Nimrod NORSWORTHY

                   Rootsweb site:  http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tsfa&id=I08980
Military Service: 20 SEP 1865 Discharged, CSA, Private, Company F, Ky 52nd Regiment, served 2 years 1 month 17 days 7 Event: Military ABT 1903 CSA: F17 KY CAV where he was discharged as a SGT. His first application for a pension was "invalid". He eventually did receive a pension after his claim was later accepted as "valid."

    CENSUS:
     (Newton with parents)
    1850 US Census,  Magazine Township, Yell, Arkansas,  22 Oct 1950, 478, 957. (Ancestry.com)
     Nimrod Norsworthy, age 28, born 1822 in Georgia, occupation: labor.
     Wife, Mary A., age 25, born 1825 in Alabama.
     Newton J.., age 2, born in 1848 in Yell, Arkansas.

    1870 US Census, Gum, Simpson, Kentucky,  4 Aug 1870 (Ancestry.com)
      (Newton with wife and child)
      Newton J. Nosewortha, age 22, born in Arkansas, Farmer.
      Wilza E, age 22. born in Tennessee, keeping house.
      Eldrige K, age 2, born in Kentucky.
      [Census taker recorded last name as Nosewortha instead of Norsworthy.]

    1880 US Census, Precinct 2, Hill Co. Texas, 19 Jun 1880. (Heritage Quest)  Series T9. Roll 1311.  Page 321.
      Nosworthy [Norsworthy], Newton. White, male, age 32, married, farmer, born in Ky, Father Ky, Mother Ky.
           [These birth places do not match the 1850 census.  Eldridge was born in Kentucky.]
      Nosworthy, Wilza. White, female, age 32, wife, keeping house, born in Tenn, F. Tenn, M. Tenn.
      Nosworthy, Eldrig.  White, male, age 12, son, single, laborer on farm, born in Kentucky.
      Nosworthy, Prentiss.  White, male, age 7, son, at home, born in Texas.
      Nosworthy, Guy. White, male, age 2, son, born in Texas.
      Nosworhty, Rozetta.  White, female, 6/12, born in Jan 1880, daughter, born in Texas.  [nicknamed 'Rose]
      Note:  Also living with them was a boarder:  Benjamin Williams, age 26, born in Missouri.

    Special Note:  Former name of Commerce (Hunt, Texas)  was Jackson's Store.  Found in local history.
    Special Note:  Hunt County was created and organized on April 11, 1846 from Fannin and Nacogdoches counties.
     County seat: Greenville.

    1900 US Census, Commerce, Hunt, Texas, 1 Jun 1900, District 261, Roll T623, Page 1B. (Ancestry.com)
     Census shows Newton J. Norsworthy (age 51) as head of household, born Jun 1848 in Arkansas, F. born Alabama,
           M. born Alabama, married 33 yr., Occ. restaurant, rents farmhouse. [F-M birth does not match previous census]
     Wilza E, wife, (age 52), born Mar 1848 in Tennessee, mother of 10 children with 7 living. F. born Tenn, M. Tenn.
     Eldridge K, son, (age 31), born Jul 1868 in Kentucky, single, painter.
     *Printiss W, son, (age 27), born Oct 1872 in Texas, single, RR brakeman.
     Alfred G, son, (age 22), born Aug 1877 in Texas, single, RR freight clerk.
     Sophia, daughter, (age 18), born Jan 1882 in Texas, single.
     *Maimie, daughter, (age 14), born Dec 1885 in Texas, in school 8 yrs.
     Cloe, daughter, (age almost 7), born Jul 1893 in Texas.
     *[The transcriber recorded Mamie as Manny and Prentiss as Printiss]

    DEATH:
     Ancestry World Tree listed the same information that was on the 1900 US Census.  Also gave Newton's death as
    1912 in Commerce, Hunt, Texas, listing his father as Nimrod Norsworthy, b: 1822 in Georgia and mother, Mary A., b:
    1825 in Alabama.

    OTHER INFORMATION:
     1890 Veterans Schedules Record about Newton J Norsworthy (found in Ancestry.com)
     Home in 1890: Precinct 6, Hunt, Texas.  Year enlisted: 1863. [3 Aug 1863 - age 17] Year discharged: 1865. [20 Sep
     1865 - age 19]  Rank:  Private.
     Image source:  Year 1890, Roll 99, Page1, Enumeration District 106.

    Civil War Pension Index:  General Index to Pension.  Files, 1861 - 1934 Record (found in Ancestry.com)
     Record about Newton J. Norsworthy; Newtin J. Noseworthy, State filed:  Texas.  Widow  Hilzia [Wilza] E Norsworthy.

