Life History

Other facts

Notes

• Samuel H Norris is the brother of Sylvester Norris, son of Henry Norris.  I found Samuel first in the 1850 census.  Samuel H Norris, age 25, born in Kentucky, is living two doors down from Sylvester and his family.  His wife Elizabeth is age 23, born in Tennessee, and they have two children Jonathan age 3 and Luella age 2, both born in Illinois.  1850 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois, 5 November, page 335/170, Hse/Fam #372 Saml H Norris 25 M Farmer $500 Real Estate b Kentucky [b abt 1825] Elizabeth Norris 23 F born Tennessee [b abt 1827] Jonathan Norris 3 M born Illinois [b abt 1847] Luella Norris 2 M born Illinois [b abt 1848]  Norris family genealogies tell us Samuel was born 24 January 1826 in Kentucky.  This means in 1850 he was actually not quite 25 as reported in the census.  I do not know Elizabeth P Norris' maiden name.  Samuel passed away before the 1860 census.  He probably died soon after the 1850 census, because in 1860 we find Elizabeth living next door to Sylvester and Arminda as head of the household with only her two children we saw in the 1850 census.  1860 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois, 11 September, Township 20 Range 7, PO Walkers Grove, page 205, Hse/Fam #1419 Elizabeth P Norris 14 [should be 34] F Farmer $720 Real Estate $460 Personal born Tennessee Jonathan H Norris 13 M born Illinois [b abt 1847] Luella Norris 12 F born Illinois [b abt 1848]  Though the age of Elizabeth appears to be shown as 14, everything else matches Elizabeth Norris who in 1850 was the wife of Samuel.  The two children here are those same two children.  She should be 34 in 1860.  Elizabeth appears in the 1870 census as a single head of the household, but her surname is now Ishmael.  This caught my attention, because in 1860 living with Sylvester and Arminda, next door to Elizabeth, was a Lewis Ishmael.  He was 22, 10 or 11 years younger than Elizabeth.  1860 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois, 11 September, Township 20 Range 7, PO Walkers Grove, page 205, Hse/Fam #1420 Sylvester Norris 44 M Farmer $2000 Real Estate $900 Personal born Kentucky [b abt 1816] Rebecca A Norris 31 F born Illinois [b abt 1829] James F Norris 9 M born Illinois [b abt 1851] Charlie Mc [sic] Norris 6 M born Illinois [b abt 1854] William R Norris 2 M born Illinois [b abt 1858] Lewis Ishmael  22 M Farmer No Real Estate $250 Personal born Ohio [b abt June 1838]  Elizabeth must have married this younger single man, because in 1870 she is Elizabeth Ishmael and has a 7-year old son name Robert T Ishmael.  Her son Jonathan Norris, age 23, is still in her household.  1870 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois, [no date], Cane Creek Township, PO Mason City, page 16, Hse #105, Fam #102 Ishmael, Elizabeth 44 F Farmer $1600 Real Estate $500 Personal born Tennessee Norris, Jonathan  23 M W born Illinois [b abt 1847] Ishmael, Robert T 7 M W born Illinois [b abt 1863]  Since Robert was born no later than 1863, and perhaps by mid 1862, Elizabeth and Lewis Ishmael probably married in 1861.  He must have died shortly after Robert's birth, say in 1863 or perhaps 1864.

Sources

• 1. 1850 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois
  • 5 November, page 335/170, Hse/Fam #372
• 2. Ancestry Trees
  • Norris Family, http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=*v06t4483&id=I380&ftm=1
• 3. 1860 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois
  • 11 September, Township 20 Range 7, PO Walkers Grove, page 205, Hse/Fam #1419
• 4. 1870 Federal Census, Mason County, Illinois
  • [no date], Cane Creek Township, PO Mason City, page 16, Hse #105, Fam #102