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ALMER SIDNEY NORVELL
Vol. 5, p. 1908-1909
Bio has photo

About six years ago there came to Eastern Oklahoma a young attorney,
who already had had considerable experience in handling cases before
the courts of Arkansas and Tennessee, and in a year or so he had
settled down to the enjoyment of a good practice at Wewoka. Then came
official honors in the shape of the county judgeship, and he is now
filling it for a second term and with such efficiency as to assure
him of further promotions and public honors should he so desire.

A Tennessee man, Judge Norvell was born near Trenton in Gibson
County, August 5, 1874, a son of Joseph S. and Margaret (TAYLOR)
Norvell. Both parents were natives of Tennessee, where they spent
their lives. The father, who was born August 21, 1841, died December
31, 1896, at the age of fifty-five and the mother, who was born
October 13, 1850, died October 29, 1909, aged fifty-nine. Joseph S.
Norvell was a farmer and during the Civil War he served four years in
a regiment of Tennessee Infantry, and was four times wounded. He was
captured at the battle of Franklin and for several months was held a
prisoner. He owned a good farm, gave it the best of attention and in
that way and by its management provided well for his family. He also
served for a number of years as justice of the peace, and was a
lifelong democrat. He was deeply religious, was a deacon in the
Baptist Church, and his wife also took an interest in church affairs.
To their marriage were born six sons and four daughters, and four of
the sons and three daughters are still living; Melville died at the
age of nineteen: Walter died aged four; Dora lives at Trenton,
Tennessee, widow of E. E. STRAIN; the fourth in age is Almer S.
Norvell; John resides at Trenton, Tennessee; Hassie, deceased wife of
J. M. MCCORD; Vannie married C. C. SUBLET of Trenton; Zula married C.
L. BALL of Rutherford, Tennessee; Spencer lives at Hoxey, Arkansas;
and Vaughn is a resident of McKenzie, Tennessee.

Judge Norvell grew up in Gibson County, Tennessee, and lived there
until 1898. In 1901 he graduated from the Normal School at Dickson,
Tennessee. Three years of his young career were spent in teaching
school. He studied law in the Cumberland University Law School at
Lebanon, Tennessee, and on graduating LL.B. in 1904 began practice at
Kenton, Tennessee. After three years there he moved to Arkansas City,
Arkansas, in 1907, and thus with six years of practical experience he
came in 1910 to Wewoka, Oklahoma. Here he practiced law actively
until his first election in June, 1913, to the office of county judge
of Seminole County. He was re-elected and began his second term in
1915.

Judge Norvell is an active democrat and has exercised considerable
influence in politics since he reached manhood. While in Arkansas he
served by appointment as county examiner or superintendent of
schools. Since coming to Oklahoma, he has acquired some real estate
and oil interests. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church
and fraternally is a Mason.

In 1907 Judge Norvell married Ruby PATTERSON, who was born in Gibson
County, Tennessee, 1886, a daughter of Captain Patterson. To their
marriage have been born two children: Albert Sidney and Grace
Caroline.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).

Transcribed for OKGenWeb by Peg Luce, April 2001.