Person:Noah Noble (1)

Research Notes and Links

• Lawyer, farmer, merchant, miller
• Member of Indiana state house of representatives, 1825
• Elected Governor of Indiana, 1831. Served two terms (six years).
• President of the State Board of Internal Improvements, 1838-1841.
• He turned down the position of Commissioner of the General Land Office that was tendered to him by the President of the United States because he did not want to leave his state especially in a time of financial difficulty.
• Methodist
• 1835 - November 28, Noah Noble, Governor of Indiana, bought nine parcels of land for his home farm. These parcels of land were known as out-lots and included Lots 45, 50, 55, 56, 61, 67, 68, 69, and 71. They are the same numbers today. Easley Winery sits in the Lot 56 parcel. These nine parcels totaled 110 acres and Governor Noble paid $1273.50 for all this ground. This land purchase was for Governor Noble's "Home Farm." The Governor took out a seven year mortgage on the farm to be paid off in 1842. The Governor lived on the farm with his wife Catharine Noble, his son Winston Noble and his daughter Catherine Noble. Catherine married Alexander Davidson and became Catherine Davidson. (There is a Davidson Street nearby.) They had a farm just east of the Noble home farm. Governor Noble also purchased a large 640-acre parcel know as the Ben Ark Reserve in section 6, township 32 north of Range 3 East. The Governor also owned what he called "the Canal land" that was about four miles north of downtown Indianapolis on the canal. He also owned some ground he had purchased from Casey Ann Pogue (Pogue's Run Creek fame) and 80 acres of ground he had purchased from Enoch D. John that he gave to his daughter and her husband.
• Wikipedia Noah Noble

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} The National cyclopedia of American biography: being the history of the United States as illustrated in the lives of the founders, builders, and defenders of the republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time : [Permanent series]. (New York, New York: James T. White, 1898-).

   NOBLE, Noah, fifth governor of Indiana, 1831-87, was born near Berryville, Clark co., Va., Jan. 15, 1794, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Claire (Sedgwick) Noble, and grandson of Thomas Noble, who emigrated from Scotland to America in 1738, and of his wife Mollie Gilbert. When quite young his parents emigrated to Campbell county, Ky., and there Noah grew to manhood. About 1816 he went to Franklin county, Indiana, and located at Brookville. His brother James (US Senator from 1816 to 1831), had preceded him. In 1820 Noah was elected sheriff of Franklin county and in 1822 was re-elected. In 1824 he was chosen without opposition, a representative in the state legislature, and two years later Pres. John Quincy Adams appointed him receiver of public moneys for the Indianapolis land district. He filled the position with entire acceptability until 1829, when he was removed by Pres. Jackson for political reasons. In 1830 he was appointed one of the commissioners to locate the Michigan road from Lake Michigan to the Ohio river for which road the Potawattomic and Miami Indians had given land. In 1831 Noah Noble was a candidate for governor of Indiana and notwithstanding that he was a Whig in politics and the Democrats had a large majority in the state he was elected by 2,800 votes over Judge Reed, Democrat, one of the most popular men in southern Indiana. In 1834 he was a candidate for re-election and was chosen by 7,000 majority (Judge Reed being again his opponent), although General Jackson had carried the state by 16,000 votes only two years previously. Under Gov. Noble's administration a great system of internal improvements was entered upon, a system which at first brought an ephemeral era of prosperity but finally resulted in great financial embarrassments for the state. Soon after his induction into office the work of constructing the Erie and Panama canal, for which congress had given a magnificent grant of land, was begun, and this was followed by the building of canals, railroads and turnpikes. a state house was also erected during his term, and ample provision was made for the cause of education. After his second term had expired, the legislature elected him a member of the board of internal improvements, and in 1841 he was chosen sole fund commissioner. The same year he was offered by the president of the United States, the office of commissioner of the general land office at Washington, which he declined to accept. In 1836 he was the Whig candidate for U.S. Senator, to succeed William Hendricks, but was defeated by Albert S. White on the 36th ballot. He was always the most popular man with the large majority of his party, but his independence and antagonisms were such that he could not command the united vote. Gov. Noble was married Nov. 18, 1819, to Katherine, daughter of Eli Van Swearingen, of Berryville, Va. He died at his home near Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 8, 1844.

   Governor Noah Noble, fifth governor of Indiana.
2.   .

   Beecher, Henry Ward, The means of securing good rulers: a sermon, delivered on the occasion of the death of
   Noah Noble, late governor of Indiana, (E. Chamberlin: Indianapolis, 1844)

3.   .

   Noble, Noah, Governor’s message, December 5, 1837, (Indiana, 1837).

4.   .

   from Portrait & Biographical Record, A.W. Bowen & Co., 1890s
   ... was born in Clark County, Virginia, January 15, 1794. When a small boy he was taken by his parents to Kentucky, in which state he grew to manhood. About the time Indiana was admitted into the Union, Mr. Noble came to the state and located at Brookville, where, a few years later, he was elected sheriff of Franklin County. In 1824, he was chosen a representative to the state legislature from Franklin County, in which body he soon became quite popular and gained a state reputation. In 1826 he was appointed receiver of public moneys to succeed his brother, Lazarus Noble, who died while moving the office from Brookville to Indianapolis, in which capacity he continued with great acceptability until his removal, in 1829, by President Jackson. In 1830, he was appointed one of the commissioners to locate and lay out the Michigan road. In 1831, he was a candidate for governor, and although a Whig, and the democrecy had a large majority in the state, he was elected by a majority of 2,791. This was remarkable, for Milton Stapp, also a Whig, was a candidate, and polled 4,422 votes. In 1834, Governor Noble was a candidate for re-election, when he was also successful, defeating his competitor, James G. Reed, by 7, 662 votes. In 1839, after his gubernatorial term had expired, he was elected a member of the board of internal improvements. In 1841, he was chosen a fund commissioner, and the same year was offered by the president of the United States the office of general land commissioner, which he declined. Governor Noble died at his home, near Indianapolis, February 8, 1844. Governor Noble had a laudable ambition to go to the United States Senate, and in 1836 was a candidate to succeed William Hendricks, but was defeated by Oliver H. Smith. In 1839, he was again a candidate to succeed General John Tipton, but was defeated by Albert S. White on the thirty-sixth ballot. Oliver H. Smith says that Governor Noble "was one of the most popular men with the masses of the state. His person was tall and slim, and his constitution delicate, his smile winning, his voice feeble, and the pressure of his hand irresistible. He spoke plainly and well, but made no pretense to oratory. As governor he was very popular, and his social entertainments will long be remembered."