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Available Sources Records 1875 A. T. Andreas Atlas
Dubuque Genealogy Coordinator
Logo by Ginger Cisewski |
Submitted by Margaret Mulcahy Hamilton, Great Great Granddaughter John Joseph Edmund Norman was born on October 15, 1815 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were, Joseph Norman and Margaret Ann Nelson. J. J. E. Norman (as he was sometimes referred to) married Katrina Mac Michael on June 8, 1841 in Bardstown, Kentucky. Katrina was the daughter of John Mac Michael and Elizabeth Sheets. He died December 12, 1872 in Dubuque, Iowa. From the following accounts found in newspapers about his death I found that he was a Superintendent of Schools in Dubuque, Iowa. J. J. E. Norman and his wife, Katrina had the following children; Mary, born Abt. 1842 in Iowa, Elizabeth, born Abt. 1844, Iowa, John, born Abt. 1846, Iowa, Thomas, born Abt. 1848, Iowa, George, born Abt. 1859, Iowa, Charles Henry, (from whom we descend) born February 15, 1851 in Chicago or possibly Cicero, Illinois, Margaret, born Abt. 1853, Ben, born Abt. 1855, and Vincent, born Abt. 1858. The Dubuque Herald Newspaper, December 13, 1872
Terrible Accident
There is a feeling of dread in mens minds in contemplation of death, that never loses it's power from the earliest bloom and vigor of youth to the latest wither and decay of age. Death is familiar to us, we know the weird signs of his coming and the silent supremacy of his victory, yet we shrink from his presence as we would from the brooding of dark care or an avenging fate. The very mystery and uncertainty of his approach breeds a terror we cannot overcome. How many deep questionings have been made on the subject of death, and the different modes of dying. The last moments of nearly all notable men who have come down to us in history have been chronicled most faithfully, almost to the expression of the face, the last word struggling for utterance, and the final gasp. There is a satisfaction to the cowardly heart of man in satisfying the curiosity of the mind on these minute incidents of how others would have died, but what a revelation would it be were we each and every one to know how and at what time we would resign the toil of earth. Death is sudden, and strong, and terrible enough for the calmest mind, come when he will, whether it be on beds of repose in the midst of friends, on the Battle field, on the seas, by lightning or tempest, by man's vengeance unawares, or by sheer accident, he comes as the red death to blight all worldly prosperity and bury the last beam of hope in uncertainty. Thus sudden and remorselessly was brought to the city, at eight o' clock last night, the news of the death of Supt. J. J. E. Norman, by a runaway accident, that occurred near his residence on the North Cascade Road, about six o'clock in the evening. From a personal interview at a late hour last night with Mr. J. H. Alexander, son to street commissioner W. C. Alexander, who shared the dangers of the fearful escapade with Mr. Norman, we are enabled to learn the following correct details of the manner of his death: Mr. Norman and Mr. Alexander live on opposite sides of the North Cascade Road, a half mile beyond the Illinois Central railroad track, at what is known as Cascade Crossing, which settles down among deep impending bluffs on every side. Mr. Norman formerly lived a half mile from the other side of the track, but built and moved into the present residence of the family on the right side of the road going out, up hill and down hill, and lined on either hand with rocky gullies and rufted earth surface. Thursday afternoon Mr. Norman and Mr. Alexander had been in the city attending to their business duties. Mr. Norman started for home on foot about 5 o' clock, and had reached the point in the road which passes his old residence when he was overtaken by Mr. Alexander riding in his buggy, who invited him to share the seat with him. The invitation was accepted, and they rode together but a few rods when the horse took fright at another horse grazing at the roadside, and started to run away. The animal is one that has been in Mr. Alexander's service for years, and was seldom known to be vicious or intractable, but in this instance he was so thoroughly aroused it was difficult to control him, and ere Mr. Alexander could do anything to avert a catastrophe. It was past like a flurry of wind. Mr. Alexander was first thrown from the buggy over the dashboard, between the horse and the buggy, and held there a few seconds in a position wherein the entire sole of his right foot was torn off and the legs of his pants torn to shreds. How he escaped, Mr. Alexander does not profess to know. The next recollection he has of himself was on awaking from a state of insensibility while lying in the road a few minutes after Mr. Norman was pitched from the buggy into a ravine. Immediately after Mr. Alexander's being thrown into his predicament, Mr. Norman was carried from his seat by a sudden shock of the vehicle in passing over a rut in the road, in the violence of the horse's mood, and was pitched head first a distance of ten feet into a rocky ravine running along the road, a quarter of a mile east of the railroad crossing. Death did not come immediately, though Mr. Norman was insensible to the moment of his death, shortly after seven o' clock. When