Former slave Henry Norwood and his brother, William, traveled from the Cosatot River "way down south" to Center Township in Sebastian County soon after Appomattox and Emancipation. In 1870 we find them listed in the census as farm hands and know that they were employed by the Gilliam family and L. B. McKinney, who helped them acquire homesteads of forty acres each in White Oak Valley. They appear to have been neighbors of the Stallings family, as well. Oscar Stallings wrote a most interesting article for an issue of the Key Magazine describing the life and times of Henry Norwood and his impact on the community.
The Historical Society is seeking photographs, stories and documents regarding Henry for an exhibit we'd like to develop. Henry was a beloved and respected member of the community with a fascinating and instructive personal history. Can you share information with us that will help us bring Henry's story to light? Please contact the curator at curator@sschistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
