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NORRIS, JAMES M. (1819-1874). James M. Norris, lawyer and soldier, was born in Greenville District, South Carolina, on November 13, 1819. Self-educated, he began the study of law at age sixteen and was licensed to practice at age eighteen. In 1840 he married Sophronia E. Robinson. They moved to Washington County, Texas, about 1841; Norris opened a law office and followed the sessions of the circuit court, often on foot. A business venture as a merchant failed. Norris spent ten years in Washington County and six years in Burleson County before moving to Coryell County, which he represented at the Secession Conventionqv in 1861. On January 29, 1862, he was appointed by Governor Francis R. Lubbockqv as colonel of the Frontier Regimentqv but resigned the command in 1863. Norris's tenure as commander of the regiment was not memorable. He lacked experience in Indian fighting and had serious discipline problems with the troops and junior officers. The harshest criticism was his failure to take an aggressive stand in frontier defense. He practiced law in Burleson, Coryell, and McLennan counties. While trying a case at Belton, Norris suffered a stroke; he died a few days later, on April 21, 1874, at his home in McLennan County.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: William Curry Holden, Frontier Problems
and Movements in West Texas, 1846-1900 (Ph.D. dissertation, University
of Texas, 1928). A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan,
Falls, Bell, and Coryell Counties (Chicago: Lewis, 1893; rpt.,
St. Louis: Ingmire, 1984).
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