Mr. Alexander returned to his senses from the shock of his fall, he began to look about for Mr. Norman, and followed down the hill in the wake of the runaway horse, to the railroad crossing, where he found the dilapidated remains, of what once was a buggy, lying on the railroad track, and under the railing of the bridge several feet beyond, the horse was lying on his side. Not finding any traces of Mr. Norman here, he retraced his steps and found him in the ravine, as we have indicated, bleeding and insensible, with a heavy bruise on his forehead over the right eye, and a gash over the right ear, and the blood flowed profusely from the ear itself; both his hands were cut and mangled as though the buggy wheels had passes over them. On fiscovering Mr. Norman in this deathly plight, Mr. Alexander shouted for assistance. His calls were responded to by two German men working in an adjacent field for Mr. J. H. Emerson, with whose aid the body was taken to Mr. Norman's residence and a physician sent for, who arrived before seven o'clock, examined the wounds and watched the expiring flame of life go out. This terrible affair came upon the family so entirely unexpected that they could scarce believe their own eyes when the bleeding remains of the unfortunate man were brought in to them. Mrs. Norman is almost beside herself with grief, and there is no one in our community so lost to generous and humane impulses as not to share in a measure her grief for a man that was a high minded and honorable citizen in the strictest sense, and to offer her the tenderest sympathy in condolence. Of Mr. Norman's record, we shall say little at this time, but will give an epitome of his life. He was born in Philadelphia in 1815, and was consequently in his 57th year at the time of his death. He came to Dubuque in 1841, just one year after the city was incorporated, and had thus been a resident here thirty years. He filled many places of public trust and if aught need be said of is merit, as a public servant, it is the fact that he has been at the head of the educational interests of Dubuque County, in the office of County Superintendent of Schools, for over twelve years. His honesty and integrity as a man were never questioned; he was active and alert in the performance of his public and private responsibilities, and was ever noted for his Catholicity of spirit and courtesy of manner. He was a man Dubuque could ill afford to lose, and whose place it will be difficult to fill. Mr. Alexander's injuries by the runaway were of a very mild character, nothing more than a few bruises, and he will be out attending business as usual in a day or two. To The Editor Of The Catholic Standard: Death Of Old Philadelphian
On the 12th of December, Mr. Edmund Norman, who was born in this city, and resided here for many
years, was killed near his late residence at Dubuque, Iowa, by being thrown from a buggy. He had
been attending to some business affairs in Dubuque, and was walking to his home in the suburbs when
a friend drove along with a buggy and invited him in. Scarcely was he seated before the horse took
fright from another animal on the road and dashed away, and soon both gentlemen were thrown from
the buggy. Mr. Norman was rendered unconscious, and remained so till he died from his injuries less
than two hours afterwards. Mr. Norman was born in Philadelphia in 1818, and was educated at Mt. St.
Mary's College, Md. He was in his early years active around St. Michael's Church in this city.
During his residence here he supplied many articles to Philadelphia newspapers, the catholic papers
among them. He removed to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1841, but has paid frequent visits to Philadelphia
since then. He held many offices of public trust in Dubuque, and for twelve years previous to his
death filled the position of Superintendent of Public Schools in the County of Dubuque, Iowa. He
won a high reputation for honesty and efficiency in the performance of public duties entrusted to
him. His private character was equally praiseworthy.
Superintendent, E. Norman Testimony Shows Respect From The Public School Teachers In This City At a recent meeting of the Public School Teachers of Dubuque, held Saturday, the 14th the following resolutions, reported by Prof. Kretchmer, chairman of the committee appointed for that purpose, were unanimously adopted: 1st, That it is with the most sincere grief that we learn of the painful accident resulting in the death of Hon. J. J. E. Norman, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Dubuque County. 2nd, That we bear cheerful testimony that he was a warm, true, inflexible friend to our system of public education; that he was faithful in the discharge of his duties; that he was zealous in maintaining interests of teachers. 3rd, That we will show our appreciation of practices and precepts by remembering him and conducting ourselves in accordance herewith, devoting ourselves studiously to the great cause for which our lamented friend labored so faithfully for so many years. 4th, That we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family, who by unfortunate dispensation have been denied a loving husband and father.
5th, That these resolutions be published in the city papers and the Iowa School Journal, and a copy
be transmitted to the family of the deceased.
