- SUTTON NORRIS, of the firm SHOPBELL & NORRIS, manufacturers,
of Janesville, was born
- in Newark, N.J., on the 1st day of May, 1836, and is a son
of Silas and Nancy (GILLISPIE) NORRIS. His parents were also
natives of New Jersey, but the father was of English descent
and the mother of Irish. Both were descended from ancestors who
date their residence in this country back to the colonial days
of our history.
- Our subject was reared to manhood in his native town, and
there received an academic education.
- He learned the carpenter's trade while in Newark, and followed
that occupation until 1857, when he decided to try his fortune
in the West and came to Janesville, where he worked at his trade
for four years. At the expiration of that time he went to Monroe,
and engaged in the same line until October, 1864, when he enlisted
in the service of his country at St. Louis in the quartermaster's
department, serving until his discharge in April, 1865. He then
returned to Monroe, where he continued to engage in contracting
and building until 1875. He has erected many buildings of note,
including jails, school-houses and court- houses. As before mentioned,
in 1875, he again came to Janesville, and in the month of October,
formed a partnership with Mr. SHOPBELL, which connection has
continued until the present writing, covering a period of nearly
fourteen years. Theirs is one of the leading enterprises of the
city. They are engaged in the manufacture of the Jackson refrigerator
and the improved common sense weather strips. They also make
sash, doors, blinds, mouldings and brackets and employ on an
average eighteen hands.
- On the 12th day of July, 1871, Mr. NORRIS formed a matrimonial
alliance with Miss Sallie A.
- CARRINGTON, a daughter of Rowland CARRINGTON, and a native
of the Empire State. They have an adopted daughter, Grace. Mrs.
NORRIS is a member of the Congregational Church of Janesville,
and Mr. NORRIS belongs to Wisconsin Lodge, No. 90, I.O.O.F. In
politics, he is a faithful adherent of the Republican party,
and is now serving his second term of two years as a member of
the City Council.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 953-954.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|