Sheriff Benjamin R. Norman
Sheriff Norman was born on March 10, 1832 and died on September 17, 1894.
Sheriff Norman served as Grant County Sheriff from 1879 to 1880
Sheriff Benjamin Norman was an Army Civil War Veteran as a Captain in the 118th Indiana Infantry, Company I and was then recommissioned during the war to the 155th Indiana Infantry, Company F. Sheriff Norman was well known in the community.
B. R. Norman was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 10, 1832, and is the youngest of a family of twelve children born to Bailey and Tasy (Tyson) Norman, parents both of natives of Virginia. Bailey Norman was born in 1775 and resided in Virginia until 1831. In the latter year he emigrated to Clinton county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and where his death occurred. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and took an active part in many of the battles of that struggle. Tasy (Tyson) Norman was born in Virginia and departed this life at her home in Clinton county, Ohio, about the year 1842 or 1843. Our subject was raised principally in Morrow county, Ohio, and at his mother’s death was thrown upon his own resources, commencing the battle of life at the early age of ten years. He was apprenticed to learn the gunsmith trade with one Mr. Turk, at Morrow, Ohio, and after serving three years and becoming quite proficient began working in Ohio, and later in Indiana. In 1855 he located at Kokomo, Indiana, where he opened a shop, which he operated very successfully until 1866, filling the office of justice of the peace the greater part of that time. He entered the army in 1863 as captain of Company I, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, with which he remained until the expiration of the regiment’s term of service, when he was recommissioned captain of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana, continuing with the latter until it mustered out, September 1865. At the close of the war he returned to Howard County, Indiana, where he resided until 1870, at which time he came to Marion and engaged in his trade at which he worked until the year 1882. In 1878 he was elected sheriff of Grant county, making the race on the Democratic ticket and overcoming a Republican majority of 750, defeating his competitor by 176 votes. He held the office one term and then opened a general insurance agency at Marion which he carried on until 1885, doing very extensive business during that time. He disposed of the insurance business in the latter year and is now retired from active life. Mr. Norman was married November 1855, in Kokomo, Indiana, to Miss Hannah Brown, daughter of David Brown, of Pennsylvania. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norman, viz, Mary E., wife of Dr. J.J. Pearson, of Pontiac, Illinois. Mr. Norman has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1854 and at the present time is Worshipful Master of Grant Lodge No. 105. He belongs to the G.A.R., holding the position of Commander of General Shunk Post, No. 23, at Marion. He is an active politician, a leader of the Democratic party in Grant county, and at the present time is chairman of the County Central Committee.
Another Biography on Sheriff Norman
B. R. Norman was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 10, 1832, and is the youngest of a family of twelve children born to Bailey and Tasy (Tyson) Norman, parents both natives of Virginia. Bailey Norman was born 1775 and resided in Virginia until 1831. In the latter year he emigrated to Clinton County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and where his death occurred. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and took an active part in many of the battles of that struggle. Tasy (Tyson) Norman was born in Virginia and departed this life at her home in Clinton County, Ohio, about the year 1842 or 1843. Our subject was raised principally in Morrow County, Ohio, and at his mother's death was thrown upon his won resources, commencing the battle of life at the early age of ten years. He was apprenticed to learn the gunsmith trade with one Mr. Turk, at Morrow, Ohio, and after serving three years and becoming quite proficient began working in Ohio, and later in Indiana. In 1855 he located at Kokomo, Indiana, where he opened a shop, which he operated very successfully until 1866, filling the office of Justice of the Peace the greater part of that time. He entered the army in 1863 as Captain of Company I, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, with which he remained until the expiration of the regiment's term of service, when he was recommissioned Captain of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana, continuing with the latter until mustered out, September 1865. At the close of the war he returned to Howard County, Indiana, where he resided until 1870, at which time he came to Marion and engaged in his trade, at which he worked until the year 1882. In 1878 he was elected Sheriff of Grant County, making the race on the Democratic ticket and overcoming a Republican majority of 750, defeating his competitor by 176 votes. He held the office one term and then opened a general insurance agency at Marion, which he carried on until 1885, doing a very extensive business during that time. He disposed of the insurance business in the latter year and is now retired from active life. Mr. Norman was married November 1855, in Kokomo, Indiana, to Miss Hannah Brown, daughter of David Brown, of Pennsylvania. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norman, viz, Mary E., wife of Dr. J. J. Pearson, of Pontiac, Illinois. Mr. Norman has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1854 and at the present time is Worshipful Master of Grant Lodge No. 105. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, holding the position of Commander of General Shunk Post, No. 23, at Marion. He is an active politician, a leader of the Democratic Party in Grant County, and at the present time is Chairman of the County Central Committee.
