Indiana Dental College in 1904. He was born in West Township, September 6, 1879. His father, Harvey Ransom Norris, was born near Lake Maxinkuckee in 1851, and his mother, nee Louisa Adler, was a native of Stark County, Ohio.





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John Spencer Norris BIRTH 22 May 1785 Corinth Center, Orange County, Vermont DEATH 1847 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana, BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana son of Benjamin Norris and Elizabeth "Betsy" Spencer

A soldier of 1812 Married Lydia Ann George BIRTH 18 Sep 1789 Vermont DEATH Jan 1846 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana, daughter of Asa George and Sally Worthley

Their Children were:
1 Sally Norris (1807–1807)

3 William George Norris BIRTH 1810 Vermont DEATH 19 Nov 1892 hicago, Cook County, Illinois BURIAL City Cemetery South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana Mary Card BIRTH 1816 England DEATH 26 Mar 1869 South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, BURIAL City Cemetery South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana Children
Leonidas "Lon" Norris 1842–1906 married Mary Yant
Lydia A Norris Pierson 1845–1900 married Sgt George Henry Pierson
Mercy M Norris 1854–1939 married V. Horace Messenger Frank Colfax Norris 1860–1862


3 Ransom Norris (1811–1813)

4 Jane Ann Norris BIRTH 11 Nov 1812 Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, EATH 31 Jan 1855 Michigan BURIAL Blackmar Cemetery Moscow Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan, married Horatio Nelson Ajax Holmes BIRTH 1799 Bedford, Westchester County, New York, DEATH 13 Mar 1850 Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan BURIAL Blackmar Cemetery oscow Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan,

5 James Spencer Spencer BIRTH 5 Mar 1815 Vermont DEATH 31 Mar 1874 Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, BURIAL Silverbrook Cemetery Niles, Berrien County, Michigan married Minerva Brickell BIRTH 1820 Virginia DEATH 29 Aug 1903 Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, BURIAL Greenwood Memorial Terrace Spokane, Spokane County, Washington

6 Lorraine Norris BIRTH 2 Oct 1816 Orange County, Vermont DEATH 16 Mar 1892 Marshall County, Indiana BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana
married 1836 William Crouver Child:
George W. Crouver BIRTH 7 Jan 1836 DEATH 30 Jan 1864 BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana
married 1841 Loren Smith child:
Henry Jackson Smith
married Oct. 12, 1848 Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana ELisha LakeB IRTH 11 Dec 1826 Columbia County, Pennsylvania, DEATH 20 Mar 1873 BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana
Elijah B Lake (1844–1934) Wesley Allen Lake (1849–1892) Jasper Milbiur Lake BIRTH 1 May 1850 Argos, Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 22 Jun 1937 Argos, Marshall County, Indiana, BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana, married Nov 2 1879 Laura Price BIRTH 26 Aug 1860 Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 20 Jan 1941 Argos, Marshall County, Indiana BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana,

Marquis Laffayette “Dock” Lake BIRTH 19 Feb 1852 rgos, Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 19 Feb 1930 Jones, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, BURIAL Poplar Grove Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana


7 Ransom Harvey Norris BIRTH 14 Nov 1818

8 Melinda Norris BIRTH 30 May 1820 New York, DEATH 15 Nov 1893 Cass County, Michigan BURIAL Smiths Chapel Cemetery Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan married on 15 Nov 1838 St Joseph County, Indiana. Abijah Patchen Backus BIRTH 31 Dec 1812 Groton, Tompkins County, New York, DEATH 15 Sep 1895 Adair County, Iowa, BURIAL Smiths Chapel Cemetery Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan, USA They had 5 children:
Harvey R Backus (1840-1904) John S Backus (1844-1918) Alma Malinda Backus (1847-1932) Polly Melinda Backus (1850-1894) Lillian V Backus (1859-1936)


9 Asa Worthley Norris BIRTH 26 Oct 1822 Erie county DEATH 18 Jan 1904 Scottsville, Mitchell, Kansas BURIAL West Hope Cemetery Jewell County, Kansas 1850 Asa and Margaret were livinng in Marshall county, Indiana - where by the 1856 state census of Iowa thay had moved to Black Hawk county, Iowa
Mr. Asa W. Norris was born October 26th 1822 Erie co. New York.

Died January 18th 1904, at his home in Scottsville, Kansas, aged 81 years, 2 months, 22 days.

At an early age he moved to South Bend. Indiana, and was married to Miss Margaret Ramo, of that city. To this union was born seven children, all of them with their mother have passed over and have been waiting on the other shore.

On April 10th 1864, Mr. Norris and Miss Mary Ruynan Miller, were united in marraige at Cedar Falls, Iowa. To this union was born one son Mr. John A. Norris, of Fairbury, Nebraska. They have on adopted daughter Mrs. P. W. Jones of Jamestown

Mr. Norris united with the First Baptist church of Cedar Falls, in 1862 and held his membership there until coming to Kansas in 1873 when they united with the Methodist church, there being no Baptist church near at that time, but in the fall of 1900 he and his wife placed their membership with the First Baptist church of Scottsville, Kansas, remaining an active member until the time of his death

As has been stated Mr. Norris and family came to Kansas in 1872 nd lived on their homestead for a number of years when they moved to Scottsville where he resided at the time of his death.

