Written by Mary Lou Brown
John Norman lived on the family farm in Ohio and aided in the operations of the farm until he was 22 years of age. He worked on the Ohio Canal at different times and for ten years he operated a sawmill in Choshocton County, Ohio. He also engaged in merchandising for three years while in Ohio.
In 1867 John disposed of his business interests in Ohio and moved to Bureau County, Illinois where he engaged in farming for about six years.
John Norman was twice married. He first married Mary Davidson. She died eight and a half years later. Four children were born to John and Mary Norman: John Wesley, Jemina Ann, Jabez and Jane who died in infancy. John was again married in Orange, Choshocton County, Ohio on April 26, 1850 to Lucinda Deeds. She was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1826. They had five chldren Elmarinda, Mary Catherine, Harriet Elizabeth, Wellington and Orlando Warren.
In 1872 John Norman migrated west to Kansas where he purchased a half-section of land at $6.50 per acre in Noble Township. He then returned to Illinois and brought the family to their new home, about six miles northwest of Chapman, Kansas.
After the Republican Party was formed in 1854, John Norman became one of it's staunch supporters. For many years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace.
From Jim Norman:
John was reported to have operated a sawmill in or near Orange, Coshocton Co., Ohio. Moved from Coshocton Co., Ohio to Bureau Co., Illinois in 1867.
John Daugherty journal, page 105, copy in Coshocton Public Library July 6, 1869 Bureau Co. Illinois - "Plowing and hoeing a little, but the ground is wet. Mrs. Ravenscraft, Lucinda Norman & Mrs. Shirk here."
Cemetery Records for La Moille twp., Bureau Co., Illinois (Lam 03): Jabez Norman, son of J (John) & L (Lucinda) Norman d. February 2, 1872 at the age of 25 yrs., 2 mos., 15 days.
Moved from Bureau Co., Illinois, to Junction City, Geary Co., Kansas, on March 19, 1873. Farm in Kansas was located on Section 3 of Noble Township Dickinson Co., Kansas.
Laura Norman was reported to be a niece of John Norman's and lived with his family for three years in Kansas.
From the Gazette newspaper, issued 10/15/1880, published in Abilene, Dickinson Co., Kansas "Mr. David Norman and wife, of Newcomerstown, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, are visiting the families of Mr. Norman's brothers, Joshua Norman, of Buckeye, and John Norman, of Noble township. We wish them a good time, and will not be surprised if they take the Kansas fever while here."
More About John Norman: Burial: 1906, Good Hope Cemetery, Noble Twp., Dickinson Co., Kansas. Occupation 1: 1875, Farmer/Noble Twp., Dickinson Co., Kansas. Occupation 2: 1850, Laborer/Oxford Twp, Coshocton Co, Ohio. Occupation 3: 1860, Sawyer/Oxford Twp., Coshocton Co., Ohio. Residence: June 1870, LaMoille Twp., Bureau Co., Illinois.
Helen Norman Edwards has his birth date as Jan. 12, 1805.
Portrait and Biographical Record - Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties, Kansas By Chapman Bros. 1893 John Norman John Norman, one of the popular and esteemed farmers of Dickinson County, residing on section 3, Noble Township, was born on the 8th of March, 1819, in Coshocton County, Ohio.
The family was originally from Normandy, France, but an early day in the history of England was established in that country. Members of the family came to the United States during Colonial days and furnished distinguished
men to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The parents of our subject Jabez and Nancy Reed Norman were early settlers in the Buckeye State. Our subject was reared under the parental roof and aided in the operation of the home farm until twenty-two years of age.
He worked on the Ohio Canal at different times, and for ten years operated a sawmill in Coshocton County. He was also engaged in merchandising for three years during his residence in the Buckeye State. Disposing of his business interests in Ohio in 1867, he moved to Bureau County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for about six years.
In the year 1872, he came to Kansas and purchased a half-section of land at $6.40 per acre. He then returned to Illinois and brought the family to the new home. Since that time he has resided on section 3, Noble Township,
and has a nice farm, pleasantly and conveniently located six miles northeast of Chapman.
Mr. Norman has been twice married. He first wedded Mary Davidson, who died eight and a half years later. Four children were born of their union: John Wesley, now at Junction City, Kansas; Jemina Ann, wife of James Buchan,
of Bureau County, Illinois; Jabez, who died in Illinois at the age of twenty-five years; and Jane, who died in infancy. Mr. Norman was again married, in Orange Coshocton County, Ohio, April 26, 1850, Miss Lucinda Deeds becoming his wife. She was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of January, 1826, and died August 20, 1892. Five children were born of this union: Elmarinda, wife of John Acker of Geary County, Kansas, Mary Catherine, wife of Elmer Clemons, of Chapman; Harriet Elizabeth, wife of Edwin Wilkins, of Wesley, Kansas; Wellington, Postmaster, grocer and farmer of Wesley; and Orlando Warren, also a resident of Wesley engaged in farming.
Out of the kindness of their hearts, Mr. and Mrs. Norman have given a home to George Sherman, who has lived in the family for eleven years, and for three years their niece Laura Norman, has been a resident of the household.
Mr. Norman cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison and afterward voted for James G. Birney, the Abolitionist candidate. Since the organization of the Republican party, he has been one of its stanch supporters, and for many years has filled the office of Justice of the Peace with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was formerly a member of the United Brethren Church, but for the past eight years has had membership with the Wesley Methodist Church.
The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he gives his support to all social and moral interests. He is a pleasant, agreeable gentleman, very popular in the community and his hospitable home is a favorite resort with his many friends.