Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

learned the trade of tinsmith, copper-
smith and gasfitter, and was in that busi-
ness for himself for some years in Brighton
before coming to America. It was
in the middle sixties that he located in
Greenwich, Connecticut, and there he followed
his trade as long as he lived. Pre-
vious to coming to America, Mr. Allcorn
was a member of the Odd Fellows in Eng-
land, and when he sailed for America they
presented him with a watch.
Mr. Allcorn married Hope Trower, one
of triplets, born to Charles Trower, of
Henfield, England. The great-grand-
father of Mr. Allcorn on the maternal side
was a wealthy market-gardener of Hen-
field. He did no work himself except to
manage his farm or estate. Owing to
some mistake in spelling the name and to
the legal red tape so ably exposed by
Dickens in "Bleak House," the estate was
thrown into chancery, and the heirs were
unable to gain possession of their just
heritage. Charles Trower was reared in
the Episcopal church, and played the cornet
in the famous old St. Nicholas Church
in Brighton. He was the father of triplet
daughters born September 15, 1832, and
all of whom reached the age of fifty or
more. Mrs. Allcorn died April 18, 1913,
aged eighty-two. The other two daughters
were named Faith and Charity. Mr.
and Mrs. Allcorn were married fifty years
in 1902, and they were the parents of the
following children: I. Alice Hope, born
September 7, 1855. 2. Arthur Frederick,
born August 14, 1857. 3. Ernest Albert,
born August 17, 1859. 4. Frances Walter,
born December 25, 1863. 5. Luther Herbert,
of further mention. 6. Leonard
Lionel, born March 6, 1871. The last two
sons were born in Greenwich, and the
other members of the family in Brighton.
Luther Herbert Allcorn was educated
in the public schools of Greenwich and at
the Greenwich Academy. Soon after
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
347
leaving school he entered the employ of
the Greenwich Trust Company, as a messenger,
and filled the various positions up
to trust officer, which he held for about
fifteen years until December 1, 1919, when
he became assistant secretary and assistant
treasurer of the Greenwich Country
Club. He is prominent in public affairs
in Greenwich, and one of the leading bus-
iness men. Mr. Allcorn finds his recrea-
tion in music and has played the organ in
the Presbyterian church for fifteen years.
Mr. Allcorn married Katherine Eliza-
beth Pryer, daughter of Jasper Pryer,
born in Mount Vernon, New York, and
they are the parents of a son, Luther H.,
born in 1910.
NORRIS, A. J.,
Interior Decorator.
To know that the work of one's hands
will stand for uncounted years, and de-
light the eye of every beholder, must be
a source of gratification to the creator of
beauty. Yet the identity of the interior
decorator is too often lost in his work.
The work becomes the background of
paintings and statuary; the atmosphere
of the home ; the lofty motif, which like
the half hushed accompaniment of a sa-
cred melody breathes the spirit of rev-
erence over the worshippers before the
altar. Such is the work of A. J. Norris,
president of the A. J. Norris Company,
the interior decorators of Greenwich, Con-
necticut.
Mr. Norris was reared in the traditions
of fine interiors. His father, Simeon Norris,
was born in Buckland, St. Mary Black
Down Hills, Mid-Somerset, England. He
was endowed with that peculiar combina-
tion of manual skill and artistic taste
which makes of the artizan the artist.
When he was only about twelve years old
he left home to make his own way in the