    Entry found on  on Texas Genealogy of the 1890 Union Texas Soldier Schedule..
    Newton J Norsworthyl was listed, private, F52, Ky., Hunt Co, Texas, Roll 99, Soundex N626.

    20 Jun 2006 an email was received from Ken Norsworthy, great grandson, of Newton, listing the
     Norsworthy family members that were buried in the Rosemond Cemetery, Commerce, Hunt, Texas.
     They were Newton J., Wilza Elizabeth, Printiss W., Alfred Guy, and Sophia.  An added note stated: "Newton and
     Wilza have a large tombstone which says only 'Norsworthy' with two smaller ones which only says ' Father' and
     'Mother'  I [Ken] have had a Government brass plaque [put] on Newton's grave with his Civil War information."

Note from Ken Norsworthy dated               2006
In a book I have in Texas, there is mention of a town in Texas, off hand, I don't remember the name, that Newton lived in prior to moving to Commerce, TX. There was a tornado involved in their decision to move to Commerce. This same book, (which is at our home in TX), has a couple of other facts, ie., operating a restaurant across from the R R station in Commerce and being part of the Civil War Vetrans group. Ken
PS I have often thought that Newton and Wilza may have married in Kentucky since he was discharged at Bowling Green, KY. Just a guess.  [Ken sent article of tornado.  See below..]
Copy from Rootsweb (this is mostly our gedcom to Bill Smyer's family site.  His Family Tree Maker added some extra facts.)
ID: I8980 Name: Newton J. Norsworthy 1 2 3 Sex: M Birth: JUN 1848 in Yell County, Arkansas 2 4 3 5 Death: 1912 in Commerce, Hunt County, Texas 2 Census: 1850 Magazine, Yell County, Arkansas (age 2) 6 Census: 1870 Gum, Simpson County, Kentucky (age 22, "Nosewortha") 3 Census: 1880 Precinct 2, Hill County, Texas (age 32, "Nosworthy") 5 Census: JUN 1890 Precinct 6, Hunt County, Texas 7 Census: 1900 Commerce, Hunt County, Texas (age 51) 4 Military Service: 3 AUG 1863 Enlisted, CSA, Private, Company F, Ky 52nd Regiment 7 Military Service: 20 SEP 1865 Discharged, CSA, Private, Company F, Ky 52nd Regiment, served 2 years 1 month 17 days 7 Event: Military 1903 CSA: invalid pension 8 Occupation: 1870 Farmer 9 Occupation: 1880 Farmer 10 Reference Number: I8980
Note:  On 26 Nov 2006 an article from "The Handbook of Commerce, Texas, 1872-1985" was received from Ken Norsworthy along with some certificates and other misc. data.
He sent an article from the early days of Commerce that said a cyclone destroyed the town of Savoy. [28 May 1880. See article below I found on the Internet.] It said that "Mr. Newt Norsworthy came from near Savoy, and he went into the restaurant business."
I checked what county Savoy is in and it is Fannin. This may have been where some of the children were born instead of Hill County. On the 1880 Census taken on the 19 June 1880 they were living in Hill County. They must have moved there after the cyclone. Rose was born in Jan 1880, so I suspect she may have been born in Savoy. This is a good new clue. If everything was destroyed, there would be no records in Savoy unless they were in the Fannin County records. Another check to do. All clues count.

Article about cyclone:  "Savoy acquired some historic notoriety, by reason of a great calamity that befell her in 1880. On the 28th day of May of that year, a cyclone, such as is rarely seen, even in the west, struck the town, without a moment's warning, almost totally annihilating it.The destruction of life and limb as well as property was terrible, eleven were killed outright, and about sixty were wounded, four of whom died from their injuries. In one short half hour the busy, happy people were converted into a throng of mourners for the dead and wounded among them, and the smiling thrifty town became a mass of ruins and destruction, and trade was completely suspended.The town has recovered almost completely from the misfortunes; so much so indeed, that a visitor would never see or notice a trace of the western terror, and but for the aching void left in the hearts of those who lost their friends and relatives, the cyclone and the terror it wrought would almost be forgotten."


