Abraham Crane Noble ^{3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa - Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co. 1890

Abraham C. Noble, a practical farmer residing on section 2, Fairfield Township, Jefferson County, was born in Blair County, PA., on the 20th of April 1821, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Crane) Noble. In the usual manner of farmer lads his early life was spent, the only education advantages which he received were such as the district schools afforded and during the summer months when his services were needed in the fields he was not permitted to improve even those meager opportunities. In 1837, when a lad of sixteen years, he removed with his family to Indiana County, PA., where his father operated an iron manufactory. Their home was on the present site of the city of Altoona, and there he grew to manhood. On the 11th of January, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Altimus, who was a native of Indiana County, PA., and a daughter of Nicholas Altimus. After eighteen years of married life, she was called to her final rest, leaving one child, a daughter, Mary, who is now the wife of Joseph T. Ross of Oregon. Mr. Noble was again married on the 11th of May, 1863, his second wife being Miss Martha B. Madden, who was born in Franklin County, PA., and is a daughter of Spencer Madden.

In November, 1863, Mr. Noble closed out his business in the Keystone State and leaving Cabria County, where he had resided for some years, he started for the West, Iowa being his destination. Locating in Fairfield, he embraced in the mercantile business which he carried on for two years and for the succeeding ten years devoted his time and energies to dealing in live stock. At the expiration of that time he took up the pursuit to which he had been reared and since been numbered among the leading farmers of Jefferson County. His first farm was situated in Black Hawk Township, but afterward he removed to another farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated nearer the city, and in 1885 he took up his residence at his present home where he now owns forty acres of land. In political sentiment Mr. Noble is a stanch republican and has been the people's choice to represent them in a number of township offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. He is a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 37, K. P., and is a man well informed on the leading issues of the day, both political and otherwise. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church and is now a member of that denomination, while his wife holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. This worthy couple have a wide circle of friends and acquaintance in Jefferson County, and this brief sketch of their lives will undoubtedly be received with interest by many of our readers.

At the time of the 1850 census, Abraham was a farmer in Brush Valley, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Charlotte S. Altimus, 10 born in Pennsylvania, was listed in his household. (Possibly his wife's sister) A the time of the 1860 census, he was a schoock contractor in Wilmore, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He had real estate valued at $600 and personal assets of $1300. John A. Skallop, 23 a teamster born in Pennsylvania, was listed in his household.

At the time of the 1870 census, he was a farmer in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa. Caoline Vantrees, 20 born in Pennsylvania, was listed with the family. At the time of the 1880 census, he was listed as a farmer in Black Hawk, Jefferson County, Iowa. Lilly G. Noble, 13 his brother Christian's daughter, and a nephew Edgar T. Kirby, 20 born in Pennsylvania of parents born in Pennsylvania (working on the farm). were listed in his household. Edgar was his wife's sister Ruth's son with George W. Kirby. Also, Edward Johnson, 7 a servant born in Iowa, was listed with him. His residence was recorded as Second Ward of Fairfield;Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1895.

Abraham married Martha Altimus, daughter of Nicholas Altimus and Mary Wolf, on 4 Feb 1844 in Altoona, , Pennsylvania.¹ (Martha Altimus was born on 4 Oct 1823 in Brush Valley, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and died on 16 Apr 1862 in , Somerset, Pennsylvania.)

Abraham next married Martha B. Madden on 11 May 1863 in , Cambria County, Pennsylvania.² (Martha B. Madden was born in , Franklin County, Pennsylvania, died in Jan 1898 in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa ¹⁰.)