OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator. Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This material can not be included in any compilation, publication, collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ===================================================================== CLAUDE B. NORRIS Vol. 3, p. 1342 CLAUDE B. NORRIS is now county superintendent of schools of LeFlore County. Though he has been engaged in other vocations, most of his time has been spent in educational work, and among those who are bringing the school system of Eastern Oklahoma to a high standard of efficiency his name deserves prominent mention. A native of Arkansas, he was born at Mansfield in that state April 21, 1888, a son of Asbury and Amanda (YANCEY) Norris. When Asbury Norris was four years of age he came with his father, Samuel Norris, from Scotland, their native country, to America in 1841 and located in North Carolina, where Samuel Norris spent the rest of his days. Asbury Norris was reared in North Carolina, but prior to the Civil war moved to Tennessee and later to the State of Arkansas. During the war he enlisted in a regiment of volunteers, known as the Second Arkansas Infantry, for the Union service and proved a faithful and courageous soldier. The most of his army service was in Arkansas, where he continued his residence after the war, and was a farmer and minister of the gospel in that state until his death in 1906. He was three times married. His first wife was the mother of two sons and four daughters. After her death he married Amanda YANCEY, who was of Indian blood in the sixteenth degree, and was a descendant of the noted Indian leader and chieftain Sequoyah. She died when Professor Norris and his twin sister were but infants. The father married for his third wife Mrs. Sarah (MATTHEWS) SHANNON, and her stepchildren have always given her the tributes of their affection and loyalty because of her devoted and loving care when they were children. Claude B. Norris was reared on a farm until the age of sixteen and during this time, except for the first two years of his life, his parents resided at Cauthron, Arkansas, and he gained most of his early education in the public schools of that town. He had qualified and begun his work as a teacher at the age of fifteen and for two terms was employed by the same school. It was by teaching and attending school alternately that he managed to secure the equivalent of a liberal education. When eighteen he entered the employ of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, and was with that corporation about three years as station agent and for a little more than one year was with the Wells Fargo & Company Express, and on leaving the employ of the company was serving as cashier in its office at Colorado Springs, Colorado. On returning to his vocation as a teacher he located at Rowell, Arkansas, and subsequently took a literary course in the University of Arkansas. With this preparation he took charge of the schools at Hodgens, Oklahoma where he was located altogether for about four years. He was next made principal of schools at Spiro, Oklahoma, but before beginning his duties was appointed, July 8, 1913, county superintendent of schools of LeFlore County to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the former incumbent. In 1914 was elected to succeed himself in this office, in which he was rendered a service that has won him an enviable reputation. In politics he is a democrat, is a York Rite Mason and a Shriner, a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and his church is the Baptist. Whatever of success in life Mr. Norris has won or may hereafter win he attributes to the fine personality, the judgment, and the cooperation of his wife. He was nineteen years of age when he secured as his companion and helper in life's struggles Miss Docia May TEDRICK. Mrs. Norris was born in Arkansas, a daughter of J. Douglas and Ella (HARRELL) Tedrick. Her father was a native of Illinois and her mother of Arkansas. Mr. Norris struggled against many adversities to win his present place in the educational field, and as he is still in his twenties there is much to be expected of him in the future. He is ardent, thoroughly public spirited, never slack in energy and enthusiasm, and to some degree these qualities may be ascribed to his heritage from his sturdy Scotch ancestry. Typed for OKGenWeb by Jack Wood, October 16, 1998.