History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed.
by William Henry Perrin,  O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882.  p. 760.
[Nicholas County]  [Carlisle City and Precinct]

JOSEPH NORVELL, Ex-Circuit Clerk, Carlisle, was born in Carlisle, Nov. 13,
1842 (see J.P. Norvell's history); he received a liberal education,
attended the preparatory school, taught by Rev. James Hendricks, where he
studied the Latin and Greek languages, preparatory to entering the College
at Danville, Ky.; he subsequently studied law with his father, but before
being admitted to the bar, he enlisted in Company A, of the original
squadron under Gen. Morgan, in which he served until that command was cut
to pieces at Lebanon, Tenn.; subsequently, in the re-organization, he
served for a short time as a private in Co. B, 9th Ky., under Col.
Breckinridge, he was there promoted to the position of Second Lieutenant;
subsequently, by a special order from the war department, that officers
should be examined in military tactics, by a special board appointed for
that purpose; he received the appointment as Captain of the company, which
position he held until the close of the war.  The captaincy of the company
was made vacant by the resignation of Capt. Neal and Mr. Norvell's
promotion over a superior officer was on account of proficiency in military
tactics.  He served in all the principal contests with his command, some of
which were those of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Stony Fork, Resaca,
Peach Tree Creek, the salt works of Virginia, and skirmishes in front and
rear of Sherman's march to the sea.  He was four times a prisoner; the
first time he was captured he escaped from Camp Morton; the second he
leaped from the car window while being transported from Louisville to
Camp Douglas; the third, while under guard in the woods in Tennessee. The
longest that he was away from his command was four months when he was
imprisoned at Johnson's Island.  From 1865 till [sic] the spring of 1868,
he was engaged in the mercantile business in Cincinnati with Chappell,
Bruce & McIntyre.  In 1868 he was elected to the office of Circuit Clerk,
which position he held until in August, 1874, where for a considerable
time he was engaged in the Kimbrough and St. Cloud Hotels.  He was
married Oct. 18, 1869 in Sharpsburg, to Miss Belle Wilson who was a
native of Fleming County and a daughter of Harvey T. Wilson, Past Grand
Master of the Masonic Order for the State of Kentucky.  He is a native
of Fleming County; was an extensive pork packer in Covington, Ky., during
the war.  He now resides in Kenton County.  His wife, Margaret (Serency)
Wilson, also a native of Fleming County.  Mr. Norvell, by this marriage
has had five children, four of whom are now living, viz: Alva, Annie,
Lucy and Mary.  He is a Democrat and a Master Mason.

Norvell Hendricks Wilson Serency
=
Boyle-KY Fleming-KY Kenton-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/nicholas/norvell.j.txt