H. B. Noble, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1486-1487 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	H. B. NOBLE, M. D.—Few men have a better claim to the title of 
early settler of Howard than the popular physician whose name heads this 
paragraph. There were a few before him, but when it is stated that he 
built the second residence put up at the county seat of Miner county, it 
is easy to see that he was on the scene at a very early period of the 
settlement of this section of South Dakota. His coming moreover was a 
distinct public benefit, as he "took hold," to use a western phrase, 
immediately after his arrival and his shoulder has been up against the 
car of progress ever since. In other words, he has been in touch with 
every movement to help Miner county, and has done his full share in 
educating public opinion along the lines of progress. Dr. Noble's 
parents were Albert G. and Lucy L. Noble, who came west in the first 
half of the last century and found a location in the rich agricultural 
region bordering the upper Mississippi on the west. Their son, with 
whose biography we are dealing, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, 
September 10, 1848, and his early education was confined to the somewhat 
meagerly equipped public schools of that day. In late life. however, he 
made up by study for all deficiencies and eventually became a well-
informed man. Having decided on medicine as his life's vocation, he 
entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, and after a very 
studious session, marked by close application on his part, he was 
graduated as a Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1882. He had long 
regarded the Dakotas as an inviting field for ambitious young men, and 
immediately after obtaining his professional diploma he turned his face 
toward the prairies of the upper Missouri. The prospect at Howard was 
not especially inviting when the young doctor arrived, as the present 
thriving seat of justice was as yet a straggling hamlet and the 
population of Miner county was not such as to unduly swell the census. 
Dr. Noble, however, had confidence in the growth of this section and 
therefore cast his bread upon the waters with full assurance that after 
many days it would return to him. His "shingle" was hung out with the 
brave assurance that characterizes the true-born pioneer and he set to 
work with a will to make business come. Industry and determination 
seldom fail of their effects, and it was not long until Dr. Noble was 
able to put up a house t o live in, this building, by the way, being the 
second that graced the streets of Howard. He grew in favor as the town 
grew in size and in due time was elected to preside over the destinies 
of Howard as its mayor. He gave such satisfaction by his first term that 
he was honored with a re-election, and, in addition to the mayoralty, he 
has held many minor offices. For ten years past he has been health 
officer of Miner county and in this position has succeeded in bringing 
about some needed reforms. The Doctor's standing, socially, 
professionally and fraternally, can not be better emphasized than by the 
statement that he is a member of the Episcopal church, of the Masonic 
fraternity and of the State Medical Association. 

	In 1880, Dr. Noble was married to Miss Carrie Hill, who died in 
September, 1891, leaving two children Roy B. and Albert. In September, 
1892, the Doctor was united in matrimony with Miss Jennie O. Strong, by 
whom there has been no issue. In politics, Dr. Noble is an earnest 
advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and may 
usually be found well to the front among the party workers when a 
campaign is on. He is public-spirited as well as patriotic, and takes a 
just pride in the rapid strides made by South Dakota during the last 
decade in the race for supremacy among the great states of the 
northwest.