Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-04-04
WATERFOWL, WIS, APRIL 4. 1894.
The Death of William L. Norris.
communicated

William L. Norris, the editor and
proprietor of THE REPUBLICAN, died
Sunday noon, April 1st, after an i'll
ness of about two months. Mr.. Norris
had been in poor health for a year or
more, but his friends felt no alarm un-
It'll the past few weeks, when he took
to his bed; then the hopelessness of
his case became apparent, and he con-
8inued to sink gradually until the final
summons came. Mr.. Norris was born
in the city of Dublin, Ireland, and
came with his parents to this city in
1847. After a few years at school ho
entered the service of the late Jona-
shan A. Hadley, the pioneer in Water
town journalism. Not finding the art
of printing suitable to his taste he
abandoned it after short time and
entered the employ of Mickey Bros,
the most extensive dry goods mer-
cants then in Wisconsin. On the
firms removal from this city to Osh-
kosh he went with them, where he re-
to Watertown he became connected in
an editorial capacity with THE REPUB-
LICAN, and, in 1881, became its sole edi-
tor and proprietor, which continued up
to the day of his death. Besides bis
editorial duties he filed the Office of
Government Gauger under Presidents
Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, and
Harrison, with credit to himself and
complete satisfaction to the Internal
Revenue department. Mr. Norris
possessed ability far above the aver
age. His local paper was carefully and
smoothly written, and he always rigid
1y excluded anything that would in
any way offend the sense and dignity
of the most fastidious. His treatment
of the poor, for whom there was al
ways warm spot in his heart, was
e qually as considerate. While pos
ssessing fine ability as an editorial writer
his style was not of the vigorous sort
so much in vogue to-day, and, while
IN oderate in tone, was logical and in
good taste His selections were al
ways with the view of better educat-
ing and ennobling the character of his
readers. He had an adherence of
gtrashy stuff, and looked upon it as
Sending to demoraliZe and certain to
lose the respect and confidence of the
reading public. In politics he was not
Tanatical, but earnest, patriotic and
His faith in the wisdom,
patriotism and beneticence of his party
@gras unbounded; nevertheless he would
anake use of no subterfuge to advance
his party's interests. Therefore a
wide-open policy was his guide, and
to that end the columns of his news
paper were open to an intelligent dis
cussion of matters interesting to the
public. While every fibre Of his be-
ing was thoroughly American he had
an intense love for the land that gave
him birth, and cherished the fondest
hopes that Ireland would ere long be
clothed in garments Of national Dig
nifty. In religion be was Episcopalian,
and the rectitude of his life is ample
gproof that he was a most console ntions
and worthy member of St. Paul's
church of this city. He had an abid-
ing faith in the future of our city. 1t
was his home from boyhood, and he
expected. as proved true. to make it
his abiding place until death. Mr.
Norris was loyal to the nation. to his
state, and to his city; feeling a Chris
tian exultation in all that was good
and cast down and gloomy at anything
portentious of evil. After spending
his life amongst us he has left re-
membrance of nothing but good. His
fellow citizens will cherish his mem
DRY with pleasing recollections, and
will find it difficult to fill the void he
leaves IN society and in our commu-
nifty generally. All nationalities and
all sects honored him, and say good
bye to him with feelings of genuine re-
gret and sorrow. l..