Biography

1842 - 05/21/1888

Captain Alexander Wilson Norris (R6) Philadelphia County 1881-1882 

Early Life: 

Captain Alexander Wilson Norris, born April 11, 1841, Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania; son of Alexander Brown and Mary M. Swoyer Norris; Georgetown College (University), Washington, D.C.; prisoner of war, captain, Civil War, 1861-1865; University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1867; admitted, Philadelphia bar, attorney until 1872; appointment, Governor Hartranft, personal secretary, 1872; first Recorder of the Board of Pardons, 1873; Inspector General, Grand Army, Republic the Potomac, commander, Department of Pennsylvania 1873; Reporter, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1876-1880; aide-de-camp for Governor Hartranft, 1877; secretary, Republican State Committee, six years; appointed, Judge Advocate General, Pennsylvania, 1879-1881; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1881-1882; appointed, Judge Advocate General, Pennsylvania, Governor Henry Martyn Hoyt staff, 1881- 1883; appointed, United States Pension Agent, Philadelphia, 1884; elected, Republican, Auditor General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1887-1888; died, May 21, 1888, (aged 47) while in office Auditor General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; interment, Church Hill Cemetery, Reedsville, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Enlisted, lieutenant, 107th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, November 1861; captured, exchanged at 1st Manassas; recaptured, Gettysburg, 1863; remained a prisoner for 20 months, Staunton, Libby Prisons, Virginia; exchanged, re-joined old unit, mustered out, captain, 1865. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, Governor John Frederick Hartranft, personal secretary, 1872. 

First Recorder, Board of Pardons, 1873. 

Inspector General, Grand Army, Republic the Potomac, commander, Department of Pennsylvania 1873. 

Reporter, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1876-1880. 

Aide-de-camp, Governor John Frederick Hartranft, 1877. 

Secretary, Republican State Committee, six years.

Appointed, Judge Advocate General, Pennsylvania, Governor Henry Martyn Hoyt staff, 1879-1881.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 6th district, Philadelphia County, 1881-1882; committee assignments, Banks, Centennial Affairs, Judiciary General, Judiciary Local, Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Apportionment, Military Affairs (Chairman). 

Elected, Auditor General of the Commonwealth 1887-1888, died in office.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Appointed, President Chester A. Arthur, United States Pension Agent, Philadelphia, 1884

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members N". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1881). Smull, W.P., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 673, 680-682, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 646.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1888). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Biographical Sketches of Principal State Officers, page xxi. 

Capt Alexander Wilson Norris (1841-1888) - Find a Grave Memorial