BIO: Joseph E. NORRIS, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, page 262. __________________________________________________________________ JOSEPH E. NORRIS, Marklesburg, (P. O. James Creek), Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Penn township, December 23, 1869, son of Jackson and Mary (Bowers) Norris. Joseph Norris, his grandfather, was of Scotch-Irish descent; he owned and tilled a large farm in Penn township. He was a Democrat of the earlier type. He and his wife both died in the township in 1876. His son, Jackson Norris, was also a farmer, and gave attention to raising stock, also to teaming. He was a renter. His wife, Mary Bowers, is a daughter of Isaac Bowers, a farmer of Penn township. Mr. and Mrs. Norris have had eight children: Jennie (Mrs. J. R. Shultz), of Lincoln township; Isaac, carpenter, of Huntingdon, Pa.; Sarah (Mrs. S. U. Donelson); Joseph E.; Clara, deceased; Annie, deceased; Ida, deceased; and Carrie, deceased. An attack of typhoid fever having seriously impaired his health, Mr. Norris is at present under expert treatment. His wife resides in Marklesburg. Joseph E. Norris was educated in the common school, and at summer subscription schools. He remained on the farm with his father, rendering him such assistance as a schoolboy is capable of giving, until he was fourteen. Then he began school teaching, being the youngest teacher in the county, but certainly not among the least efficient, as he was retained for three terms in Penn township, and afterwards for two terms in Blair county. He then exchanged the school room for the field, doing farm work for two years. For a few months, he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, Pa., after which he was bookkeeper for five years in a wholesale grocery in the same town. In April, 1895, having purchased the interest of J. G. Beaver in a general store at Marklesburg, he began business there in partnership with his brother-in-law, S. U. Donelson; they have conducted the business ever since, meeting with most gratifying success. Mr. Norris has been assistant postmaster since 1895. He is a Democrat; is a school director, and treasurer of the board. At Altoona, October 2, 1893, Joseph E. Norris was married to Mary E. Powell, of Dudley, Pa., who is of English descent; she was born in Maryland. They have a son, Glenn P., born in December, 1894. Mr. Norris is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; was superintendent of the Sunday-school for four years. He is an active member of the church, taking a deep interest in her work. He was a class leader in the church in Marklesburg for one year; is steward of the church and parsonage, and also recording steward. Mr. Norris is an exemplary citizen, and has the good will of the church and community.