California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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GEOEGE
WASHINGTON NOBLE Industrious
and intelligent application to agricultural pursuits lias brought a
gratifying reward to Mr. Noble, who during the period of his association
with ranching and dairying in Sacramento county has not only developed a
well-improved farm, but in addition has had the satisfaction of
realizing that his property has had a steady growth in value, while his
annual returns have exceeded his most sanguine expectations at the time
of his location on the property. Since the year 1898 he has operated two
hundred and fifty acres, meanwhile placing the land under a high state
of cultivation, putting up necessary buildings and maintaining an
equipment both modern and extensive. It
has been his good fortune to have the co-operation of a capable wife,
and not a little of his substantial success may be attributed to her
sagacious counsel and energetic assistance, while in addition he had for
some time the aid of their son, William H., who, however, later turned
his attention to railroading and now is employed by the Southern Pacific
Company. The
descendant of colonial Virginian ancestry on the paternal side and of
substantial easterners through the maternal lineage, George Washington
Noble was born on a farm near Oquawka, Henderson county, Ill., January
19, 1852, being a son of George W. and Julia Ann (Moorhead) Noble. Their
father was born in Virginia in 1813, and at the age of eighteen years
became one of the very earliest settlers in the vicinity of Oquawka,
where afterward he developed a typical Illinois farm. Throughout all of
his active life he followed agricultural pursuits in the same locality.
His death occurred at Oquawka when he was eighty-five years of age. When
he settled in Illinois he was a mere youth and it was not until some
years afterward that he established domestic ties, being then united
with Miss Julia Ann Moorhead, who was born in Ohio and died at Oquawka
at the age of eight-three years. The
public schools in and near Oquawka afforded to George W. Noble fair
educational opportunities and enabled him to acquire a general fund of
important information. Starting out for himself at the age of eighteen
years he went to Jackson county, Kan., and there followed farm pursuits
for three years. Returning to Henderson county, he spent one year on a
farm near Oquawka. From there he came to Gait, Cal., in 1875, and
followed the carpenter's trade, besides which he engaged in other forms
of general labor. In April, 1877, he opened a barber shop in Gait, which
he carried on for ten years. For the past fourteen years he has
conducted a farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Dry Creek township
near the village of Gait. Besides conducting the farm, he has also again
opened a barber shop. September 30, 1880, he was united in marriage with
Elizabeth, daughter of William Henry and Elizabeth (Zumwalt) Young, the
former born at Lincoln, Benton county, Mo., March 10, 1818, and the
latter born at St. Charles, Mo., March 11, 1818. Attracted to the west by the excitement resulting from the discovery of gold, William Henry Young crossed the plains during the summer of 1852. Unlike many of the newcomers, he did not try his luck in the gold mines, but sought agriculture as a permanent means of livelihood. Settling three miles from Gait in 1853 he took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land. The place was in the primeval condition of nature. No attempt had been made at improvement. Not a furrow had been turned in the soil. His was the difficult task of rendering the land remunerative, but by the greatest perseverance he was successful in his efforts. The raising of grain was his principal business, but be also found cattle and bogs a source of considerable profit. Eventually be acquired eleven hundred acres of ranch land and attained a position among the most influential ranchers of the entire county. His death occurred February 18, 1883, and his wife passed away May 5 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years. Their daughter, named in honor of her mother, was born at the old homestead in Dry Creek township, Sacramento county, March 4, 1864, and received her education in the public schools of Gait, but at the age of sixteen discontinued her studies in school and took up the responsibilities of a home of her own, since which time she has given to her husband and to their only son the most devoted energies of her fine mind. The comfortable home reflects her orderly spirit, and the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances indicates the sterling worth of herself and husband, both of them possessing the good will of their associates and the warm regard of their personal friends. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |