Christian Emigh Noble ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

  General Notes:

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

Hon. Christian E. Noble, attorney and Justice of the Peace, has been a resident of Fairfield since October 15, 1846. He was born in Blair County, PA. on a farm, which was owned by his paternal grandfather prior to the War of the revolution, and which was also the birthplace of this father. That farm is the present site of the city of Altoona. The birth of Mr. Noble occurred on the 20th of January, 1825, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Crane) Noble.

Our subject received a common-school education, and learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed after his emigration to Fairfield in 1846. He was married in this city on the 6th of December, 1849, to Miss Zilphia K. Rees, a daughter of Joel S. Rees. The lady was born near Newark, Ohio, and came to Iowa in the spring of 1847. Eight children blessed their union, three died in infancy and five grew to mature years, three sons and two daughters, as follows: Leroy C., the eldest, who married three times, his present wife having been Miss Frances J. Moore, is a druggist of Springfield, Mo.; Laura May is the wife of John Smeaton, who resides in Arkansas; Artemus Oliver is living in Philadelphia; U.S. Grant is single, and makes his home near Walla Walla, Wash.; and Lillie Grace is the wife of Albert Oswald, of What Cheer, Iowa. The wife and mother died March 9, 1886. On the 6th of July, 1890, Mr. Noble was united in marriage with Miss Lena Payne, a native of Massachusetts.

Mr. Noble was a Whig in early life, and later became a supporter of the republican party. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in the fall of 1856. He was also elected a member of the Lower House of the Iowa Legislature, and proved an able representative of the people. For several years he carried on the undertaking business in Fairfield, and also engaged in the manufacture of sash for a time, but desiring to give his attention to professional work, he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in the district court of Oskaloosa, on the 4th of March, 1881, entering upon the practice of his profession in Fairfield. In the fall of 1886, Mr. Noble was once more elected Justice of the Peace, and again re-elected in the fall of 1888, a fact which establishes beyond a doubt his trustworthiness and ability. He is an Odd Fellow of forty-three years standing, and holds membership in Jefferson Lodge, No. 4, I.O.O.F., being the second oldest surviving member of that organization, with which he became connected in the spring of 1847. In his religious view Mr. Noble inclines toward the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which numbers among its members several of his brothers, his brother G. W. being an ordained minister of that denomination. Mr. Noble helped to organize the Old Settlers' Association, drew the first draft for constitution for that body, and was elected a Vice-President of the society. He also helped to form the first library association in Fairfield, and was its first Secretary. He has been an active and useful member of the community in which he has resided, and is esteemed as a gentleman of sterling worth. In the office of a justice he is known at his best-prompt, experienced, fair in his rulings, and correct in his business methods.

Source: "The Fairfield Tribune", Sept. 20, 1905, page 6, col. 4, "Death of a Pioneer"

Christian E. Noble was born Jan. 20, 1825, in Blair County, PA., and died at his home in this city Monday, Sept. 18, 1905. Mr. Noble was a cabinet maker by trade and came to Fairfield in 1846. He was married in 1849 to Zilphia K. Rees and to this union were born eight children. Three of them survive their parents, the mother having died in 1886. The surviving children are: Mrs. Laura Smeaton of this city; Mrs. Lillie Grace Oswald of Albia, and U. S. G. Noble of Davenport, Washington. In 1890 Mr. Noble was again united in marriage to Miss Lena Payne, who survives him.

In early life Mr. Noble was quite an active politician and in 1856 was elected a member of the Lower House of the Iowa Legislature. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in the district court of Oskaloosa in 1881 and entered upon the practice of his profession in Fairfield ... M. E. Church. He helped to organize the Old Settlers' Association, drew the first draft for a constitution for that body, and was elected a vice-president of the society. He also helped to form the first library association in Fairfield and was its first secretary ... Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Christian Church ... Members of the I.O.O.F., of which he was a member, attended in a body and had charge of the services at the grave.

Source: "The Fairfield Ledger", Jan. 3, 1933, page 4, col. 3, "Homes of Fairfield", 203 South Main Street, Campbell Funeral Home

Original house built by C. E. Noble, rebuilt by D. B. Wilson in 1873, and later by C. D. Leggett. The first county jail stood on this lot, but of course that was away back in the early 1840's.

At the time of the 1860 census, Christian was a sash maker in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa. He had real estate valued at $2500 and personal assets of $1000. He was listed with his wife Zilphia and 4 children. His mother in law, Mary Reese 68 born in Virginia, was listed in his household as was Sarah Ellis a domestic helper. By 1870 his wife Zilphia was committed to the Iowa Hospital for Insane at Center, Henry County, Iowa. At the time of the 1870 census, Christian was living in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa with his 5 surviving children. He was a cabinet maker. He had real estate valued at $7000 and personal assets of $300.

At the time of the 1880 census, Christian was a boarder in a hotel kept by E. J. Compo in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa. He was listed as widowed by mistake. His wife, Zilphia, was reported in the Lunatic Asylum at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1880. He was a cabinet maker. Christian was listed with his wife, Kelphia K. (sp), and daughters Lauraetta and Lillie G., on the 1885 Iowa state census in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa. He occupation was lawyer. Zilphia died the next year. He married a second time in about 1890. At the time of the 1900 census, he was a notary public in Fairfield. He owned his home free of any mortgage.

Christian married Zilphia K. Reese, daughter of Joel S. Reese and Mary, on 6 Dec 1849. (Zilphia K. Reese was born about 1824 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio,¹² died on 9 Mar 1886 in , Jefferson County, Iowa ^{10 13} and was buried in Old Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa ^{13 14}.). The cause of her death was cardiac exhaustion.

Christian next married Lena Payne on 6 Jul 1890. (Lena Payne was born in Oct 1849 in Massachusetts and died on 9 Nov 1919 ⁷.)