Norris, Curtis G. (1836-1907)

NORRIS, HOME, RELYA, CAMPBELL, WHARTON, BLAKEWAY

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/11/2011 at 17:20:42

LeMars Sentinel
February 5, 1907

TRIBUTE TO A PIONEER
The Late C. G. Norris After Being Converted, Devoted His Life to the Cause
of Christ

The following obituary and tribute of the life of the late C. G. Norris was
written for the SENTINEL by a friend of the family.

The dread reaper "Death" calls us again from the busy activities of life to
chronicle the passing away from labor to rest of another pioneer of Plymouth
county and LeMars.

Curtis G. Norris was born in Tippecanoe, Harrison county, Ohio, May 9, 1836.
When but six years old, he was called to mourn the early and untimely death
of his Christian mother.

In the same county of his birth he was united in marriage with Rebecca J.
Horne, May 21, 1857. In 1861 he moved with his belongings to Moultrie
county, Ill. The clarion note of his country's need rang in his ears and
like a number of other young men he enlisted as a volunteer of the "ninety
day call" and became a member of Company I, 143d Illinois Infantry. He
remained in the service five months and was honorably discharged, returning
to his home and wife on a stretcher to die.

Before the iron horse speeded in Western Iowa, he came to Sioux City in 1867
in a covered wagon, remaining however only a few weeks in that city. He
then moved to his homestead four miles southwest of this city. Those were
the days of the unbroken prairie and deep privations for the early settler.
Toiling faithfully and undaunted, he was successful. In 1870 he opened the
first meat market in LeMars and as a merchant received a large patronage of
the people. After selling out his business, he engaged in the real estate
and insurance business.

On June 23, 1902, he was called to mourn his beloved wife and companion who
passed on before to welcome him in that upper and better land. After the
death of his wife, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. M. Campbell at
Seney. In 1903 he was married to Mrs. M. J. Relyea, of Akron, who survives
him. They took up their residence in LeMars where they remained until they
moved west. Mr. Norris had poor health the last few years he lived here.
Thinking a change of climate would improve his condition, they moved to
Seattle, Wash., last October. Here he improved very much and seemed to be
getting well very fast. The last few days of his life, he seemed to be
exceptionally well and everything seemed favorable to his remaining here
many years. On the evening of January 23, he retired feeling unusually well
but before midnight he was stricken with paralysis and before morning "he
was not, for God took him," a blessed close to a useful "consecrated life."

Those who survive him are: one sister, Mrs. J. B. Wharton, Tippecanoe, Ohio;
two brothers, James Norris, Annapolis, Ill., and Edward Norris, Ardmore,
Indian Territory. The children left to mourn a loving, kind and considerate
father are: Mrs. A. G. Blakeway, LeMars; Mrs. M. Campbell and John Norris,
Seattle, Washington; and four grandchildren, Herbert Norris Blakeway, Hazel
Campbell, William D. Norris and Josephine Norris.

The record of the life of this departed would not be complete unless we
chronicle the important event of his life which took place in 1876 when he
found Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. One Thursday evening he came
into the prayer meeting, conducted by Rev. R.C. Glass during his first
pastorate here, and simply said, "he would put his shoulder to the wheel:
and that same evening at family prayers in his own home Jesus spoke pardon
to his soul. The load of guilt for passed sins was lifted and he rejoiced in
his new friend. Shortly after this event he attended a camp-meeting at Clear
Lake and here entered the experience of sanctification. His life from that
time was one of ardent devotion to His Master and he was ever found against
sin and in favor of righteousness. During the years of temperance agitation
for the Constitutional amendment, he was a hard and efficient worker. His
talks and earnest appeals will be remembered by many. He was a man of
strong convictions and a will to carry out his inner conclusions. He
believed God and faithfully followed Jesus Christ. He was a class leader in
the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty years.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. R. C. Glass in Green Lake M.E.
Church Seattle, Washington. Among the former LeMars people attending the
services were Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Croft, Mr. and Mrs.
Adamson, Mr. and Mrs. Conner, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Jamison, J. E. Clark, W. A.
Croft, A. W. Croft, Wm. Gosting, and A.M. Andrews. The latter person and
Mr. Jamison assisted as pallbearers. Miss Rose Glass sang the favorite hymn
of Mr. Norris, "How Can I Keep From Singing."

Servant of God, well done!
They glorious warfare's past:
The battle's fought,
The race is won, and
Thou art crowned at last.

The funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Glass, under whose pastorate in
LeMars in 1875, the deceased joined the church and became a Christian. Mr.
Glass took the following words for his text.

