Jacob H. Norris

Jacob H. Norris (May 1, 1832 - March 17, 1883) served as a captain in Company E, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.



Personal life
Jacob Norris was born May 1, 1832 in Watauga County, North Carolina to James and Matilda (Reece) Norris. Norris married Loretta L. Adams (1847-1899), with whom he had seven children.

Civil War service
Norris enlisted at age 31 as a private in Company F, 4th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry on June 3, 1863 at Taylorsville, Tennessee. He was mustered in at Nashville on June 15, 1863 and received a $25.00 bounty. Norris was discharged to accept a commission as captain in Company E, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry on September 24, 1863 at Greeneville, Tennessee for a period of three years. He mustered in November 8, 1863 at Strawberry Plains.

Records show that he was present for duty from enlistment until he became too ill to command the company. Norris tendered his resignation on September 5, 1864 while at Bulls Gap, Tennessee. Assistant Surgeon Larkin Blackwell stated in his examination affidavit of Norris, "that he [is] laboring under the incipient stages of consumption and that in consequence thereof he is in my opinion unfit to perform the duties of an officer in the United States service."

Following his resignation, 1st Lieutenant Thomas J. Barry was promoted to captain of the company.

The regimental history states that Norris "was a good officer and a pleasant, agreeable gentleman and had won many friends in the Regiment."

Later life
According to various U.S. Census records, Norris had been a house carpenter and sawyer, but was suffering from paralysis by 1880.

He applied for an invalid's pension September 17, 1869. His wife, Loretta, applied for a widow's pension on April 7, 1883.

Norris died March 17, 1883 in Johnson County, Tennessee and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain City, Tennessee.