Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-03-11

RE, one of the most prominent citizens
OF the District Of Columbia and who 10
well known here having many friends
n Berkeley county who will hear of
his death with unmingled sorrow. Mr..
Norris was lawyer by profession, has
been most successful patent attorney
4 Tor many years and WAS one of best
aud most favorably known patent at
! torneys In the country. He ever had a
/ lively interest In matters relating TO
this counay where be Was married
capturing one of the most charming
women the county has ever produced !,
Miss Anna ,Roblnsona sister of Mr.
Lewis II. Robinson Of this city.
/ The deceaseds was born In Washing
ton October Is, 1S45 he was educated
1 at Dickinson college after taking a
short course at the Everett Institute in
Washington.
] While at college be was member
of the Bellies Lettre Society and Zeta
chapter sf the Phi Kappa Psi fraterni-
ty. Later in life, in connection with
Others he was instrumental In found
ing the Alpha chapter Of that fraterni-
ty at Columbia College, in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
After the completion of his course
at Dickinson, Mr.. Norris read law in
Carlisle with Judge Graham, and later
In Washington with his father. He
entered the patent Office, serving OH
the exaInining corps ander Chief Elk
aminers Albin Schoepf and William
b. Taylor. Shortly afterward Mr.. Nor
ris rendered his resignation and en-
gagged in the practice Of patent law,
with offices at Seventh and f streets.
Later lie erected an offics building at
Fifth and F streets, which bears bis
name.
In 1867 Mr.. Norris married Miss
Robinson q daughter Of Col. Israel
Robinson who in his day was one Of
the most prominent lawyers Of this
state saviag served In the Virginia
lehss4 when /. was an homer to
I serve Id that body aud also served in
the Confederate Congress- Mrs. Norris
lived thirty years after marriage and
they re survived by seven children.
Mr.. Norris was in bad health for
two years or more beginning as an at
tack Of nsuritis which developed into
a complication of diseases which
finally carried him Off when his fsmi-
ly and friends thought he was in no
immediate danger. His business from
the beginning of his illness has been In
the hands of his son, Mr., James Law
son Norris, who we are informed will
continue the business.
| One OF Mr.. Norris chief treas ures
was his library, which is of extensive
scope, and contains, in particular,
practically every work printed on the
life of Andrew Jackson. He also pos
sessed valuable collection Of antique
swords and firearms. Mr.. Norris
father was president of the Jackson
| De mocratic Association of the District
of ColHmbis, the oldest political
organic 4tlon, next to Tammany Hall,
in the United States. Shortly after
his fathers death, James l., Norris
was elected to the presidency of the
organization, and held that position
until the time Of his death.
On the election Of Cleveland in 1892
Mr.. Norris was made a member of the
general Inaugural committee, and was
later cleo ted by this committee to
mem berslip in the executive com
mittee, md chairman of the fireworks
committee During the Cleveland
campaign in 1883, Mr.. Norris was Sc
lected by the Democratic committee a.
it's advisory committee for the District
of Columbia He was chosen by the
Joint Democratic casas of the Senate
and the House As the representative of
the District OF Columbia on the DEM
ocratic congr esslonal COMMITTEES, and
he served as a member of that COM
mittse and as its treasurer from the
Fittieth Congress up to the present
| time.
In March, 1892, Mr.. Norris was
elected delegate ito the Democratic
national convention at Chicago, and
was made member of the Democratic
| national committee for the District OF
Columbia. He was Chairman of the
inaugural committee and had charge
of tho caramonieS incident upOn CIeVe-
lands second Inauguration Mr.. Nor
ris was member of the inaugural com
mittees of every Inauguration from
1884 until after the second inauguration |
OF Mckinley. He was prime mover
in the effort to have the inaugural date
changed from March to April 30.
In 1896 he was chosen as assistant
treasurer of the Democratic national
n 1, a 90 n