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Annals of Iowa N Annals of Iowa: A historical quarterly. v. 1-12, 1863-74; New Series, v. 1-3, 1882-84; 3d series, v. 1- Apr. 1893- JAMES NEWBERRY was born in Orange County, New York, May 26, 1827, and died at Strawberry Point, Iowa, September 22, 1917. He came with his parents to Loraine County, Ohio, in 1829. He attended common school and Norwalk Academy. In 1855 he removed to a farm in Clayton County, four miles southeast of Strawberry Point and continued to own it until his death. He taught school during winters for several years both before he left Ohio and after he came to Iowa. In 1846 he removed to Strawberry Point and for several years followed local newspaper business, and was also secretary of the Farmers' Creamery Company of that place. He was a successful farmer and dairyman. In 1867 he was elected representative and served in the Twelfth General Assembly. He also served his county as a member of the board of supervisors for several years. Capt. W. W. NIXON, a prominent citizen of Boone county, died at his home in Boone on the 21st of May. He was a gallant officer of the Union Army in the War of the Rebellion, serving in the 33d Ohio Infantry. After the close of the war he removed to Boone county, Iowa, which has since been his home. He was Mayor of Boone two terms, and in 1873 was appointed by President Grant, Collector of Internal Revenue for the Sixth District, which embraced about one-fourth of the counties in the State. He was an able and faithful officer, and an excellent and highly esteemed citizen. DAVID NORRIS, one of the oldest men in the State, died at the home of his daughter in Des Moines, February 20, 1897, aged ninety-five years and six months. In the death of "Uncle Davy," as he was familiarly known, Polk county loses its oldest living settler, a man who was identified with the history of the State for more than half a century. Mr. Norris was a native of Maryland, born near Fredericktown, in 1801, of Scotch and German parentage. In 1845 he removed with his family to the far and then unsettled west, the journey across the Mississippi being made in wagons. He settled in Polk county, on the land now known as the poor farm. In 1855 he removed to Des Moines, occupying various positions of trust in those early days. He served as bailiff in the County Court for twelve years, in the United States Court for twenty-one years, and was for a long time bailiff of the State Supreme Court. He was also, at one time, elected Justice of the Peace. He was engaged for the greater part of his life in farming and was recognized as an authority on matters pertaining to agriculture. He was a man of simple habits and unostentatious life, but possessed of the most sterling qualities of character as accorded with his Scotch ancestry, while his kindly nature and genial disposition won the affection of all who knew him. Mr. Norris was possessed of an unusual memory, retentive and accurate, extending back for over eighty years; and having witnessed the drama of our early history for so long a period one found in him a storehouse of most valuable information. It was a delight to him to talk of early days and to narrate anecdotes and incidents relating to the general history of our country, and particularly of pioneer and territorial days in Iowa. He served as teamster in the war of 1812; saw President Madison fleeing from Washington when that city was in flames, and formed part of his escort in that trying time. He was present when the people of Fredericktown received Gen. Lafayette in 1826 and also saw Gen. Jackson on numerous occasions. When he came to Iowa troops were stationed at the fort near the intersection of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, to prevent trouble with the Indians. He was well acquainted with the old Indian chiefs Keokuk and Johnny Green. Mr. Norris' daughter was the first white woman married in Polk county. At the time of his death the living representatives of his family numbered five generations. |