Philetus Norris
| Philetus W. Norris | |
|---|---|
Philetus Walter Norris in the pose of a trapper
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| Born |
August 17, 1821 Palmyra, New York |
| Died | January 14, 1885 (aged 63) Rocky Hill, Kentucky |
| Occupation | Pioneer, park superintendent |
| Spouse(s) | Jane K. Cottrell |
| Children | Edward, Aurelia, Ida and Arthur |
| Parent(s) | John Norris, Jr. and Azubah Phelps |
Philetus W. Norris (August 17, 1821 - January 14, 1885) was the second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and was the first person to be paid for that position.
Philetus Walter Norris was born in Palmyra, New York on August 17, 1821, the son of John Norris, Jr. and Azubah Phelps. His father was a pioneer mill-builder, and had fought in the War of 1812. In the early 1820s, the family moved to Allegheny County in New York. In 1826, they bought 80 acres (320,000 m2) in Michigan, moving there soon thereafter. There, they survived through the Black Hawk War and several cholera plagues. John Norris fell ill, and Philetus was forced to help his mother support their rather large family.
Norris left school early to become a trapper. He traveled all around the midwest to trap and trade. In 1838, Norris settled in northwest Ohio near the home of a good friend. In 1845, Norris married Jane K. Cottrell of Fayette, Ohio. Once married, the couple became two of the original settlers of Pioneer, Ohio. They had four children: Edward, Aurelia, Ida and Arthur. In Pioneer, Norris built a steam mill and worked as a land agent. In the span between 1850 and 1860, Norris also travelled to the western states.
When the Civil War began, Norris joined the Union troops, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel. He served as a spy behind Confederate Lines and Captain of the West Virginia Mountain Scouts. While fighting near Laurel Mountain, West Virginia, Norris's horse was shot out from underneath him, severely injuring his shoulder and spinal cord.
After his injury, Norris returned to Pioneer and was elected to the Ohio Legislature. Later, he became a member of the United States Sanitary Commission, caring for the wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and also served at the Confederate prison on Kelley's Island.
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