Holt County, MO Biography
DR. J. NOEL, one of the old physicians of Holt Co., was born
at Harrisonburg, Rockingham Co., Virginia on Sept. 27, 1817. In
1832, he emigrated with his father to Richmond, Ind. and the next
year the family moved to Niles, Mich. His father was a physician
and also involved in the milling business. Dr. NOEL studied medicine
with his father and began to practice in Mich. In 1850, he came
to Oregon, Holt Co., Mo. and near town began a milling business,
a trade he also learned from his father in Mich. He ran the mill
2 or 3 years and then moved to Brownville, Nebraska becoming one
of the first to settle there when it was a place of little importance.
He returned to Holt Co. in 1865 and settled at Hemme's Landing,
on the Mo. River, west of Corning, then a place doing a considerable
business. There he again commenced the milling business and also
practiced medicine. As soon as the Kansas City, St. Joseph and
Council Bluffs railroad was built through Holt Co. and the town
of Corning was established, he located there. He bought the first
load of lumber to ever come to Corning; by placing it within the
city limits preparatory to building, he is one of the oldest residents
of the town. He has now practiced medicine for over 25 years in
the county. He was married July 31, 1842 to Mary A. COTTON of
Niles, Mich. He was formerly an Old Line Whig; since the dissolution
of that party, he has been a Democrat.