J Bertrand Norris Biography

JOSEPH BERTRAND NORRIS

(Information and photographs provided by J Bertrand Norris’ great-granddaughter Kaye Koontz Jones)

J Bertrand Norris (as he was known) was born in Morgantown, WV on 28 March 1841. The family moved to Carter County, KY, in the early 1850’s, and although he taught school in Kentucky for years, he was living in Ohio when he died on 30 December 1928.  He is buried in Union Cemetery in Columbus.

J Bertrand kept a series of diaries, at least from 1861 through 1882, so more is known about his life than many.

J Bertrand was crippled as an infant by a fire and subsequent infection. He was educated because the family “knew” he could never be a collier like his father and brothers. Colliers worked in the “coaling” preparing charcoal for the iron industry. This was very hot and strenuous work.

He was a collier before he taught. He wrote of walking as many as 20 miles. He never referred to any disability in the diaries, but his injured foot had drawn up into a “club” and seeped fluids his entire life.

J Bertrand was married to Serena Harr Norris from Lewis County, KY.

J Bertrand was over six feet tall with brown eyes and black hair. After his wife Serena died, he broke up housekeeping and lived with his daughter Mary’s family in the summer and his son Bert’s family in the winter.

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