Norah at the age of 15

Norah at about the age of 25

Norah Elsie Claybourn was born 16 December 1874 at Snow's Mill, near Dix, Illinois. She worked in a millinery store and in the office of the Jefferson Milling Co. for two years. Then Norah married (1st) on 25 October 1905 to Edward Heiserman (born in 1866 in Dover County, Tenn.). He was First Lieutenant of Company K 9th Regiment of Illinois in 1898 in the Spanish American War. During that conflict he served in Cuba where he contracted an illness which affected his health the rest of his life. Ed was in a confectionery business with his brother Frank in Mt. Vernon but left with four other young men to go into the newly opened Oklahoma territory. He did not get any land in the famous "Run" which took place there, but he did go into business in booming Oklahoma City. He operated an ice cream and candy store there until his death in April of 1914. Norah and Ed had one child, Lena Frances Heiserman, born 17 July 1908 in Oklahoma City and died shortly thereafter on 25 July 1908. The child is buried near Ed in Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

After Ed's death Norah ran the millinery store for about a year and then sold it. Later she worked in a grocery store and then bought a small grocery store on W. 4th St. in Oklahoma City which she operated for several years. Norah married (2nd) on 29 March 1917 to Robert Elvis Hunsinger (born 29 September 1865 in Burnt Prarie, White Co., Illinois), son of Jeremiah Cash and Mary Ellen (Williams) Hunsinger. His father was a farmer and minister.

Norah and Elvis (as Robert was called) traveled extensively after he retired as a Pullman conductor on the Frisco Railroad from Oklahoma City to St. Louis. They visited all parts of the West and spent several winters in Florida. They owned several pieces of Oklahoma City property. They were active in the First Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, where Norah was a member since 1905. They were also active in the couples class and its activities. For a number of years Norah and Elvis served as clerks in elections, permitting the use of their garage as a polling place. During World War II Elvis "did his bit" by delivering telegrams, by foot, in the downtown area. After his death, Norah moved to McKinney, Texas, to be near her sister Libbie and her niece and nephew. She lived at 804 N. Waddill, McKinney, Texas. Norah died on the 22nd day of September in 1963 and is buried in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Pedigree Chart

						Ephraim Claybourn 1788 - 1850
				William Divine Claybourn 1819 - 1896
						Mary "Polly" Browning 1792 - 1874
		James Harrison Claybourn 1843 - 1920
						Reuben Hawker b. 1794
				Frances Alla Hawker 1820 - 1863
						Nancy Hawker b. 1796
Norah Elsie Claybourn 1874 - 1963
				Elihu King Maxey
		Harriet Ann Maxey 1845 - 1916
				Rachel Smith

Descendants

Norah and Edward Heiserman had one child:

1. Lena Frances Heiserman, born 17 July 1908 in Oklahoma City and died shortly thereafter on 25 July 1908. Lena is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.