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John D. Norris was an early settler of Petersburg, born in 1781, who
accumulated much Petersburg real estate, and was known as a breeder and
seller of thoroughbred trotters. He was a gallant soldier in the
War of 1812 and marched with his neighbor William Henry Harrison, from
North Bend, Ohio. Norris was with Commodore Perry
aboard the frigate Lawrence during his campaign on Lake Erie. When the
British had virtually destroyed Perry's flagship, the St. Lawrence, Norris
was one of the men rowing the small boat which took Perry to cover, to
re-group, attack, and defeat the British.
His participation in that famous battle made him a celebrity, and he was later
invited to be the guest of the directors of the Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition, who sent a special railroad car to pick him up.
He declined, preferring to stay in Petersburg.
He died in 1876.
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