The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-15
JOHN f. NORRIsH, OF THE BOARD
OF PRISON MANAGERS, EX-
PIRES SUDDENLY
AT HIS HOME IN HASTINGS.
HEART FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE
OF HIS TRAGIC
DEMISE.
MANY YEARS IN OFFICIAL LIFE.
Long Career of Public Service Came
to an Abrupt Termin-
alton.

Special to the Globe
HASTINGS, Mimi, Nov. 14-John +.
Norrsh, the pioneer merchant of this
city and for about ten years identified
with public affairs in Minnesota as a
member of the board of managers of
the Minnesota state prison, died very
suddenly this morning at the hall door
Of his residence, 301 Second street
The news fell upon the community
with terrible shock, for the tall, spare
figure of the veteran business man has
been familiar figure on the streets of
Hastings for a generation, up to within
few minutes of his death, which oc-
Cured just as he had returned from
the postoffice, where he had taken some
letters and secured some mail to carry
home.
While his intimates have suspected
recently that Mr.. Norrish's vitality
was failing, yet it was believed that he
might look forward yet to several years
of service as useful to his community
as had been the decades of his resi-
dence before. The veterans tragic end
was almost unheralded. At the meet
ing of the prison managers as recently
as Tuesday last, Mr.. Norrish was Vlsl-
bly, exhausted by the trip from his
home and the incident labors Of the
meeting, his interest in the affairs of
the board with which he had so long
been connected having been most ac-
tive. At that time some of his asso-
ciates expressed the fear that his offi-
cial connection with the institution
would be terminated in the near future.
His term was to expire in 1898, and it
was thought he would decline reap
pointment if rendered. But even the
prophets little dreamed Of so early and
SO tragic a fulfllment.
Heart failure was the cause Of death.
The arrangements for the funeral are
not as yet announced
John F. Norlish was born in Devon
shire, EnglandS July 6, 1929, so he had
nearly reachedS the allotted span of
three score years. and ten. He had re-
sided in Hastings during almost the
entire term off his business life, and
had always taken a great pride in the
town of his adoption. A Democrat in
politics, he was esteemed by his towns
men without regard to partisan affilia-
tions, and worked hand in hand with
them in all movements for the benefit
Of the city.
He was indefatigable in his efforts
last winter and during the year of
skirmishing previous to the legislative
fight, to keep before all concerned the
superior advantages, as he believed
them at least, of the Hastings insane
hospital site Nor was he slow to aver
his entire confidence in the justice of
his contention that Hastings had been
legally selected. ''%'Aii .ss-.,1ss==asz.-t
While always@>actfve in politics. he
had been content with modest official
places. He served as a member of the
house of representatives in the 4legisla-
ture in 1876 among those who were his
contemporaries being John L. Gibbs,
the present lieutenant governor; Capt.
William Crooks, Fred Richter, c.. d.
Gilfillan, G. H. Petit, the Minneapolis
miller, Col. John H. Stevens, the found
er of Minneapolis; Capt. C. B. Tirrell,
Daniel Bassett, A. M. Reid and Frank
L. Morse, Of Minneapolis, and Oar S.
Hall and S. G. Comstock, since in con-
gress.
During the first term of President
Cleveland the deceased was United
States surveyor general for the district
of Minnesota.
ne WdS lOl iIldHy years, ana UP TO
1892, a member of the board Of direc-
tors of the state agricultural society,
and while not as prominent officially
in the organization during the last few
years, he has been regular partici-
pant in the general meetings of the So
ciety. He took a great deal of inter-
est in the work of the fairs, as we'll
as in the scientific discussion which
was made possible by the experimental
station in which the agricultural So
ciety had been so active a co-worker
in earlier years.
When the legislature of 1889 passed
an act reorganizing the state prison,
and providing for its anagement by
a board of five directors Mr. Norrish
although of opposite political faith
from the party in power, was appoint
ed on the board, and he has ever since
been identified with the prison. At the
time of the international prison con-
gress in Paris in 1895 he was sent as
Minnesota'S representative.
Mr.. Norrish is survived by his wife
and one daughter, Miss Gertrude A.
Norrish, who is prostrated by the sud
den death of her father A brother
Samuel Norrish, also a resident of
Hastings for a quarter of a century,
survives also.
AS soon as the news of the death
of Manager Norrish reached Saltwater
President O'Brien, of the board of
managers, and Warden Wolfer started
for ST. Paul, arriving in time to take
an afternoon train for Hastings They
conferred with the relatives of their
deceased associate, and it is probable
that the board will attend the funeral
services as such. No date has been
fixed for the services yet.
Il have known John F. Norrish for
years." said Senator O Brien last night.
He was perfect gentleman, and thor
oughly honorable in all his dealings.
He was sensitive in high degree to
his duty as a man and a citizen, and,
determined as he was to do no one
any wrong, he expected equal consd-
Grafton for others.
The sudden death of Mr. Norrish
caused profound sadness in Saltwater
where Mr. Norrsh was almost as we'll
known as in his own home, and on the
occasion of his 6fficial and other visits
had made many warm friends.
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