Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Richard D. Norris
St. Mary's Catholic Church Sesquicentennial Book
1834-1984
NORRIS, Richard D.-- descends from families who settled in Lord Baltimore's palatinate in St. Mary's Co., Maryland. His parents were Rodolphus and Dorothy Norris, who were early settlers of Kentucky. Richard married Mary Mills in Washington Co., KY, August 6, 1798, by Rev. Father Stephen Theodore Badin. On August 24, 1830, he purchased 80 acres of land in Daviess Co., IN, from the US Government, it being the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 11, township 3 north, range 5 west, a part of which was the site of the St. Mary's Church. Richard D. Norris died in 1835 and deeds indicated that he left ten heirs, namely, Elizabeth, who married Calistus Melton in Hardin Co., KY; Ann, whose married name is unknown; John Dennis, whose first wife was Elizabeth Gootee and his second, Elizabeth Hays; Charles A. whose first wife was Sarah J. Gootee, and his second, Lucy A. Bramble Compton; Mary Ann who married John Summers and moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1851; Susan who was the wife of William Walker; George who married Elizabeth Bowling; Barnard, who married Ann Hager; Sebastian married Mary Ann Brewer, and there is a child whose name is unknown. Richard and Mary Mills Norris are thought to be buried in the first St. Mary's church cemetery on the land where the church hall now stands.
Contributed by: Shirley Platt