"He was a good man full of the Holy Ghost and of faith and much people were
added unto the Lord." Acts 11:24

Dr. Glass said in part:

"If I were to obey the impulse of my own heart today, I'd step down from the
pulpit and take my place with the mourners for in the death of Brother
Norris I feel myself personally bereaved. Because of the intimate
association of over thirty years I have loved him as I have loved few men.
Outside the circle of my own family there is no one for whom I have a more
tender regard. Yet, I find a sad sweet pleasure in speaking some words in
memory of my friend and brother and weaving a chaplet to lay on his casket.
How strange and yet how fitting that in the Providence of God this man who
was one of my first converts in my first pastorate at LeMars should be led
half way across the continent to again become my parishioner and then fall
asleep in Jesus and make it my sacred duty to speak these last words in
memory of his noble life-"He is a good man and these words were spoken at
first of Barnabas-Paul's co-worker and yet they are just as applicable to
this honored servant of God. Brother Norris was one of the best men I have
ever known. My acquaintance with him began when I first went to LeMars as
pastor of the Methodist church in 1875. He was not a Christian then, indeed
far from it. The whole circumstances of his awakening of his conviction,
conversion and reformation were most remarkable which led him to go to the
Thursday night prayer meeting where he began the Christian life and he
continued without any break for thirty years. He has ever since been a
monument to saving grace and a pillar in the church of God. Some months
later he accompanied his pastor to the camp meeting at Clear Lake and was
led out into experience of full salvation and devoted himself more earnestly
to personal work. He consecrated a part of his means for the purchase of
religious books and tracts for gratuitous distribution. Perhaps no minister
in town was more often sought out by inquirers after religion than was he.
In the back room of his butcher shop many souls were saved.

He was in the forepart of all religious and temperance work and was a right
hand supporter of the pastor in all aggressive work. I soon appointed him
class leader and he has served in that and other official positions through
his long life. A few months ago when he came here to make his home, I was
scarcely less glad than his children that we were to be again associated as
pastor and parishioner. He was present at nearly every service, only last
Sunday morning gave his testimony in class that he was here for his health
and to serve the Lord and he felt he was being made a well man, at the close
of the sermon last Sunday he led in prayer and prayed most earnestly for the
unsaved.

Was about as usual going into the city Monday and Wednesday. Retired
Wednesday night after having led the family in prayers. In which he
remembered each member of the family here he prayed for each child and
grandchild by name. His daughter Mary said afterwards it was the sweetest
prayer she ever heard. He was feeling so well that day but before midnight a
stroke of paralysis came and before morning his spirit had gone to God who
gave it.

After retiring he had said to his wife it would be a sad journey for either
of them to take if one of them should be called and the other took them back
home for burial. It was always his wish to be laid to rest from the old home
town where he had lived for forty years. We shed no tears today for him. For
him to die was gain. We sorrow for ourselves and our own loss. He has found
the life more abundant and a fuller existence. Earth poorer and Heaven
richer. What a precious legacy has been left to his family, worth more to
them than millions. May his children follow him as he followed Christ. We
commend the widow to God and sympathy and prayer as she goes on her lonely
journey and the dear ones that remain here."

FUNERAL IN LE MARS

The remains arrived in LeMars on Friday and the funeral was held on Sunday
at the First Methodist Church and was very largely attended by old friends
of the deceased. The service was conducted by Rev. G. F. Whitfield pastor of
the church who took for his text the word in the epistle of St. James,
second chapter, twenty-third verse, "And the Scripture was fulfilled which
saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto Him for righteousness and
He was called the Friend of God."

The pastor preached an eloquent sermon and paid high tribute to the memory
of the deceased. The remains were followed to the grave by many sorrowing
friends and the pallbearers were life long acquaintances of the deceased.
They were M. Hilbert, Thos.
Adamson, I.S. Struble, T.K. Chapman, D.R. Edmonds and W.H. Perry.
-------------

PROBATE NOTICE

Estate of Curtis G. Norris, deceased.

State of Iowa, Plymouth county, ss.

To Mrs. Eliz E. Blakeway, Mrs. Mary E. Campbell and John C. Norris known
heirs at law of Curtis G. Norris late of said county, deceased and all
others concerned. You are hereby notified that on the 4th day of February,
1907, there was filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of
the state of Iowa, in and for Plymouth county and opened and read by said
clerk, an instrument in writing purporting to be the last will of Curtis G.
Norris, deceased, late of said county.

And you are further notified that the 2nd day of March, A.D., 1907 of the
next term of said court, commencing on Monday, the 18th day of February,
1907, has been fixed for the final proof and hearing of said will, at which
time all persons interested may appear and show cause why the same should
not be admitted to probate.

J.B. Cunningham, Clerk of the district court of Plymouth county, Iowa.
Struble & Struble, attorneys.

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