August 1, 1964

A very beautiful lady is marking her one hundreth birthday in Centerville today.

She is Mrs. Anna NORRIS, who resides with her daughter and son-in-law, David LAWRENCE, at 205 South Twelfth Street.

Mrs. NORRIS has spanned the century today and although her life began before the days of telephones, bathtubs, plumbing, and even the better kerosene lamps, she is as up to date as the last minute. She is an avid news listener. Her sight is affected so that she gets her news via radio but she is, as her son-in-law David puts it, up to scratch" on everything. her interest in life and what is going on in the space age is keen, alert and knowledgeable.

Mrs. NORRIS' grandfather crossed the Potomac with Gen. WASHINGTON. Another of her ancestors campaigned with John WESLEY, founder of Methodism in the U.S. Her father as a bodyguard to Gen. GRANT and her ancestors also fought in the war of 1812.

Her family line is a part of the tapestry of American History.

Mrs. NORRIS was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, when Marshall was the county seat. Later the courthouse was moved to Mt. Ayr.

Her mother had the first sewing machin in Marshall and it was operated with a handle on the wheel. Later she had a more modern version that had a foot treadle. She recalls how wonderful her family thought the kerosene lamps were tha hung on the wall with reflectors behind them to increase the light. She recalls that she saw her first automobile, a high-wheeled buggylike affair when visiting the Corn Palace at Sioux City.

"Folks then said that one of those things would never be of much use," she recalls.

In young womanhood, Miss Anna A. RAINES united in marriage with Jacob A. NORRIS. The wedding took place at Redding, Iowa, in To this union six sons and four daughters were born. One daughter died in infancy and a son, Paul, died in Ottumwa two years ago. The children living today are: Mrs. Paul WHITE of Minnesota; Mrs. D. W. WRIGHT, of Udell; Mrs. David LAWRENCE, Centerville; Glenna A., Cherokee; Dr. Harry, Clinton; Charles, Glen, Harold L. California, and Percy, Centerville.

Among other things which this remarkable woman recalls was the opening of the Oklahoma territory when several mothers left their children with her as they raced with their husbands for homesteads. She also recallsa time when after a banker had "robbed himself" enraged Vigilantes chased him as he fled toward Canada, caught him and hanged him on the spot. That was at O'Neal, Nebraska.

As she sat in the LAWRENCE home surrounded by beautiful flowers that friends and relatives had sent, Mrs. NORRIS had a sheaf of telegrams and letters in front of her. They were congratulations from Iowa Gov. HUGHES, U.S. Sen. Bourke HICKENLOOPER, Cong. John KYL, Sen. Jack MILLER, Lt. Gov. MAOTY, from Mayor Harry DUKES, and from the Centerville Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. NORRIS explained that she liked the good old days but she liked the modern days better. She spoke of the kindness, especially of her daughter and son-in-law and their loving care for her through 33 years. She has traveled with them over much of the U.S.

Thru the years it has been a good life and a busy on. It is a good life today.

We spoke of Mrs. NORRIS' beauty. Hers is the Dresden China loveliness when a fact full of character and the lines of love and happiness are enhanced by a soul that sort of shines thru.

A devout Christian, Mrs. NORRIS is not one whit concerned about what day the transition shall come from this work to the one she so greatly anticipates.

That's the beauty that shows in her face and it is a rare and wonderful thing indeed.

NOTE: Anna A. (RAINS) NORRIS was born August 1, 1864 near Redding, Iowa, the daughter of Allen and Francis (HOLLINGSWORTH) RAINS. She married March 22, 1883 Jacob A. NORRIS, born October 1859, the son of Jacob and Mary Jane (ABBOTT) NORRIS, and died April 24, 1931 at the age of 71 years from a farm injury. Anna died January 26, 1965. Of Anna and Jacob's ten children:

Daughter NORRIS, died in infancy
Glen A. NORRIS, b. 03 Mar 1883; d. Aug 1973
Dr. Harrison R. "Harry" NORRIS, b. May 1888
Charles Abbott NORRIS, b. 23 Jan 1891; d. Aug 1984
Frances Edna (NORRIS) LAWRENCE, b. 26 Nov 1893; d. 17 Apr 1993, Centerville IA
Paul McKinley NORRIS, b. 28 Aug 1897; d. Dec 1961, Ottumwa IA
Cora Lou (NORRIS) WHITE, b. circa 1898
Veva M. (NORRIS) WRIGHT, b. Apr 1900
Harold L. NORRIS, b. 30 Nov 1902; d. 08 Mar 1988, El Cajon CA
Percy Ellensworth NORRIS, b. 27 Mar 1906; d. Jan 1978, Centerville IA

newspaper name and date of publication omitted from clipping

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2010