Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: NOLL, James G. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 18, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 214-215 JAMES G. NOLL. Prominent among the most enterprising, progressive and prosperous business men of Denver stands James G. Noll, who has long occupied a central place on the stage of business activity, controlling most important interests in the lumber trade, being at the head of the James G. Noll Lumber Company. Kansas numbers him among her native sons. He was born in Kirwin, Kansas, on the 28th of January, 1880, a son of William H. and Charlotte (Prince) Noll. The father is a native of Illinois and, removing to Kansas, became identified with the lumber trade. For many years he concentrated his efforts and attention upon business of that character and developed his interests to extensive proportions but is now living retired. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops as an Illinois volunteer and rendered active aid in the preservation of the Union. His wife, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, is with her husband in Los Angeles, California, where they now occupy an attractive home. They have two living children, James G. and Lyell M. Noll. James G. Noll acquired his education in the public schools of Atchison and of Greenleaf, Kansas, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899. He turned to the lumber business, in which his father had long been active, becoming identified with a retail lumberyard, with which he remained for a year. He bent every energy to acquainting himself with the business in principle and detail and at the end of that time was given charge of a lumberyard at Barnes, Kansas. He afterward assumed the management of the lumberyard of the Central Lumber Company at Greenleaf and later when his father went to California, he assumed charge of his business at Greenleaf, Kansas. He came to Denver in 1907 and established a general office for the Central Lumber Company. He afterward purchased a large interest in the business and incorporated the James G, Noll Lumber Company, of which he has since remained the head. This is today one of the extensive lumber corporations of the state, paying quarterly dividends through the Colorado National Bank and long since recognized as one of the most prosperous corporations of the city. The capitalization of the company is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars authorized preferred stock and three hundred and fifty thousand dollars authorized common stock. While the principal office is in Denver, branch offices are also maintained at Spokane and Seattle, Washington, and at Clarksfork, Idaho. Mr. Noll brought to the development of this business large experience. There is no phase of the lumber trade with which he is not thoroughly familiar and his initiative and enterprise have enabled him to put forth various progressive methods which have been most resultant in the upbuilding of the trade. Today the company handles a most extensive volume of business, its ramifying trade interests covering a very broad territory, while the thorough organization of each department of the business has made this one of the most prosperous commercial concerns of Denver. In 1902 Mr. Noll was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Maude Davison, of Greenleaf, Kansas, and to them have been born three children: Lila Marie, who is fifteen years of age; Violet Prince, thirteen years of age; and Mildred Alice, who is three years old. Mr. Noll is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Park Hill Lodge, No. 148, A. F. & A. M. While residing in Greenleat, Kansas, he served as junior warden of his lodge. He has attained to the Knight Templar degree in Coronal Commandery, No. 36, and has reached the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry in Topeka Consistory, No. 1. He is also a member of El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine and he has membership in the Elks lodge. He belongs to the Mountview Boulevard Presbyterian church, of which he is one of the trustees, and in the work of the church he takes a most active and helpful interest. He turns to golf and tennis for recreation, and that he is appreciative of the social amenities of life is indicated in his membership in the Denver Athletic Club and the Lakewood Country Club. He is likewise a member of the Civic and Commercial Association, which is ever looking to the further upbuilding and development of the city, and he heartily cooperates in all of its well defined plans and measures for Denver's improvement. The subjective and objective forces of life are in him well balanced, making him cognizant of his own capabilities and powers, while at the same time he thoroughly understands his opportunities and his obligations. To make his native talents subserve the demands which conditions of society impose at the present time is the purpose of his life, and by reason of the mature judgment which characterizes his efforts at all times, he stands today as a splendid representative of the prominent manufacturer and capitalist to whom business is but one phase of life and does not exclude his active participation in and support of the other vital interests which go to make up human existence.