He was a carpenter by trade, and for years worked faithfully along that line, and while building homes on earth for others, did not fail to build a Christian charter for himself and prepare to inhabit the mansion beyond, that Christ was building for him. A builder here he has gone to occupy a masion yonder Text: John 14-1.

The funeral service was held at the home, conducted by Rev. Huckell of Cawker City.

The remains were laid to rest in the West Hope cemetery. - 22 Jan 1904 The Western Call Beloit, Kansas,
married South Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana Margaret Ramo birth 187 Michigan, Death DEATH 13 Nov 1863 BURIAL Hillside Cemetery Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa,
George West Norris Birth 1850 Marshall county, Indiana Death 1874 Black Hawk county, Iowa, Burial Hill Side Cemetery lack Hawk county, Iowa, married Dec 1872 Black Hawk, Iowa Alice M. Miller

Oliver N. Norris (1853–)

Marguerita Norris (1853–1855)

Emma L. Norris (1855–)

Rosanna "Rosa, Rose " Norris (1857–1867)

Freddie Norris Birth 1855 Iowa Death 1872 Kansas

? Norris
married 10 Apr 1864 Black Hawk county, Iowa Mary E. Runnion Birth 1 NOVEMBER 1840 Michigan DEATH 24 May 1904 BURIAL West Hope Cemetery Jewell County, Kansas children
John "Jack" A. Norris Birth 3 Aug 1868 Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa Death 25 Jan 1943 Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska BURIAL Fairbury Cemetery Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska married Oct 19 1892 Wilber, Saline county Nebraska Minnie Chasdek BIRTH 15 Feb 1876 Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa DEATH 17 Apr 1961 Hebron, Thayer County, Nebraska BURIAL Fairbury Cemetery Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska,

daughter (adopted) married P. W. Jones
The 1900 census states Mary E. Runnion was mother of 3 children all living and in the 1870 census there were children by the surname "Miller" listed with them in the 1860 census a M. E Miller age 20 infered mother for Edward age 6/12 were with John Runyan and wife in Jefferson, Bremer, and with them was a "Alice Runnyan" age 13 and her marriage record of 05 Dec 1882 at Bremer, Iowa to Edmond H. Tyler list her as daughter of John Ruynan and Lovina Thayer John and Lovina Thayer were married 26 Jul 1835 at Oakland, Michigan, BUT so far no marriage record has been located for a Mary Runyan or a Miss Mary Ruynan Miller only the one a as "Mary Runnion" to Asa W. Norris.
Edward Miller age 11 1859
Frederick Miller age 9 1861
Alice Miller age 3 1867


10 Benjamin Spencer Norris (1822–1830)

11 Alma Luceba Norris (BIRTH 17 OCT 1825 Erie Co., NY DEATH 11 FEB 1882 Argos, Marshall Co., IN married 10 Apr 1846 Marshall, Indiana Chester Clark (1814–1847) ; married 1848 George Wirt (1818–1850); married 3 Aug 1851 Marshall, Indiana, Joseph W. French (1826-1902);

12 Henry Harrison Norris BIRTH 18 Aug 1827 Erie Co, New York, United States DEATH APR 1848 Texas or Mexico

13 Lydia Ann Norris (1829–1831)

14 John Spencer Norris Jr.BIRTH 5 Mar 1815 Vermont DEATH 31 Mar 1874 Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, BURIAL Silverbrook Cemetery Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, Minerva Brickell BIRTH 1820 Virginia DEATH 29 Aug 1903 Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, BURIAL Greenwood Memorial Terrace Spokane, Spokane County, Washington Children
Charles S Norris 1854–1865
Rosabel Adelia "Rosa Belle" Norris 1863–1944 married Finch Clarke


15 Marquis De Lafayette Norris BIRTH 11 APRIL 1834 Erie county New York, DEATH 27 OCT 1918 Cleo, Major, Oklahoma BURIAL Addington Cemetery Addington, Jefferson County, Oklahoma, married Dec 1856 Black Hawk, Iowa Harriet Elizabeth King BIRTH 6 Jun 1832 DEATH 11 Jan 1904 BURIAL Addington Cemetery Addington, Jefferson County, Oklahoma Children
Florence A Norris 1860–1932 married Burris H. Bunn.
Eunice Janette Norris 1864–1954 married Alva Henry Pearson
George Storrs Norris 1866–1936 married Edna Seay
Harriet D. Norris 1869–1870
Howard T. Norris 1873–1874
William L. Norris 1876–1876
married 4 Mar 1905 Garfield, Oklahoma Charity Charity Valentine Rathbun Birth 14 February 1859 Scotland County, Missouri Death Mar 13 1919 will dated Feb. 28 1919 and probated Mar 15 Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, BURIAL Karoma Cemetery Goltry, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, daughter of Alfred Osee Rathbun and Eunice R Hohstadt married Ellsworth Phelps