Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Oliver Norman
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
OLIVER NORMAN, a prominent member of the farming community of Garfield Township, first set foot upon the soil of Kansas in February, 1875, and soon afterward purchased his present farm of 160 acres. For this he paid the sum of $500, money that he had earned working on
the railroad. This took about all of his ready capital, and after breaking twenty acres he again went to work by the month, and thus labored about three years. At the expiration of this time he returned to his undeveloped farm and made a little rock basement, 14x16 feet, over which he put a roof and kept bachelor's hall in this about three years. Then, having accumulated the necessary means, he built upon this basement a good frame house.
Having thus wisely laid the foundation of a home, Mr. Norman proceeded to secure for himself a wife and helpmate, being married Jan. 27, 1882 to Miss Carrie Erickson. The young couple began life together in a manner far more comfortable than many of their neighbors about them, but the following summer they met with a great misfortune, lightning striking their dwelling, and it was burned to the ground. Mr. Norman, however, did not allow himself to be discouraged, but that same summer put up a part of his present dwelling, and two years later built the addition and now has a neat and substantial residence, besides bringing his farm to a good state of cultivation, he has pasture lands, meadow and timber, with a good stable, corn-cribs and other outbuildings. The household circle now includes two bright children: Anna, born Jan. 25, 1883, and Josephine, Sept. 22, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Norman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and hold a good position socially in their community.
Oliver Norman was born May 5. 1842, in the northern part of Sweden and there reared upon a farm, acquiring his education in a country school. His parents, Olaf and Mattie Erick Norman, as far back as is known, were of Swedish ancestry and members of the Lutheran Church. They spent their entire lives in their native land, the father dying in October, 1877, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother Aug. 15, 1889, aged eighty-one. Their family consisted of six children, three living.
The subject of this sketch left his old home on the 13th of May, 1868, and a few days later sailed for America, landing in New York City about the 10th of June. Thence he proceeded directly to Eastern Illinois, where he worked about one year by the day and the month, and then going to Iowa was employed on the railroad. We next find him in Grundy County, Mo., where he was employed on a railroad, and whence he came to Kansas in the early part of 1875. His career has been signalized chiefly by great industry and economy, while as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen he has set an example worthy of emulation by those around him. He does not meddle any with political affairs except upon occasions of general elections when he casts his vote with the Union Labor party.