1892 Biography - S. J. Norwood

Capt. S. J. Norwood. This prominent planter is one of the leading men of the parish from every point of view, and his many worthy traits of character has won for him many warm personal friends. He is a Louisianian by birth, born in 1816, a son of Elias Norwood, a South Carolinian, who was there married in 1815 and removed to Louisiana in 1808. He largely engaged in planting in East Feliciana parish, and up to the time of his death, in 1848, made every article used on the plantation. He succeeded in accumulating a large property, but always gave liberally of his means to worthy enterprises, was upright in all his business transactions and was one of the useful citizens of the section in which he resided. His wife, formerly a Miss Chandler, was a native of South Carolina. Capt. S. J. Norwood was given good advantages in his youth and for about four years was an attendant of the Louisiana college, but did not quite complete the course. At the early age of sixteen years he began managing a plantation belonging to his father and even at that early day showed that he possessed financial ability of a high order. In 1840 he removed to Avoyelles parish, where be was engaged in sugar planting until 1849, at which time he became a resident of Pointe Coup e parish. Shortly afterward, on account of the health of his family, he removed to East Feliciana parish, where he was engaged in planting until after the war, at the close of which he put his children to school at Jackson college, and went to Avoyelles parish, where he began managing his large plantation. He was rather over age for very active service during the war and was made captain of a reserve corps. He took an active part in the engagement at Clinton, La., where he was wounded and taken prisoner, after which he saw no more active service. Since the war his time and attention has been given almost exclusively to planting, and he is the owner of a fine tract of land in Avoyelles parish. He has given to each of his sons a fine place, but also owns White Hall in Pointe Coup e parish, an estate consisting of 1,500 acres, 500 of which are under cultivation, averaging about 400 bales of cotton each year. He is the owner and operator of a good steam cotton-gin and gristmill, and has one of the loveliest homes in the parish. His residence, a commodious frame building, is situated on the banks of the Atchafalaya river near Simmesport. The lawn is beautifully kept and is shaded by beautiful oak trees. He was married in 1843 to Miss Eleanor Norwood, by whom he became the father of nine children, eight of whom are living: Mrs. L. C. Haygood, Mrs. Mary E. Simmes, E. J., S. J. Jr., A. J. Noel, Nellie and Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. Norwood are both hale and hearty old people, very kind, social and hospitable, and have many warm friends throughout the section in which they reside.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 2, pages 286-287.