In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From The History of Champaign County, Ohio (1881), A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio .. (1902)
JOHN C. NORMAN, of the firm of Norman & Comer, general merchants, Millerstown, a beautiful village located in the east central part of Johnson Township, in Nettle Creek Valley; like all towns of its size, is represented by one or more general merchants, among whom we mention the firm of Norman & Comer. They formed their partnership in 1868, since which they have been favorably known in their line, which consists of dry and fancy goods, groceries, and all articles kept in a general store. The post office is located in their store. John C. Norman is a son of Gabriel Norman, whose biography appears in Concord Township; also a nephew of Benjamin Norman, of Johnson Township, in whose sketch proper mention is made of the ancestors. John C. was born in Concord Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1843; raised to farm life, and enjoyed the usual common-school privileges and a short period at the Urbana High School. He engaged in teaching, which he followed several years. March 17, 1868, he married Mary A. Pence, born in Champaign Co., in 1849. They have had two children — Maude, the survivor, and Charles, who died at the age of 5 months.
As printed in The History of Champaign County, Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN C. NORMAN.
One of the prominent and successful agriculturists of Champaign county is the gentleman whose name introduces this paragraph and who is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of this section of the old Buckeve commonwealth. His finely improved farmstead is located in Johnson township and gives unmistakable evidence of the energy, discrimination and progressive methods which have been brought to bear by the enterprising owner, who has clearly demonstrated that it is possible to make farming a distinctively successful and profitable business enterprise.
Mr. Norman was born on a farm in Concord township, this county, on the 22d of January. 1843. being the son of Gabriel Norman, who was born in the same township, on the 6th of June. 1814, the son of Christian Norman, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, prior to the segregation of Page county from the same, and there he was reared to maturity. There he was united in.marriage to Miss Mary Zimmerman, and there occurred the birth of one of their children. Savilla, who was about one rear old at the time when they emigrated to Ohio and became numbered amongthe earliest settlers of Champaign county. They came here about the year 1805, and located in the virgin forests of Concord township, where the grandfather of our subject took up a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land, clearing the same and making improvements, including the eventual erection of a brick house, one of the first of the sort in this section. Christian and Mary Norman became the parents of nine children, all of whom were born in this county with the exception of the eldest, to whom reference has already been made, die names of the children being as follows: Savilla. Benjamin, Leanna, Sarah. Gabriel, Betsy, Lemuel. Lydia and one who died in infancy. All are now deceased. The father was a wag maker by trade, but devoted the greater portion of his life to agricultural pursuits and was one of the honored pioneers of this county, to whose early development lie contributed a due quota.
Gabriel Norman, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Concord township, and was there reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, early beginning to aid in the work of reclamation and cultivation and receiving such educational advantages as were afforded in the primitive log school houses of the pioneer epoch. Upon attaining his legal majority he gave inception to his independent career, engaging in farming in his native township and there establishing a home. On the 24th of November, 1839, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Brubaker. who was born in this county, July 12, 1821, and who has here passed her entire life, having now attained a venerable age and retaining the affection of a wide circle of friends. Her husband passed away November 17, 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, five months and eleven class. They became the parents o\ six children, namely: Harriet, who is deceased; John C, who is the subject of this sketch;.Mary F. who resides in Millerstown; Samuel B., who is deceased; L. Monroe, who is a resident of Millerstown; and Clara Etta, who is deceased. Gabriel Norman was originally an oldline Whig in his political proclivities, but he identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and ever afterward was a stalwart advocate of its principles and policies, having never missed casting his vote at a presidential election from the time ol attaining his majority until his death. He was a man who commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, was strong in his convictions and was one who achieved success through his own efforts, while he will long be remembered as one of the worthy citizens of the county where he passed his and useful life.
John t. Norman, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was reared on the parental farmstead, in Concord township, in whose public schools he received his educational training, 30 profiting by the advantages afforded
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Benjamin Norman (b. 1806) Gabriel Norman (b. 1843)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.