Norris Ranch

George Whitefield Norris was in Douglas County as early as 1870, where the U.S. Census shows he and his wife,  Elizabeth,  had five children (George and Elizabeth had in total eight children) and were engaged in farming.  In April of 1873 George and family homesteaded west of Greenland. George died in 1877 and he and his wife Elizabeth (Thompson) are buried in the Glen Grove Cemetery on the Ben Quick Ranch.

It is believed that Charlie, one of George’s youngest children, stayed on that land and raised dairy cattle along with running a lumber mill, until about 1898. This is when I. J. Noe purchased the land as it was adjacent to his Eagle Mountain Ranch. This property is still owned by the Noe family.

The August 1893 Castle Rock Journal reported

“Charlie Norris has 45 acres in a variety of crops and means to raise sufficient feed for his teams which are used in lumbering.  He is still running his mill although there is but very little sale for lumber at present.” 

In 1894 it was reported that Mr. Norris was building a new home and then in July, 1898 a short article appeared in the Castle Rock Journal stating that work was continuing

“C. L Norris is building a home at Larkspur, using stucco from the works near Perry Park instead of boards and shingles, it is something unique in the way of house building and makes a very neat and attractive appearance.”

Charlie’s full name was Charles Lewis Norris and he was also active in the Woodmen of the World organization. Charlie married Cora Smith of Larkspur in 1897. Charlie Norris died in 1929 in Silverton where he worked at the S. S. Mine as a machinist.

Thanks to the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection