BIBLE: William Pickett Bruce & Orra B. Norvelle, Fleming Co., KY ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Submitted by: Bea Hudson Slowm@aol.com Date: 20 Sept 1999 ********************************************************************** The family Bible of William Pickett BRUCE and Orra B. NORVELLE is a large Bible made of leather and is engraved with "W P BRUCE" on the front and "ORRA B NORVELL' on the back. It was made in Philadelphia by J. B. Lippincott & Co and dated 1859. BIRTHS: Wm. P. Son of Geo S & Sabina M BRUCE in Fleming County Ky on the 7th Day of December 1832 Orra B Daughter of Wm & Emily G. NORVELL was Born on the 7th day of July 1840 in Carlisle Ky. James Chappell BRUCE Son of Wm P & Orra BRUCE was Born in Carlisle Nicholas County Ky on the 16th Day of November 1859 Eli M. BRUCE Jr Son of Wm P & Orra BRUCE was Born on the 31st day of March 1863 In Carlisle Nicholas County Ky Mary Evelyn COOPER, daughter of John C and Emily L. COOPER was born on the 30th day of May 1867 at La Crosse Wisconsin Florence Louise, daughter of Eli M and Mary C. BRUCE was born Jan'y 20th 1891 at 3.15 p.m. at Minneapolis, Minnesota William Cooper BRUCE son of Eli M and Mary C BRUCE, born May 2, 1893 7:30 a.m. at Minneapolis Minnesota. Christened Sunday June 11 /93 at Plymouth Congregational Church by Rev. Geo. WELLS. Glued on a second BIRTH page is the following newspaper article. It has a handwritten note "Glendale Oct 1892" "Believing it would benefit all pupils of our High and Grammer Schools, to offer some inducement to more earnest effort, a gentleman now living in Minneapolis, Minn., made the following general offer last year. 'To the pupil enrolled in the Glendale High School or Grammar School who makes the highest grades as shown by the examinations in April and June 1892, the following premium will be awarded: A life size crayon portrait 27x22 inches, suitably framed.' The gentlemen who made the offer is a Glendale boy well known by many citizens of this village and did so from his love for the school in which he obtained the greater part of his education." The article continues to announce the winner was Miss Mamie GORDON, daughter of Mr. Thomas GORDON who resides on Sharon Avenue. The ceremony was presided by Supt. C. F. DEAN who spoke of the time when Gov. Oliver P. MORTON and himself were school-boys together in Sprindale and gave a boutline of Gov. MORTON's history. The award was presented by Judge COX. MARRIAGES Wm P BRUCE and Orra NORVELL were married in Carlisle Ky by the Rev. S. L. HELM on Tuesday evening January 25 1859 Eli M BRUCE, son of Wm P & Orra BRUCE, and Mary Evelyn COOPER were married at St. Anthony Park, near Minneapolis Minn by Rev. Dr. Charles F. THWING on Tuesday afternoon December 24th 1889 at 4 o'clock. A newspaper article glued on this page: "Wedding At St. Anthony Park A quiet yet happy event was the marriage of Miss Mary Evelyn Cooper to (marked out and handwritten) E. M. Bruce of Minneapolis which occurred yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the residence of Mr. H. E. W. Schuette, on Manvel street, St. Anthony Park. Dr. Thwing of Minneapolis performed the ceremony in the presence of Mrs. Cooper of LaCrosse, the bride's mother, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Fonder, Mr. and Mrs. Weed Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Northrop, Misses Overton, Graham, Chapman, Lawton, Prof. Woodruff, all of Minneapolis; Mr. Morrison and Miss Morrison of La Crosse, Mrs. Hunt of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Schuette and Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson of St. Anthony Park. The happy couple left for the East at 7:30, and will be at home in Minneapolis after Jan. 10 next. What appears to be a second article: Mr Eli M. Bruce and Miss Mary E. Cooper, formerly of LaCross, Wis., were quietly married yesterday afternoon at the home of the bride's cousin, Mr. H. E. W. Schuette, St. Anthony Park. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Chas. F. Thwing. The newly wedded couple departed on the evening train for the East via Chicago. They will be at home after Jan. 10 (date marked out and 1890 handwritten inserted), at 406 Ninth street south. DEATHS: Orra BRUCE wife of Wm P BRUCE and daughter of Wm & Emily G NORVILLE died of Consumption at her Fathers near Carlisle Ky on the 12th day of May 1867 in the 27th year of her age and the 9th year of her married life and is burried on Lot No (blank) Section "Q" in the Carlisle Cemetery. Funeral sermon by Elder J W BROWN Text 1st clause 4th verse 1st chapter of 2nd Peter James Chappell BRUCE, oldest son of Wm P. & Orra BRUCE diedd at the Merchants Hotel in Cincinnati Ohio of Typhoid Fever on the 21st Day