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The following letter was sent to me by genealogist Mary Ruth Thomas. It came to her possession from another person researching the Norman lineage. Some personal information has been excluded.
Dear Mrs. Doliante;
I am sorry to be so long answering your letter of November 19, 1961. I have tried to do a little more research in the Texas census, etc., not much luck.
I do think we are looking for the same Norman-Stafford families. My grandfather William Jett Norman married Mary Josephine Stafford (Cawthon) she first married a Cawthon & had a son W.A. Cawthon, born Jan. 9, 1861-died 1903 in Eastland, Texas.
William Jett Norman was born Nov. 25, 1831, Knoxville, Tennessee, a son of James and Nancy Wiley (of Wilie) Norman, died Dec. 28, 1914. I was only a year old (when he died) so of course don't remember, I got this from the death certificate. They had three children:
1. Nancy Caroline Norman, born June 23, 1872, died Aug. 7, 1949, in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas. She married Andrew Cook Arrington, July 28, 1897, in Wagner, Indian Territory Oklahoma, in the home of A.C. and Martha Norman.
2. Jettie Mae Norman, born Sept. 23, 1875, Troup, Smith County, Texas, she married Warren Gant Kindel, Oct. 16, 1895. Aunt Jett had a stroke 8 years ago and hasn't recognized anyone since. So sad.
3. Johnie Inez Norman, (my mother), born May 23, 1878, Johnson County, Texas. married, Harvey Carroll McGowen, April 18, 1900, in Grandbury, Hood County, Texas.
If I could only remember all Aunt Carrie (Nancy Caroline) told me? I started my hobby of genealogy about four years ago. She was a very brilliant and proud and told me much, but I listened as tho it were a fairy story. My mother is still living and with me, but being the yougest (her mother died December 27, 1887, when she was only 9) she doesn't remember much. William Jett Norman was a teacher and Mary Stafford had asthma and was in much poor health, they spent several years moving around trying to find a healthy climate. I have not found them in the Texas 1880 census, but I know they were in Belle Plaine, Callahan County, Texas. The town was a thriving frontier town, 1878-1886 or 87. I found in the deed records in Baird Courthouse where W.J. Norman bought lots in Belle Plaine in 1889, also there was an old ledger from a General Mercantile store dated 1879 where he bought groceries, etc. When they left there, they started for the Hot Springs in Arkansas, but when they got to Palo Pinto County, Texas, they heard of the mineral water and stopped there and built the 2nd house which was across the street from the Crazy Hotel. Norman wrote the City Charter and was the first Mayor. Mamma remembers her grandmother, Caroline C. Stafford and I found her and her brother and children in the Texas 1860 and 1870 census in Cherokee County, in one she is keeper of the tole bridge. She was born in South Carolina, March 15, 1802, died Feb. 10, 1885, in Palo Pinto County. She is buried in a small Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetary halfway between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. Also Wm. J. and Mary S. Norman, and W.A. Cawthon and wife Rhoda S.N. and Amanda Stafford child, John M.W. Staffod, born Oct. 1832, died Nov. 18, 1896.
Aunt Carrie said Caroline C. Stafford came to Texas from North Carolina or South Carolina. She was a widow and came with her brothers. The census shows her daughter born in in Tennessee, so her husband, Athur must be buried in Tennessee. I found Arthur on her tombstone. "Caroline C. wife of Arthur". Aunt Carrie also said when the Normans came to America they had many chests of silver and it took several slaves to take them off the boats, also that we were HUQUENOTS. I suppose that was the Norman's. I have found in my search in my other lines and two go back to 1600 with professional help and the help of the stories I remember from my paternal grandmother.
Mrs. C.D.
Send me email addressed to
William Jett Norman
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