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Note: Gary, Abraham Lincoln; Centenniel History of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II, pages 217-218 W. A. NORRIS, who is the president of the New Salem State Bank and a scion of one of Rush county's old pioneer families, has spent his entire life within the borders of the county, using his influence wherever possible for the promotion of enterprises cal- culated to be a lasting benefit to his fellow men. He was born on the farm in Noble township where he now lives, on October 7, 1858, and is the son of Benjamin F. and Charlotte (Chandler) Norris, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, the mother having been born and reared in Bracken county. Benjamin F. Norris was a son of Capt. Benjamin and Priscilla Norris, natives of Kentucky who emigrated to Rush county in an early day. In the War of 1812 Capt. Benjamin Norris was in command of a gunboat, in which capacity he served throughout that conflict. Benjamin F. Norris was but twelve years of age when he was brought to Rush county by his parents, who settled in Noble township and bought eighty acres of land. Here he grew to manhood and secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. He followed the vocation of farming through- out his life and met with a very gratifying measure of success, becom- ing the owner of 1,200 acres of excellent farm land. Of this, he cul- tivated about 640 acres, devoting his efforts to a general line of farm- ing and stock raising. He gave special attention to the raising of mules, always having a herd of them on his place, and he also feeds large numbers of cattle and hogs. To him and his wife were born ten children, five of whom are now living, namely : Lenora, Charles, W. A., Alice and Lotta. W. A. Norris attended the public schools of 218 HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY Noble township and gave his father assistance in the operation of the home farm, remaining with him until his death. After the death of the father, the subject continued to farm on his own account, and he has been more than ordinarily successful as an agriculturist. He is cultivating 310 acres of land, all of which is located in Noble town- ship, and is devoting his time and energies to general farming and stock raising. He is a successful breeder of Shorthorn cattle and feeds from 300 to 400 head of hogs each year. He has put many good improvements on his farm and it is now one of the most up-to- date farms in this section of the county. In 1886 Mr. Norris was married to Ora May McMillin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John T. McMillin, and they have become the parents of five children, namely: Walter, who married Mabel Myers and has three children. "William, Harold and Richard; Lowell, who married Edith King and has two children, Mary and Paul ; Helen, wife of Loren Martin ; Ben F. and Rema May. Mr. Norris and his family are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church, of which Mr. Norris is the present treasurer. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Norris has long had at interest the welfare of his section of the county and took an active part in the organization of the New Salem State Bank, of which he was elected president and is still serving in that capacity.
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