Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

FRED B. NOYES

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

            A decidedly public-spirited public man whom Californians may well 
esteem, and whose services they appreciate, is the Hon. Fred B. Noyes, member of 
the California legislature for Sutter, Yuba and Yolo Counties.  A native of 
Vermont, he was born there on August 3, 1857, the son of Charles and Lucy 
(Hazelton) Noyes, both natives of that State.  The progenitor of the Noyes 
family in America was John Noyes, who came from England on the Mayflower to 
Plymouth in 1620 and in time settled in Newberry, N.H.  He had two sons, Samuel 
and John.  Samuel�s great-great-grandson was James Noyes, who married Cynthia 
Kingsbury and removed to Vermont.  There were the grandparents of Fred B. Noyes. 
 Mr. Noyes� maternal great-great-grandfather Coolidge served as an officer 
during the Revolutionary War.  The father came out to California for the first 
time in 1858, traveling by way of the Isthmus; and being a blacksmith, he 
followed his trade in Sutter County until 1896, when he retired.  From that time 
until he died, he reside in Contra Costa County.  In 1864 he returned to 
Vermont, and in 1865 returned to California via Panama with his family, 
consisting of a wife and two sons, Fred B., of this review, and Charles T. 
Noyes, who was with the Southern Pacific Railroad for over fifty years, until he 
retired in Sacramento, where he passed away in 1921.
            Fred B. Noyes attended the Sutter County schools, and after that was 
reared on the grain farm of 1500 acres in the Nicolaus district, belonging to 
Senator A. L. Chandler, a pioneer of Sutter County of 1851.  Mr. Noyes made his 
home there from eight years of age, until Mr. Chandler died, in 1888.  Later, 
Mr. Noyes became superintendent of the Rideout Ranch, also in Sutter County, and 
discharged the duties of that responsible position for a couple of years.  Then 
he entered the political arena, and served as under-sheriff of Sutter County for 
four years, acting under Sheriff James K. P. Elwell.  In 1906 he was elected 
sheriff of the county on the Republican ticket and served thereafter for twelve 
years, or three terms, from January, 1907, to January, 1919.  During the war 
period he was a member of the Council of Defense.
            In the fall of 1922, Mr. Noyes, who as a Republican has long been 
influential in the political circles of Northern California, was elected to the 
Assembly of the State legislature; and he had the honor of getting that body to 
pass, as its first bill, a measure he had drawn up and presented.  This was Bill 
No. 230, validating the formation and organization of Reclamation District No. 
2056, located in Butte and Sutter Counties, and establishing the boundaries of 
the district; and this bill was the first signed by Gov. Friend W. Richardson.  
He was also the author of Bill No. 1346, pertaining to Reclamation District No. 
1660, and permitting the Sacramento-San Joaquin drainage district to erect its 
levee without levying another assessment � a very important measure for the 
locality.  He was chairman of the Committee on Drainage, Swamp and Overflowed 
Land, and a member of the Committees on Agriculture, Corporations, County 
Government, Irrigation and Motor Vehicles.  By experience he was especially well 
fitted for these assignments.  At the age of twenty-three, for example, he was 
one of the directors of Levee District No. 2; and since that time he has been 
closely identified with irrigation and levee affairs in Yuba and Sutter 
Counties, and is an authority whose advice is frequently sought.  
            In Sacramento, in February, 1879, Mr. Noyes was united in marriage 
with Miss Julia A. Holmes, who was born in Sutter County, a daughter of John 
Hobson and Ann (Sharkey) Holmes, born respectively in Leeds, England and County 
Cork, Ireland, both of whom were early pioneers in California.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Noyes� union was blessed with two children:  Mrs. Carrie McAuliffe, of 
Marysville, and Mrs. Anna Moncur, of Yuba City.  Mr. Noyes was bereaved of his 
faithful wife, a woman greatly loved, and esteemed by all who knew her, for her 
many worthy attributes of mind and heart.  She was a member of the Rebekahs and 
the Eastern Star and was a past officer in the Neighbors of Woodcraft.  Mr. 
Noyes is a Past Master of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A.M., Yuba City; a 
member of Washington Chapter No. 13, R.A.M., and of Marysville Commandery No. 7, 
K.T.; a charter member of Ben Ali Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in 
Sacramento; and a Past Patron of Fidelia Chapter No. 56, O.E.S., Yuba City, of 
which his daughter, Mrs. Anna Moncur, is also a member, a Past Matron and the 
present secretary.  She is also a past president of the Marysville Art Club, and 
during the war was active in various war activities, and a member of the Woman�s 
Committee of the Council of Defense.  Mr. Noyes joined the Odd Fellows in 
December, 1878, in Pleasant Grove Lodge, serving as Noble Grand three different 
terms, and as a District Deputy Grand;  and he is also a member of the 
Encampment.  He is also a popular member of Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E., 
and a Past Council Commander of Shamrock Camp No. 360, Woodmen of the World.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 431-432