Sarah Elizabeth (Norton) Loosier (abt. 1849 - 1913)

Born about 1849 in Lawrence, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Wife of John Henry Looser — married 9 May 1865 in Talledega, Alabama, United States

Died 7 Dec 1913 at about age 64 in Decatur, Morgan, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Sarah Elizabeth Norton was born about 1849 in Alabama, United States. She was the daughter of John Norton and Celia Wade Norton. Her parents were from Habersham, Georgia and their first child, John Thomas Norton, was born in about 1848 in Georgia. They must have moved to Alabama soon after his birth and all the rest of the children were born there.^[1]

The 1850 U. S. Census has not been located at this time. (Cushing-1054 20:29, 22 September 2023 (UTC))

In the 1860 U. S. Census (July 24, 1860) the family lived in Rockdale, Randolph County, Alabama. James was a wagon maker and had real estate valued at $300 and a personal estate valued at $150. Neither James nor "Lila" could read or write. There were six children in the household. Sarah Elizabeth was listed as "S. E.". She was twelve years old and was attending school.^[1]

Marriage / John Henry Looser

Miss Elizabeth Norton and J. H. Louser (sic), John Henry Looser, received a marriage license on May 4, 1865 in Talledega County, Alabama. They were married on May 9, 1865 by H. B. Strickland, Justice of Peace. John Henry was about nineteen and Elizabeth was sixteen.^[2]

In 1866 J. H. Looser's family was enumerated in the Alabama State Census in Randolph County, Alabama. His father's family was enumerated just before that of John Henry. John Henry was shown as being between twenty and thirty years old. Elizabeth was between ten and twenty years old. They had one son.^[3]

John Henry and Elizabeth have not been located in the 1870 U. S. census but both sets of parents had relocated to Lawrence County, Alabama in that census. The family of Thos. J. Looser's family was listed just before James and Celia Ward on July 15, 1870 in Jonesboro (Township 5 Range 8) in Lawrence County.^[4](Cushing-1054 02:34, 21 September 2023 (UTC))

At an unknown date before February of 1871 John H. Looser had received a homestead entry number 3505 for 157.74 acres including land described as 1 W½SE HUNTSVILLE No 5S 8W 27; 2 N½NE HUNTSVILLE No 5S 8W 34.^[5]

In February 1871 John Henry built a double log house, smoke house and stable. He established residence at the home on March 1, 1871.^[6]

In the 1880 U. S. Census (June 2, 1880) John and Elizabeth were enumerated in Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama. Henry was thirty-two years old and farming. Elizabeth was twenty-nine years old. They had two sons: Franklin, age 9, and Joseph, age 6.^[7]

On June 3, 1882 Jon (sic) H Looser filed a 'Homestead Proof - Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimants in the Probate Court of Lawrence County. In this hearing before J. H. McDonald, Judge of Probate Court, he land was described as it was in the original claim but also as Section No. 34 and 27, Township 5, Range 8. subject to entry at Huntsville. In his Homestead Proof - Testimony of Claimant. He gave the information about building the home and taking residence on March 1, 1871. He was thirty-seven years old and a native of the U. S. He stated that he, his wife, and two children had continuously resided there and never made their home elsewhere. He had cultivated twenty-five acres and raised crops for ten seasons. He had never made any other homestead entry and had never sold or mortgaged any of the land.^[8]

The Homestead Proof information was confirmed by neighbors Stephen Terry and J. A. Hightower who were close neighbors of the family. They also indicated that he had not filed the proof within seven years because he had not been able to get the money to pay the expenses and that he desired permission to prove up his entry and get a patent for the land.^[8]

On June 30, 1885, a document was signed at the Receiver's Office in Huntsville, Alabama indicating that John H. Looser of Lawrence County had paid the balance of payment required by law for the 157.74 acres at "1 W½SE HUNTSVILLE No 5S 8W 27; 2 N½NE HUNTSVILLE No 5S 8W 34" of section 27 and 34 in Township 5. Range 8. The receipt was for four dollars. It is unknown if this was the entire amount that he had been unable to pay by the end of seven years.^[6](Cushing-1054 04:32, 21 September 2023 (UTC))

The area in which John Henry and his family lived was known as Loosier in Lawrence County, Alabama. It is named for John Henry Loosier's father, Thomas Jefferson Loosier, who is credited with founding the community after the Civil War. It is located about 7.6 miles from Mouton and about 7 miles from Courtland. There are several other communities surrounding it. It first had a post office under the name Loosier in 1901 or 1902. It has remained an unincorporated community and as a result the name was never used as a location on a U. S. Census. In 1917 the town had 1 Grain Mill, 1 Saw Mill, 2 Churches, 1 School, 1 Store, and 1 Post Office. ^[9]

In the 1900 U. S. Census (June 30, 1900) only John H. Looyser (sic) and Elizabeth were in the household. They were enumerated as living in precinct 24, Town Creek, Lawrence County, Alabama, United States. Elizabeth was listed as Sarrah (sic) in this record. She reported they were the parents of four children but only two were living in 1900. John was listed as an employer operating a saw mill. He had also worked as a mail carrier. Since the town of Loosier did not have its own post office. John likely picked up the mail at the post office in a neighboring town and delivered it to his neighbors. (Cushing-1054 23:54, 21 September 2023 (UTC)) John could read and write but Sarah Elizabeth could not. Their farm was owned free of a mortgage.^[10]

John Henry Looser (Loosier) passed away on January 30, 1906 at the age of sixty. He was buried the next day, January 31, 1906, at Old Liberty Cemetery in Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama, United States. A note following John Henry Looser's obituary in The Leighton News indicated that their son Joe Looser (sic) would move to his mother's home to run the mill.^[11][12]

