Isaac Russell Norred

Joseph Edward Norred

Joseph Edward Norred was born in Osyka (Pike County), Mississippi on July 10, 1872 to Isaac Russell Norred and Elizabeth Roark. ⁽¹⁾ He was apparently the second born of their four sons, his brothers being Charles "Charley" Owen, James "Jim" Russell, and William "Willie" James Norred.

Little is known of Joe's life prior to 1898. On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898: the Spanish-American War had begun. But after the Civil War, our country had drastically reduced its army. Regular army divisions, filled with new recruits, rushed to Florida to await the invasion of Cuba. On May 1, 1898, at age 25, Joe enlisted as a private in Co. G. First Regiment of Louisiana Infantry, "Lake Charles Rifles" in Calcasieu Parish. ⁽²⁾

For unknown reasons, his war records have him listed interchangeably as "Joseph Edward" and "Edward J." Norred .⁽³⁾ A truce between Spain and the United States was reached in August of 1898, and Manila was surrendered by Spaniards. "The war of the United States with Spain was very brief. Its results were many, startling, and of world-wide meaning." (Henry Cabot Lodge). However, our ancestor Joe never fought. He was honorably discharged (mustered out of the company) on October 3, 1898 in Jacksonville, Florida. ⁽⁴⁾

Joe married Mary Ann Unger in Winn Parish, Louisiana on August 17, 1905. ⁽⁵⁾ It is said but unverified that his wife Mary immigrated to the states through the port of Baltimore, from either Germany or Austria. ⁽⁶⁾ Together Joseph and Mary had five children: Henry Joseph, b. 1906 ⁽⁷⁾; Mildred Mae, b. 1908 in El Dorado, Arkansas ⁽⁸⁾; Myrtle Louise, b. 1910 in Big Creek, Arkansas ⁽⁹⁾; Helen Esmma, b. 1913 in Rayville, Richland Parish, Louisiana ⁽¹⁰⁾; and Joseph Edward, Jr., b. 1925 in Ashland (Jackson County), Oregon. ⁽¹¹⁾ As of 1996, all of Joe's children are deceased.

Joseph's occupations included shingle weaver, saw filer, and foreman at a saw mill. He apparently suffered occupational injuries, such as "badly injured hands" and an amputated finger on his left hand. While his exact movements have yet to be documented, records indicate that, in addition to living in the southern states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas and then later, Oregon, Joe had also resided in Long Beach, California (1924) and Dallas, Texas (1930). ⁽¹²⁾ I have yet to locate him on either the 1910 or 1920 census.

Family lore has it that Joe deserted his family, perhaps before his youngest child was born in 1925. He apparently remarried, as his wife was listed as a "Mrs. Mabel Norred" at the time of his death. ⁽¹³⁾ Joe last resided in Sacramento, California. He died in a Veteran's Hospital in San Francisco on March 18, 1940, and he is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery, "The Presidio."

Sources:

1) Spanish-American War Pension Application of Joseph Edward Norred, copy obtained from Department of Veterans Affairs in Roanoke, Virginia
2) Ibid
3) Ibid
4) Ibid
5) Ibid
6) Correspondence with Ralph Hall, grandson of Mary Unger Norred
7) Spanish-American War Pension Application of Joseph Edward Norred, copy obtained from Department of Veterans Affairs in Roanoke, Virginia
8) Application for Social Security Account Number of Mildred Mae Norred
9) Application for Social Security Account Number of Myrtle Norred Thennes
10) Obituary of Helen Norred Breuss, obtained from Journal/Press-Register, Willows, CA
11) Birth Certificate of Joseph Edward Norred, Jr., obtained from Jackson County, Oregon
12) Combined information from Birth Certificate of Joseph Edward Norred, Jr. and Spanish-American War Pension Application of Joseph Edward Norred, Sr.
13) Certificate of Death for Joseph Edward Norred, obtained from Dept.of Veterans Affairs, Roanoke, Virginia
14) Combined information from Certificate of Death of Joseph Edward Norred and verification from San Francisco National Cemetery, Presidio