The Marion Weekly Leader, Friday, September 21, 1894
Death of Capt B. R. Norman
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One of Marion’s Most Valued and Highly Respected Citizens
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Capt. Benjamin R. Norman died at his residence, No. 924 South Adams street, on Monday night, Sept. 17th, 1894, at 8:05 after a painful and protracted illness, of paralysis. The funeral will occur from the residence on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 2 p.m. services will be conducted by Rev. McDonald of the Baptist church, assisted by Rev. W. D. Weaver. The remains will lie in state at the residence from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.
In the death of Captain and ex Sheriff Norman, Marion and Grant county have lost one of our most energetic, enterprising and valued citizens. A truer friend, a large hearted, generous, manly man than Capt. Norman never lived and died. Everybody, almost, in the city and county, knew him, and all who knew him loved and admired him for his many splendid qualities of head and heart.
It would require a volume to tell of his many generous acts since he has been a resident of Marion.
Not only was he a citizen to be proud of, but in his home life he as fairly idolized by a loving wife and daughter, both of whom are today heartbroken.
It is a difficult task to write fittingly of the life and death of such a man as Capt. Norman. He was a friend to everybody and an enemy to none, and his death has created a void which it will be impossible to fill, in the community as well as in the saddened home.
Fore more than two years Capt. Norman had been an invalid, having experienced partial paralysis twice a, and for the past six months he had been confined to his home, much of the time to his bed. A great sufferer, he was tenderly nursed by his devoted wife, and his many friends took pleasure in dropping in daily to lighten the burden of his illness. Even when suffering most he was as courteous as a Chesterfield, a true gentleman in the truest meaning of that word. It will indeed be long ere we shall see his like again. God rest his kindly, gentle soul. He did much good while on earth, in paradise he is reaping his reward.
About 1 o’clock last Saturday morning, Capt. Norman was again stricken, with paralysis, the left side being most effected, but the disorder rapidly increased, and he soon completely lost the use of his entire body and tongue, being unable to express himself except by his eyes and a faint moving of his head. On Sunday he made a brief rally, and was able to say a few words but again grew rapidly worse, and at midnight became entirely uncoscous, never again rallying. Although a great sufferer for months at the, at the last he sank away as peacefully as a little child falling asleep in its mother’s arms.
His daughter, who had been the idol of his life, was reached by telegram, and arrived in season to be recognized by her loved father just before he sank into unconsciousness.
Capt. Norman was so well known throughout our county that a history of his life here scarcely seems necessary, however, a few words as to his career may be fitting.
He was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 10, 1832, and was the youngest of twelve children. He was raised principally in Morrow Co.,., Ohio, and was early thrown upon his own resources. He learned the gunsmith trade and in 1855 removed to Kokomo, Ind., where he operated successfully till 1866, the greater part of the time filling the office of justice of the peace. In 1863 he entered the army as Captain of Co. I. 118th Ind. Infantry. At the expiration of the regiment’s term of service, he was recommissioned Captain of Co. F. 155th Ind., remaining with his regiment till mustered out September, 1865. He then returned to Howard county, residing there till 1870 , when he came to Marion and engaged in his trade till 1882. In 1878 he was elected sheriff of Grant county, making the race on the democratic ticket and overcoming a republican majority of 750 and defeating his competitor by 176 votes. He was the first democrat elected to this office in this county in thirty years. After filling the office most acceptably he opened a general insurance office, in which business his wonderful energy and wide acquaintance made him remarkably successful. Ill health finally compelled him to retire from active life, since which he had lived at ease as much as ill health would permit.
November, 1855, at Kokomo, Mr. Norman was married to Miss Hannah Brown, with whom he had ever since lived most happily. Our daughter blessed this union, Mary E. now Mrs. Dr. J. J. Pearson, who was with her father at the time of his death.
Mr. Norman had been an active member of the Masonic fraternity since 1854, holding many high offices in the order. He was also a member of the G. A. R.
The funeral will be conucted under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity.
In losing Capt. Norman this community loses a man who can be illy spared. No man ever left more or truer friends to mourn his loss. Only the God of the widow and the orphan can comfort the bereaved wife and daughter. He lived a noble life, he fought a good fight, he kept the faith, and the Master of Life has called him home to his reward.
