Thomas Addley Norman was born to John and Nancy (Crowe) Norman on August 12, 1892 in Davies County, Missouri. He was a farmer by trade. Once World War I commenced, Thomas enlisted with the United States Army, and served in France. His duties during this time was to load the cannons. During the war he always found the time to write his sweetheart, Bessie David Holder. She was born to David William and Eldora (Thompson) Holder on October 14, 1898 near Gower, Buchanan County, Missouri. Bessie attended school in Gower and after completion of her education there, she continue her schooling by attending college in Maryville, Missouri. After completion of her courses, she began teaching school. She was a school teacher in rural Buchanan County, Missouri Schools. She continued her teaching until she was married to Thomas Addley Norman. They were married on December 20, 1919. After their marriage they moved to a farm near Taos, Missouri. While there, they became the parents of a son, Delbert Wayne Norman who was born July 25, 1920 and died October 29, 1920. This was their only child. They resided outside Taos until 1926, when they moved to the old David William Holder farm west of Gower, Missouri, where they continued farming. Bessie always had her rain barrels ready to catch the moisture and would make her lye soap. They finally had electricity put to the old homestead, but never opted for running water, choosing to gather the water they needed from a well outside the house, and using the old outhouse until they moved to Gower, Missouri in 1976. Thomas Addley Norman was called "Dan" by all who knew him. Dan was considered legally deaf , this being caused by being so close to the cannons during the war, and later in life was legally blind. His lose of senses did not slow him down, for you could always find him in the barn fiddling with something. Bessie and Dan were members of the Mount Moriah Methodist Church, outside of Gower, Missouri.
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WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

HAPPY PEOPLE

On Saturday December 20th in St Joseph occurred the wedding of Miss Bessie Holder of Frazier and Mr. T. A. Norman of Faucett. The bride is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Holder of Frazier and is accomplished young and was one of Buchanan counties successful teachers, she will be an ideal wife. The groom is a prosperous young farmer of near Faucett and was one of the many to answer the call of his country as he spent nine months over there. Immediately after the ceremony, Mr. Norman and his bride left for their country home south of St Joseph

Dec 16, 1979 - a reception was given at their home in honor of their 60th Wedding Anniversary.
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LETTER TO BESSIE DAVID HOLDER, FROM THOMAS ADDLEY NORMAN FROM FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR I

ENGLAND, CO K 349TH INFANTRY

Dear Friend Bessye
Will take pleasure in riting you a letter as I have plenty of time this pretty evening and am just laying around and should have riten soon but diden get sated but will try and do better from ow on but have not had much of a place to rite, Well kid what are you doing this nice wather guess you are having a good time i am doing my best to and hoave had pretty good luck so far have had a fine trio and was not sick a time but some of the boys was but my time may come yet but hope not i sure saw some pretty city on this trip but think if i get back i will stay in the USA that place looks good to me but this is a nice place here well how is every body around Frazer have you St, Joe lately how does the old city look just the same i guess say how was the Agency picnic and did you see any of the Union people there I haven't heard from any of then for a long time but don't guess i will now for i am not going to rite to them so much now well how is jessye and geo suppose they are still going to the shows i haven't ben to a show for a long time as there is not many here to go to but would like to go a good show Mon and at the crystal any way will i cant think of much to rite but will try to rite all i can suppose you are thinking of school days now as it is most time for it to begin and an sure you will be glad when it does wonder if Bill and Bob want to for they will be glad to see the new teacher. don't you think so for they both think a lot of a teacher wonder why guess you got the card i sent you by this time has Kate ans you letter yet she was asking about you in the last letter i got from them, they sent. They was both going to rite to you ha ha but am sure Fred will for he likes to rite so well say kid have you seen the Dekalb paper lately i sure would like to see one of them Think I will rite Mr. Allen and have him to send me one but it will take it all winter to get here Well as i have run down will close as ever Dan (ans soon): address PVT Thomas A Norman, Co K 349th inf, American Expeditionary Forces
Censored by Fred E Farnsworth, 1st LT 349th inf
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FROM FUNERAL CARD

In Memory of
BESSIE D. NORMAN

Bessie David Norman was born on October 14, 1898 to David William and Eldora (Thompson) Holder in Buchanan County near Gower where she attended school and grew up. Bessie later attended college at Maryville and then taught school in rural Buchanan County. On December 20, 1919 she was united in marriage to Thomas A. Norman. After their marriage they farmed in the southern part of Buchanan County until 1926 when they moved near Gower where they continued farming. In 1976 they moved to Gower where they made their home. Her husband, Dan, passed away on October 25, 1982. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Delbert Wayne, one brother, Charles Collie Holder and one sister Jessye Giddens.
Bessie was a longtime member of the Agency United Methodist Church, a 65 year member of the Rebecca Lodge in Agency, a charter member of the Gower American Legion Auxiliary where she served for ten consecutive years a Chaplain and was also a volunteer worker at the Veterans Hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas.
She is survived by on nephew, Lawrence E. Holder of Agency, one niece, Helen Gilbert of Pennsville, New Jersey, several great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews and great great great nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.