Charles Noble's biography, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan

Copyright © 2000 by Bryan Taylor. This copy contributed for use in 
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American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men with Portrait 
Illustrations on Steel, Volumes I-II



Name: Hon. Charles Noble
Lawyer, of Detroit, Michigan, was born at Williamstown, Massachusetts, July 
4, 1797. He was the son of Deodatus and Betsey Abigail (Bulkley) Noble; and 
grandson of Hon. David Noble, who, at the time of his death, was Judge of 
Common Pleas in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Mr. Charles Noble 
graduated at Williams College in 1815, and studied law with his uncle, Hon. 
David Noble, of Williamstown. He was admitted to practice in Berkshire 
County in 1818. The same year, he went to the West; and, after a short stay 
at Cleveland, Ohio, settled in Monroe, Michigan. He entered at once upon 
the practice of his profession, and remained in Monroe until 1867, when he 
removed to Detroit. While residing in Monroe, he held the offices of the 
Legislative Council of Michigan Territory for two years; Justice of the 
Peace; Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, negotiating the Indian 
treaty at St. Joseph; Register of Probate; District Attorney; County Judge; 
and Lawyer-General of the United States, for the district of country 
north-west of the Ohio River. He was one of the purchasers of the Michigan 
Southern Railroad from the State, and the first President of the company. 
He was also Cashier of the Bank of River Raisin; and, when the bank 
failed,--which was not at the time he was an officer in it,--he was 
appointed one of the assignees. In 1867 he removed to Detroit, and formed a 
partnership with his son, Charles W. Noble, and his son-in-law, George S. 
Frost, under the firm name of George S. Frost & Co. He continued in this 
business--the purchase and sale of pine lands--up to the time of his death, 
which occurred at Detroit, December 26, 1874. The "Obituary Record" of 
Williams College says, in reference to him: "Older citizens remember Mr. 
Noble as one of a large number of well-educated men, who, half a century 
ago, settled in Monroe, and influenced, and to a large extent controlled, 
the politics and what were then regarded as the early enterprises of the 
State. The results of Mr. Noble's active life are seen and enjoyed through 
a wide extent of country, by a large and appreciative population. He has 
left a bright and spotless record, and a memory which will be fondly 
cherished." Mr. Noble was a man of deep convictions and decided opinions in 
all matters of religion. In the year 1831, he first connected himself with 
the Presbyterian Church; and, for a number of years, was a ruling elder in 
the church of that denomination at Monroe. Shortly after his removal to 
Detroit, he became a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church there, 
and so remained until his death. Both in Monroe and in Detroit, Mr. Noble 
had, by his genial manners and sterling integrity, gathered around him a 
wide circle of friends. He was, in politics, a Whig during the existence of 
that party; and, subsequently, acted independently of political 
organizations, though most frequently voting with the Republican party on 
national issues. In person, Mr. Noble was of fine appearance, and preserved 
the vivacity and freshness of mature manhood up to the time of his death. 
He married, May 16, 1823, at Detroit, Eliza Symmes Wing, daughter of Hon. 
Enoch Wing, and sister of the late Hons. Austin E. Wing and Warner Wing, of 
Monroe. His wife survives him. They had seven children, three of whom died 
in infancy. His daughter Elizabeth married Rev. Hannibal L. Stanley, and 
died in 1849. The children who survive Mr. Noble are: Charles W. Noble, of 
Detroit, born in 1828; Ellen N. Frost, wife of George F. Frost, of Detroit, 
born in 1832; and Conwav Noble, of Cleveland, Ohio, born in 1842.