Lucius
L. Noble, a prominent retired agriculturist of
Strawberry Point, was born in the village of Alabama, in
Genesee County, N. Y., July 15, 1832. The family of which
he is a worthy representative originated in England and
was prominent in this country during the Colonial days.
Grandfather Medad Noble was a shoemaker by trade, and was
one of the devoted patriots who offered their services in
the defense of the Colonies during the dark days of the
Revolution.
J. F. Noble, our subject's father, was born in Richmond,
N, Y., in 1804, and was a farmer by occupation. With his
family he came west in 1833 and settled in Michigan,
where he remained until 1846. He then came to Clayton
County, at that time considered the extreme frontier, and
entering a tract of Government land in Lodomillo
Township, gave his attention to its cultivation until his
death in 1864. His wife, also a native of the state of
New York, bore the maiden name of Martha Gray, and was
born in Livingston County, being the daughter of a
Revolutionary soldier. At an advanced age she died in
1886, on the old homestead in Lodomillo Township.
The subject of this sketch was one of three brothers. L.
R. is a wealthy retired farmer of Strawberry Point, and
is a stockholder in the Strawberry Point Bank. F. G. is
living on the old homestead. Our subject was fourteen
years of age when the family came to Iowa, and soon after
he began the active career of an agriculturist.
Commencing the cultivation of a farm in Lodomillo
Township, he continued thus engaged until 1882, when,
having accumulated a competence, he retired from active
work. He has since resided in Strawberry Point, but still
owns his fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which
he rents to reliable tenants. About twenty-five years ago
he received a very severe fall from a wagon, which
produced paralysis, and which has rendered him unable to
do manual labor, His intellect, however, is as keen as in
the days of early manhood, and he retains a deep interest
in everything pertaining to the welfare of his
fellow-citizens. He is a stockholder and Director in the
Strawberry Point Bank, and is recognized as one of the
leading men in the place.
The lady who in 1858 became the wife of our subject was
Miss Elizabeth E. Kidner, a native of Ohio and daughter
of Amos Kidner, one of the pioneers of that state. Two
daughters have blessed their union. The elder, Cora A.,
is a graduate of Lenox College, in Hopkinton, Iowa, and
the wife of E. B. Porter, a merchant of Delhi, this
state. The younger, Emma D., a graduate of Upper Iowa
University of Fayette, was for many years a teacher in
the public schools, and is now the wife of R. E. Friars,
of Washington.
Since the organization of the Republican party Mr. Noble
has advocated the principles for which it stands. For
several years he officiated as Township Clerk, but with
that exception has held no public office. He keeps fully
informed concerning the great issues of the age, and,
being well posted upon topics of importance, is an
interesting conversationalist. His wife and younger
daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
Mrs. Porter is identified with the Baptist denomination.
While he is not a church member, he has led a strictly
moral and upright life, and occupies a high place in the
regard of the people.
~source: Portrait
and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton
Counties;Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs. 445-446
-transcribed by Becky Teubner
|