of August 1871 in the 12th year of his age and was buried by the Side of his Sainted Mother in the Carlisle cemetery at Carlisle Ky. Funeral Services by Elder J. P. POWERS Pastor of the Carlisle Baptist Church. Florence Louise BRUCE infant daughter of Eli M and Mary C BRUCE died on Friday evening Jan'y 23 1891 at 1408 Second Avenue So. Minneapolis Minnesota. Enterred at Lakewood Cemetery. Eli Metcalfe BRUCE only son of Orra and W P BRUCE died on Wednesday August 14, 1895 at Lane Seminary, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, of Bright's Disease. He was 32 years 4 mos & 14days of age and had been married a little over five years. The dear boy was layed beside his mother and brother at Carlisle, Ky., his birth place. At Cincinnati, Rev. (not legible but could be Rauchian) conducted the services, and at Carlisle, Dr. Scudder, and Rev. Mitchell. The sermon was taken from I Thes IV - 17 & 18 verses. He left his wife and little son, to grieve him. He died at 76.18 a.m. just as the son had come up clear & bright. My boy is now with his dear baby who he so dearly loved. The balance of the Family Bible of William P. BRUCE and Orra B. NORVILLE is a collection of newspaper articles glued in the Bible. I shall not try to copy them but will condense them. The first is an obit notice for William Pickett BRUCE along with a picture of him. There is no date or name of newspaper It states he is one of the oldest and most widely-known hotel manages in the city, and died at the Hotel Alms at 10.20 last night. It states he is a lineal descendant of Robert Bruce, hero of the famous battle of Bannockburn. He died from erysipela which developed into dropsy. He had for several years the entire charge of the financial affairs of Mrs. Eleanor C. Alms, widow of the late millionaire merchant, Fred H. Alms. He was born in Fleming County, Kentucky in 1832, and engaged in business in Carlisle. In 1859 he wedded Miss Orra Norvelle of that place where she later died as did two sons of the couple. In 1865 he went to Ohio and operated a store at Glendale. When the Palace Hotel was completed he and the late D. C. Shears assumed managemnt of the hosteiry. A few years later he went to the Hotel Emory, and from there to the Alms. He was a prominent member of the Ninth Street Baptist Church. He was an enthusiast as regards pure food. The article mentions property he bought but the paper has disintegrated but the name 'Middletown' could be made out as well as the word 'Farm'. He was the father of the Bannockburn Club, composed of capitalists living at the Hotel Alms and annually the club made a pilgrimage to the farm. It seems that William Pickett Bruce was a genealogist of sorts. He spent every available moment for the last 15 years of his life preparing a chart of the human race from Adam and Eve to the present day. His walls were covered with slips of paper detailing the growth of humanity and the leading events since the birth of man. Relatives at his bedside were his brother, Henry C. Bruce of Covington; two sisters, Mrs. C. W. McIntyre of this city, and Mrs. F. M. Peale, of Columbus and a grandson, William Cooper Bruce. Funeral services at the Hotel Alms with the Rev. Warren Partridge, his pastor and friend officiating. Death of Jimmie BRUCE (handwritten date 1871) James Chappell Bruce died Monday August 21, of typhoid fever at the Merchants Hotel in Cincinnati. Mentions an aunt, Mrs. Mary Munger. Had a pony named Jeff. States he was buried in "our beautiful cemetery, along side of his mother". This gives rise to this article being in a newspaper at Carlisle Ky. THOMAS. (handwritten date 1890) Mrs. Sallie Thomas, widow of O. H. P. Thomas of Maysville, Ky and daughter of the late George S Bruce of this city. Died at the residence of C. W. McIntyre, No, 97 Ashland Avenue, Waltnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio on June 4. She was dressed to go to Church and as she tied her bonnet, she suddenly clasped her hands to her breast and exclaimed, "Oh, I am so sick." She seemed to rally but four days later, she "gradually grew worse until the hour of high noon, on Thursday, when her spirit took is fligh to join the great company of those 'who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb'." Sallie was born in Fleming county, Ky August 18th, 1829. On Oct 9, 185, she married O. H. P. Thomas, a successful and prominent business man of Maysville, Ky. Five children: Emily Tolle, Luellen Chappell, Bessie, Benjamin F., and George S. Luellen died in 1875 and was followed by her father July 1878. Member of the Baptist Church in early life and affiliated with the Episcopal Church in later years. Daughter Bessie now Mrs. R. J. Jones of Etewanda, California. After a visit with