Email received from Surfer Grandma and Elaine Booth 6-27-07:
You have done an Excellent job researching for the maiden name of Mrs Wilza Norsworthy married to Newton J. Norsworthy about 1867 most likely in Kentucky (he served from Kentucky was discharged from Civil War in Kentucky and their first son was born in Kentucky in 1868 and they are living in Kentucky in 1870.
Brief Review for Readers of the research you have already completed:
Searched all census records from marriage until death looking for names of children that might point to a maiden name and for relatives who might be living with the family. - No additional information found.
Searched Census records between birth and marriage for all children named Wilza born abt 1848 in Tennessee. None found.
Found Death Record, Burial and obituary of Wilza Norsworthy - no maiden name given in any of the records.  She died too early to check Social Security Applications.
Found obituary of Wilza's husband - no maiden name listed for his wife.
Contacted other family members for their input.
Found Civil War Pension Index on Ancestry.com - Newton J. Norsworthy applied for Pension Application #1297.637 dated Mar 14, 1903. Widow: Wilzia or Hilzia E. applied for Widows Pension  Application # 995.416 on Oct 26, 1912 - both from Texas for his service F 52 Kentucky Mounted Infantry and F 17 Kentucky Calvary.  I FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE SENT FOR THE ACTUAL PENSION APPLICATIONS AND RECORDS.

The Pension Applications can have an invaluable amount of information on Newton, his wife at the time of the Application and his widow.  Sometimes they even include a marriage certificate or other proof of marriage with the maiden name of the wife and date and place of marriage.  These original applications are only available through the National Archives.  In order to receive them:
Email inquire@nara.gov to request NATF Form 85 for Civil War Pension Records.  Request the specific forms and be sure to give them your postal mailing address.  They will mail them to you. (May want to request 5 at a time for mistakes and for other early records).
When you receive the form:  At the top of the form, check the box for the Full Pension Application File (there is a smaller option, but you want the full file). This will include both files (be sure to include both application #'s on your form.  The charge will be $37 if they find the file and send it to you.  Check the credit card box and supply them with your card number.  It generally takes 8-10 weeks for a response.  If you do not include the credit card number they will get back to you and you will send a check and this will delay the forms another 4 weeks.  You must complete blocks 2-5 in order to have the file searched.  Be sure fill out the rest of the form as completely as possible.  Keep the pink copies of the form for your files.  I generally write the date I am mailing the forms on the top of my copy to keep track of when I mailed them.  Mail forms to:

Old Military and Civil Records (NWCTB-Pension)
Textual Archives Services Division
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001

After you receive these applications back, with the marriage information, you can write to the location for a photocopy of the record.  Or check the Family History Library Catalog on Familysearch.org and record the microfilm or book for the county that has the actual marriage record to confirm the marriage and the name of the bride at the time of marriage (If Wilza was a nickname of middle name - she may have had a more complete name on the actual marriage certificate). Then order the microfilm through your local Family History Center.  If it is in book form only, then you will need to go to SLC Family History Library.
If you have any specific questions about these suggestions call Elaine Booth 435-628-1295.  Good Luck and email Fran with your search results.  (end of email)

Email from Linda Carlson 6-27-07:You won't believe this, but I have ALREADY ORDERED and paid for thetwo Civil War Records, the complete files, from the National Archives on-line (via their website) Only problem is that they will be mailing them via snail mail and it could take up to 120 days - it sure will be a long wait I looked at the sample the site provided. I think we will have the most likelihood with Wilza's Widow's Pension Application - it asks for all kinds of marriage info, including providing the actual marriage certificate. You even have to say the name of the minister and what church it was in addition tothe location, dates, maiden name, witnesses, etc. Wonder if they ever got a marriage certificate Hope it survived. I have my paternal grandmother's from the early 1900's and it is in excellent shape. Hope the tornado in Shelby, Texas before they moved to Commerce did not wipe them out with all their things. Wilza would still have had to provide the marriage info on the application form, even if she could not provide the actual marriage certificate. My mom said that "Wilza" was correct for her grandmother's name. Sure will be interesting if she has another name What's your bet on the surname? Do you want to stick with Walker? Perhaps I'll pick King It will probably turn out to be Prentiss or that "B" name Since no one has yet been able to come up with Wilza's surname, I'm presuming that all her earlier family tree remains to be researched as well, so we certainly won't be out of the genealogy business. Well, you deserve a rest - you and Surfer Grandma have made my day I'll keep you posted whenever I hear anything. They say that if they find anything, they will notify me by e-mail. I included all the specific information about Newton's service and the dates and types and file numbers of the applications. I knew that Newton was in the F52 Kentucky Mounted Infantry but not also the F17 Kentucky Cavalry, so I've already learned something new. There is a Civil War website where you can enter your relatives' service in that unit/regiment. I know I did that for F52, but I did not do it for F17. I will try to do that.Wow Keep your fingers and toes crossed:)Best regards, Linda

Note:  Other data stated by LC on the phone:
Newton and Wilzia lived in Kentucky, Texas in 1871 to 1880.
Moved to Savory, Texas in 1880 to 1886. [This is where the cyclone hit.  See above story.]
Moved to Commerce, Texas in 1886 to 1903.
Moved back to Kentucky for a short time and then back to Commerce, Texas.






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