Widow

Following the death of John Henry Loosier the farm was divided between his two sons. Sarah lived with their families.^[13]

In the 1910 U. S. Census (April 20, 1910) the farm was enumerated as precinct 2 1/2 of Town Creek, Lawrence County, Alabama. His sons Joe L. Loosier (sic) and Franklin M. Loosier (sic) were both married and had four living children. They were both listed as farmers doing general farming. They owned their farms without a mortgage. Sarah E. Loosier was living with the family of Franklin M. Loosier. She was sixty-one years old and indicated she had her own income.^[13]

Death and Burial

Elizabeth died on December 7, 1913 in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, United States. She was sixty-four years old. She was buried at Old Liberty Cemetery in Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama, United States. ^[14]

Research Notes

Children of John Henry Looser (Loosier) and Elizabeth Norton Looser

• Unknown Child - son, b about 1866 in Alabama, d before 1880^[3][10]
• Unknown Child - 4 children listed in 1900 U. S. Census^[10]
• Franklin Marion Looser - son, b about 1871 in Alabama^[7][13]
• Joseph Elias Looser - son, b about 1874 in Alabama^{[7] [13]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBK-HH9?cc=1473181&wc=7QN3-GP3%3A1589422203%2C1589422256%2C1589422221 : 24 March 2017), Alabama > Randolph > Northern Division > image 47 of 228; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Family History Library Film 803022, Northern Division; P. O. Rockdale; Dwelling and Family 338, pg 47 (447) Lines 38-40; pg 48 Lines 1-5: JAMES NORTON FAMILY
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967; pg 34; Image 243 of 828; Top; (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61365/images/TH-1951-25984-19032-2, accessed 15 Sept 2023). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Marriage Records. Alabama Marriages. County courthouse, Talledega County; Alabama. License 4 May 1865, Marriage 9 May 1865; J. H. LOUSER & MISS ELIZABETH NORTON
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Ancestry.com. Alabama, U.S., State Census, 1820-1866 (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1576/images/31075_174437-00220, accessed 17 Sept. 2023). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data: Alabama State Census, 1820, 1850, 1855 and 1866. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives & History. Rolls M2004.0008-M2004.0012, M2004.0036-M2004.0050, and M2008.0124. 1866 White population Census, Randolph County, Alabama; Families of THOMAS JEFFERSON AND HIS SON JOHN HENRY LOOSER (sic)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1ZK-2Z?cc=1438024&wc=KPMX-K68%3A518661001%2C519058201%2C519514901 : 6 June 2019), Alabama > Lawrence > Township 5 Range 8, Jonesboro > image 7 of 12; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Roll M593_22; Page 134A; Family History Library Film 545521; Dwelling and Family 46; Lines 18-27: Thos J Looser Family
5. ↑ United States, Bureau of Land Management. Alabama, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908: INDEX - No Image (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/202325:2069, accessed 20 Sept 2023). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Homestead Entry #3505 from act dated May 20, 1862; 157.74 acres in Lawrence County Alabama: JOHN H LOOSER
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Homestead Proof - Testimony of Claimant" Personally held copy in possession of Cushing-1054: Copied at the Lawrence County Archives in Mouton, Lawrence County, Alabama in Spring of 2010, Likely reproduced from the National Archives. Contact me if you would like emailed copies
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4239779-00488, accessed 20 Sept 2023), Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Courtland, Lawrence, Alabama; Roll 18; Page 322C; Enumeration District 165; Lines 26 - 29; JOHN LOOSER FAMILY
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Homestead Proof documents" Personally held copy in possession of Cushing-1054: Copied at the National Archives in Washington, D. C on December 11, 2012. Contact me if you would like emailed copies
9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Loosier, Alabama," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loosier,_Alabama&oldid=1167321866 (accessed September 21, 2023). Loosier is an unincorporated community in Lawrence County, Alabama. It was believed to be founded by Thomas Jefferson Loosier
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QLS-7VX?cc=1325221&wc=9B7S-Y4H%3A1031034401%2C1030551302%2C1033898001 : 5 August 2014), Alabama > Lawrence > ED 70 Precinct 22-1/2 Town Creek Town Creek town > image 34 of 43; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); Enumeration District 70: Dwelling 283, Family 285, Lines 54, 55; Township 5, Range 8, Precinct 24, Town Creek; Sheet 8B; JOHN H LOOYSER FAMILY
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 14 September 2023), memorial page for John H Loosier (26 Dec 1845–31 Jan 1906), Find A Grave: Memorial #40687652, citing Old Liberty Cemetery, Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Papaguy54 (contributor 46964920).
12. ↑ Lookout, The Leighton News; Leighton, Colbert County, Alabama, USA; Fri. 9 Feb 1906; pg 4. col 5; Alabama Dept of Archives & History; Newspapers.com; (https://www.newspapers.com/image/348667332/, accessed 17 Sept, 2023) d. Jan 10, 1906, burial Jan. 11, 1906; JOHN LOOSIER
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRN8-YXB?cc=1727033&wc=QZZQ-3QF%3A133638801%2C136541701%2C138054501%2C1589089148 : 23 June 2017), Alabama > Lawrence > Creek > ED 78 > image 5 of 18; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Dwelling 49, Family 51, Lines 17 - 23 Family of Joe L. Loosier; Dwelling 50, Family 52, Lines 24 - 31 Family of Franklin M. Loosier & his mother Sarah E. Loosier
14. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 18 September 2023), memorial page for Sarah Elizabeth Norton Loosier (1848–7 Dec 1913), Find A Grave: Memorial #174669492, citing Old Liberty Cemetery, Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by WSALMOND (contributor 47006647).