Bessie, she traveled with son George an extended tour of the Pacific Coast, going as far as Alaska. On returning, she came over the Canadian Pacific R. R., visited Montreal, Quebec and New York City and was in Washington last October at the convocation of the Knights Templar. Funeral on June 7th at the home of her son-in-law George T. Hunter of Maysville. All of her children attended the funeral except Bessie. Two brothers, Wm. P. Bruce of Cincinnati, and Henry C. Bruce of Covington; sisters, Mrs. C. W. McIntyre, of Cincinnati, and Mrs. J. A. Chappell, of this city; her nieces Miss Annie McIntyre, Miss Florence Bruce and Mrs. W. S. Spencer; Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wood, Miss Nannie Jones and Mrs. Annabel Pearce, of Cincinnati; J. A. Chappell, W. S. Spencer and a large number of Maysville relatives and friends. Burial in Maysville city cemetery beside husband and daughter. FREE AT LAST Col Bruce Buries His Old Colored Auntie (handwritten date Dec. 1889) "My old auntie is dead." The speaker was Col. W. P. Bruce, the very well-known bookkeeper of the Hotel Emory. Tears were in his eyes and voice as he said it. Old auntie was an old colored woman named Liza Franklin and she died last night in a miserable tenement building on lower Stone street, aged seventy-five years. Auntie was in our family all her life until the liberation of the slaves. When she was twelve years of age my grandfather gave her to mother and she assisted in the rearing of myself and six brothers and sisters. I suppose I have taken nourishment from her breast in infancy. We all loved her. Like with tried and trusted servants generally of slavery times she was almost as near to the family those days as though related. She nursed us through all our ills-sleeping always in my mother's room so that she could the better attend our wants. She comforted and encouraged like a mother during our distresses and sorrows. Is it any wonder my heart is tender this morning with old auntie dead down there in those miserable quarters? She followed a couple members of our family north from Kentucky when she was freed, and we have mainly kept her since. She had a big strapping daughter and son-in-law, however, and when they called on me last evening to meet all the expenses of her burial I thought they were asking rather too much and put them of with only a couple of dollars. After I had gone to bed, though, I could not sleep for thinking of auntie. I hadn't been there long before I got up fully determined as to what I should do in the case. I lost no time in calling on an undertaker and making every arrangement for the burial of auntie. I shall take this body down to the old home in Carlisle, Nicholas county, Ky., and there lay it away for the long rest in the beautiful cemetery and the family lot by the side of my father, mother, wife and son, where it belongs. Poor auntie! she ofted said she never knew what hard times were until freedom came. The old home was a grand palace indeed in comparison with the quarters in which she last night breathed out her life." Handwritten date Minneapolis Aug 18 1893 HIS DEATH A SAD ONE Eli M. Bruce, Long Known as a Promising young Business Man of This City, Passes Away at Cincinnati, Where He Had Gone for the Improvement of His Health. The death of Ed M. Bruce, at Cincinnati last Wednesday morning, closed the career of a young man well known in the business and social circles of this city. His illness had been a tedious one of many months. Shortly after the holidays of last winter it was thought by his friends that a milder climate was necessary to his recovery and with his family, consisting of his wife and young child, he joined his father and other relatives at Cincinnati; from which place he came to his city 12 years ago. It was thought at first that the change was proving beneficial and that he would soon be able to come home, but before long the inroads of a fatal disease were again apparent, although he fought manfully for life, full of hope that he might some day return to his business and friends here, it was evident to his relatives who were with him that the changes were not for the better. The end came quietly and peacefully while he was attended by his devoted wife and those whom he loved. Mr. Bruce was well and favorably known in this city, especially among the insurance men. He had been connected with the office of Gale & co. for eight years and was a writer and authority on questions connected with his business, having been for sometime past on the staff of the Insurance Review and recently a correspondent of one of the Chicago dailies. This completes the family Bible of William P. Bruce and his wife, Orra B. Norvell. Bea Hudson Hampton, VA