BIO: James R. NORRIS, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 794 & 797.
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  JAMES R. NORRIS, whose valuable farm of 140 acres lies in Pike township, two 
miles south of Curwensville, Pa., was born at Hoyt's Mill, in Ferguson township, 
Clearfield county, Pa., September 10, 1841.  He is a grandson of Moses Norris 
and a son of John Norris.
  James R. Norris attended the Chestnut Ridge school until he was about fifteen 
years of age, after which he worked in the woods with his older brother, during 
the winters, and engaged in farming during the summers.  After marriage he 
followed lumbering in Lawrence township for one winter and then moved on a farm 
in Pike township, near Chestnut Ridge, where he remained for one year, moving 
then to the farm belonging to the John Irwin estate and from there, in October, 
1868, to his present farm, where he has continued to reside ever since.  He 
found it necessary to do considerable building and improving and had twenty 
acres of the land to clear.  The substantial farm structures now standing he put 
up as they were needed.  He has a valuable coal bank on his farm, which yields 
from 200 to 300 tons of coal a month.  He is a stockholder in the Curwensville 
National Bank and both he and wife are stockholders in the Farmers' and Traders' 
Bank, of Clearfield, Pa.
  On June 24, 1866, Mr. Norris was married to Miss Martha A. Caldwell, who was 
born on the Joseph Caldwell farm, at Peewee's Nest, Pike township, Clearfield 
county, Pa., September 6, 1848.  She is a daughter of Joseph A. and Mary J. 
(Bloom) Caldwell.  Joseph A. Caldwell was born on the McNaul farm, in this 
section, September 6, 1820, and died May 19, 1868.  He resided with his family 
on his ninety-acre farm in Pike township, which is now owned by James R. Norris 
and wife.  He was a leading man in Pike township for many years, on numerous 
occasions being elected to township offices on the Republican ticket and serving 
in all with honesty and efficiency.  He did nearly all the clearing on his farm 
at Peewee's Nest and during his most active years was engaged mainly in 
lumbering.  He was a stockholder in the Curwensville National Bank.  He married 
Mary J. Bloom, a daughter of Abraham T. Bloom, a native of New Jersey.  Mrs. 
Caldwell died January 9, 1906, and she was laid to rest by the side of her 
husband in the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal church at Curwensville, of 
which they had been members.  To Joseph A. and Mary J. Caldwell, five children 
were born, namely:  Martha A., who is the wife of James R. Norris; Peter A., who 
resides at Edgar, Neb. (married Sarah Bloom, of Bloom township); Mary E., who 
died young; Nannie J., who is the wife of Joseph Akins, of Kansas; and Emma, who 
died at the age of five years.
  To James R. Norris and wife thirteen children have been born, almost all of 
whom survive and are comfortably settled near the old home and within easy reach 
of their parents.  Annie P. married A. M. Hoover and they have had four 
children, Austin, Pearl, James and Enna, Pearl being the only survivor.  Lucy 
May, who is now deceased, was the wife of F. K. Flegal.  Mary J. married Henry 
G. Hile, and they have three children, James, Dean and Henry.  Cora C. married 
John C. Raboild and two children have been born to them, Emma and Norris C., the 
last named being alone surviving.  Orly C. married Alice Drocker, and they have 
one daughter, Mabel.  Lavina married Donald C. Miller and they have one 
daughter, Jennett W.  Atlee J. married Ella J. Hile and they have two daughters, 
Thelma and Blanche.  Mamie V., the eighth in order of birth, is a successful 
school teacher.  McVay C., Jean E. and Foster G., all reside at home.  Elizabeth 
died when six weeks old and Blair C., the youngest, died when four years old.  
Mr. and Mrs. Norris are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Curwensville.  In politics he is a Republican and at times has accepted township 
offices, more from a sense of duty than for any other reason.  He is interested 
in the educational advancement of his section and served three years on the 
school board, and as a wide awake and earnest citizen, anxious that his 
community should be law abiding, he consented to serve on the election board.  
He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows and also to the Grange.