JOHN NORMAN was born about 1798 in Virginia.  He was a shoemaker, and died after June 11, 1860.  He moved to Lewis County, Virginia/West Virginia near Weston.  He married (1) NANCY MONTGOMERY October 24, 1816 in Randolph County, Virginia/West Virginia.  She was born about 1798 in Virginia, and died about 1840.  He married (2) ORINDA HOLBERT February 01, 1842 in Lewis County, West Virginia.  She was born about 1820 in Virginia.

 Notes for NANCY MONTGOMERY:

 Michael L. and Jane Montgomery in Harrison County, WV Deed book 1, p. 207 (1792) - are these Nancy's parents?

JEMIMA NORMAN was born 28 September 1833 and died 13 March 1911 probably in Gilmer County, West Virginia.  She is buried in the Meadows Cemetery, Gilmer County, West Virginia. On 1870 Gilmer County, WV census, Center Township, Letter Gap? PO, p. 183, household 23-23.  On 1880 Gilmer County, WV census, Center Township, SD 1, ED 141, p. 192, household 8.  On 1900 Gilmer County, WV census, SD 28, sheet 6A, p. 6, household 94-95.

MARY REBECCA NORMAN was born about 1819.  She married GEORGE M. RIDDLE June 30, 1836 in Lewis County, West Virginia-bond June 27.  He was born about 1814.  On 1870 Gilmer County, WV census, Troy Township, p. 237, household 109-108.

JAMES EMMIT NORMAN died December 19, 1893 in Ritchie County, West Virginia?.  He married TAMAR RIDDLE.  On 1870 Gilmer County, WV census Troy Township, p. 232, household 42-41.

 FROM "GILMER COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA 1845-1989" BY GILMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1845-1989, 1994 2ND ED. 1996

 NORMAN-KNISLEY, p. 212

James Emmett Norman and Adam Andrew Knisley are the great grandparents of which I speak.  I know my relatives form a large family-some I've been happy to meet, others maybe I will never meet.  However, I'm proud to find out as much as I can, good or bad, about my roots.

These ancestors of ours did not have it easy as farmers, lumbermen, carpenters, tanners, millers, law officers, teachers, ministers, cabinet makers-still they found time to take up arms in never ending battles to conquer the frontier, then had to be faced with the Civil War.

James Emmett Norman was the first postmaster of Normantown (1853-1859).  He enlisted in the Union Army at Wheeling (VA) May 6, 1862, Co. G 10th Infantry.  While serving in the army, he slipped over a high bank on night duty in 1865 and injured his leg.  He was not attended by a doctor at the time, but suffered the rest of his life, as stated in a pension request stamped "Pension Office" Jan. 23, 1891.  We can find no record of his discharge.

With little or no education (book learnin') as a disadvantage to add to their other hardships, nevertheless our forefathers left a lasting mark on this county of which we can all be proud.

Harriet Norman (b. 1836, d. Ritchie Co. 1935) married Adam Andrew Knisley, son of George W. and Sarah (Heckert) Knisley, and had five children.  Adam had been married to Sarah Exline as his first wife and they had 4 children all under 10 years of age when he married my great grandmother Harriet.  In 1903, they purchased land in Ritchie Co. where both died (1919 and 1935 respectively), having lost and sold many acres in Gilmer Co.  Harriet (Norman) Knisely and her husband, Adam raised their nine children and when two of their daughters died leaving 2 children each, they took all 4 grandchildren to rear as their own.  Adam was a veteran and in ill health, so the grandchildren helped on the 40 acre farm.

One of these children was Bertha Davis, daughter of Sarah Knisley and Ephriam B. Davis.  She married Guy Sutton of Berea, WV in a double wedding with Mom's sister Nellie and Dad's brother Oma.  Bertha and Guy died in 1981 and 1975 respectively.  A daughter, Kathy, died in 1981, one month before Mom.  Uncle Oma died in 1985 after a long illness.  Nellie, now 89 years of age, lives alone and does well.

I, Mary Carneal, am the oldest child of 6 children (2 brothers till living).  My family consists of 3 sons and 1 daughter, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  my greatest goal in life is to learn about my "roots", and to meet my "cousin" family.  I am looking forward to reading the family histories and hopefully finding out more about our ties.  Thanks to Ron Miller, I know a lot more today than just a short time ago.

BY MARY CARNEAL