Funeral of J. J. E. Norman The obsequies of the late and universally lamented J. J. E. Norman occurred at two o' clock Sunday afternoon. No service or address in memoriam was made over the body. At the appointed hour a large concourse of friends gathered at the family residence on the North Cascade Road and all being ready, the casket was conveyed to the hearse by the pall bears, Messrs. George W. Jones, John Fitzpatrick, A. H. Smith, John McKinley, P. T. Brown and Michael Biddy. The procession moved toward the city to inter the body at Third Street Cemetery. Words cannot depict the anguish that overspread the faces of the bereft ones at the grave---the bitter loneliness of feeling of the deserted Mother and Fatherless Children. We will not attempt to portray it. It was an auster winter day, and the dead was quickly resigned earth to earth and dust to dust. The world has lost a good and useful man in the death of Mr. Norman. The following was sent to me, Margaret Mulcahy Hamilton, by John Murray (MurrayOdyssey@cs.com), whom I met on the Internet in the year 2000. He was reading a book about the anniversary of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and came across the following on page 34. "A young layman, J. J. E. Norman, who had given splendid assistance to Father Donaghoe (first pastor of St. Michael's) in the Sunday school work at St. Joseph's, (the oldest Catholic church in Philly) went to Dubuque to teach in a catholic school opened there. He spoke to Bishop Loras of the new community founded in Philadelphia, and urged him to invite the sisters to his diocese. Some correspondence ensued, with the result that on June 5, 1843, the bishop, returning from the Fifth Provincial Council of Baltimore, left Philadelphia with five of the community. So this year saw the beginning of the labors of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Middle West----labors so sweetly and patiently performed that antagonism was quickly lessened and ridicule silenced, so noble in aim and accomplishment that even the godless must be stirred to admiration at their history, labors so fruitful that the Faith was spread marvelously wherever these good women went. They began immediately to journey over the prairies, visiting and caring for the sick, instructing the children, "spreading abroad the fragrant odor of Chrsitian virtues among a population three-fourths heretics and infidels." It is not the least of the glories of St. Michael's Parish that it was the birthplace of this magnificent sisterhood." The following was sent to me by Joseph Check from the Archivist at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa 2000: From the book, The Story Of Loras College The Oldest College In Iowa, by M. M. Hoffman, 1939. Several early writers refer distinctly to St. Raphael's Academy, Wrote Newhall in 1841: "Dubuque contains at the present time, a population of from 12 to 1300 inhabitants . . . Established here are four or five churches, among which is the Catholic cathedral, an elegant structure of stone . . . a lyceum, (a hall where public programs are presented) reading room, academy, several primary schools." And more explicitly from the pen of another author came the reference: (Dr. Loras) erected in the rear of his Cathedral church a large and substantial building, designed to answer the double purpose of episcopal residence and Ecclesiastical Seminary. Thus he had the consolation of having his young Levites under his won roof, and under the immediate instructions of Father Cretin. He very soon started an academy for boys . . . These institutions accomplished much immediate good, and were the pioneer institutions of the present flourishing diocese of Dubuque." In the Metropolation Catholic Alamac for 1843, the academy is listed as not under the "direction of the clergy", but as "Conducted by S. J. Norman". This was really John J. E. Norman, a convert and a member of a Philadelphia family, who had come to Dubuque in 1841, and who because of his extraordinary educational qualifications was immediately seized upon by Bishop Loras for his establishment: From 1841 to 1843 Mr. Norman was organist at the Cathedral, lay professor in the college and headmaster of the academy." He was engaged as a Latin teacher for three young men studying for the preisthood in the Bishop'd house." In the early fall of 1841 the Weekly Miner's Express carried each week for some time the following advertisment, which conveys a good idea of the type of students whom Bishop Loras wished to have in the academic department of his seminary: DUBUQUE English, Classical and Mathematical Academy The subscriber, having had many years' practice as Disciplinarian and Perfect of Studies in the Colleges of Mount St. Marys, at Emmetsburg, Md; Cincinnati, and St. Joseph's at Bardstown, Kentucky., will open a School on August 30th, at the residence of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Loras, in Dubuque, where the various branches of a useful and refined English, Classical, and Mathematical education, will be taught, with vocal and instrumental music, and etc. Ladies or Gentlemen, who may wish to receive private lectures, will be attended to before or after school hours. Terms made known on application at the School, or at his residence, near the Washington Hotel. J. J. E. Norman After severing his connection from the faculty in 1843, Mr. Norman continued his interest in educational work in Dubuque. The very next year he became the Secretary of the newly created Dubuque School Board and served for many years on the later established Board Of Education. During the Civil War period he became one of the leading Union Democrats in Iowa. From 1863 to 1873 this former St. Raphael's professor held the office of Dubuque County Superintendent of schools." |
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