Calhoun County AlArchives Biographies.....Noble, John W. September 29 1830 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 15, 2004, 1:10 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) JOHN W. NOBLE, one of the iron men of Alabama, was born in England, September 29, 1830. He was a son of James and Jenifer (Ward) Noble, both natives of England, who came to the United States in 1837, locating in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1855. In this year they removed to Rome, Ga., and built the first foundry and machine shop erected in that place. Beside building here the first locomotive ever built in the south, James Noble and his sons built many engines for steamboats, and engines and boilers for all kinds of work also. The rolling mill erected here, mentioned in other places, was used during the war to make horse shoes for the Confederate cavalry. John W. Noble then came to Alabama, and settled at Anniston. He at once built the Anniston car wheel works, of Noble Brothers & Co.; was also a director of the Woodstock Iron Co., composed of the Tyler and Noble families. He was also connected with several other stock companies in Anniston. During his connection with the company, the second charcoal furnace was built, also the cotton mill. Then the Woodstock Iron company bought the old Alabama Iron furnace, at Jenifer. The Woodstock Iron company laid out the city of Anniston, and built the Anniston Inn, laid out and macadamized the town. It also erected nearly two hundred houses in the city. Afterward the Woodstock Iron company sold out their interests in everything except the furnaces. They then built two coke furnaces, at a cost of half a million of dollars. Mr. Noble built the church of St. Michael and All Angels, in Anniston, a memorial of his father and brother. In 1854, Mr. Noble married Miss Almera Abbott, daughter of William T. and Charlotte (Ede) Abbott, both natives of England. To this marriage there have been born six children: William W., Eliza, George A., Albert E., Ermie C. and Ruth E. Mrs. Noble was born in England, and came to the United States with her parents, in 1844. Both she and her husband are members of the Anglican church. The Noble family was one of the first in Anniston, and has done more than any other family to make Anniston the city that it is. It is also one of the pioneer iron working families in the state. Mr. Noble is now the owner of the Jenifer furnace, at Jenifer, Ala. He began life without anything, and by his own industry and good management has accumulated a comfortable competency, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of Calhoun county. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 606-607 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 3.0 Kb