Home of Oliver P. Norris
Waltonville, Illinois.
Source: "The Prairie Historian" March 1983.

Dr. Oliver P. Norris, was born in Bracken Co., Ky., Aug 29, 1843, a son of Joseph and Rebecca R. West (Morris), the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Pennsylvania. The father followed boating in early life, but later he engaged in farming. The parents were blessed with nine children, of whom there are five living O. P., William H., Millard F., Joseph D. and Edward J.

Our subject obtained a little schooling in his native State, and after coming to this county with his parents, about 1851, he continued his studies here, attending in after years the school at Normal, Ill. In September, 1864, he was drafted into the war, and joined the Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which belonged to the Seventeenth Army Corps, under Blair. The regiment joined Sherman at Atlanta, and fought under him at Savannah, Columbia, Bentonville, etc.

Our subject returned at the close of the war, and attended the high school at Mount Vernon, Ill. He had a desire for studying medicine, and he read under the instruction of Dr. J. C. Gray, of Mount Vernon. He afterward attended the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati and recieved a full course of lectures, and later the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which institution he graduated, and returned to this county, where he has since enjoyed a liberal patronage; he has given a good deal of attention to diseases of the eye, but of late has given his time to the study of obstetrics, in which branches of the profession he is especially successful.

The Doctor has dealt largely in real estate, having at present several hundred acres of land in the county, and also a fine residence in Williamsburg, which he erected in 1873. He has been Postmaster for seven or eight years at this point; has administered several estates, and was engaged in the drug and dry goods business until his practice assumed such proportions as to demand all of his attention. He was united in marriage to Sarah M. Smith, and the union has given four children, three of whom are living Myrtie E., Lena F. and Verner S. The doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and has also an I.O.O.F. for many years. He has filled many of the offices of the township, including that of Supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.