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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CAPT. GEORGE M. NOBLE.
Capt. George M. Noble, senior member of the well-known firm of George M. Noble & Company, of Topeka, is known all over the State of Kansas, for the firm deals extensively in real property in every county. He was born March 7, 1842, in Clermont County, Ohio, and is a son of Rev. James H. and Angeline E. (Simmons) Noble.

The Noble family is of English extraction but has been established in America for many years. The father of Captain Noble was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1858 our subject went to Indiana and was educated at Greencastle, graduating at Indiana Asbury University. When scarcely out of school, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, October 17, 1861, in Company D, 31st Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf. This company was organized and mustered into the service of the United States, September 20, 1861, at Terre Haute, with Charles Cruft as colonel, John Osborne as lieutenant colonel and Frederick Arn as major. It proceeded soon afterward to Evansville, Indiana, thence to Henderson, Kentucky, encamping at Calhoun, on the Green River.

On February 11, 1862, the regiment moved with General Grant’s forces to Fort Donelson and in participating in the assault there lost nine killed, 52 wounded and one missing. It was then marched to Fort Henry and later to Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, actively taking part in both days of battle there, the memorable 6th and 7th of April, 1862. Here the regiment lost 22 killed, no wounded and 10 missing. The regiment was then assigned to the Fourth Division of the Army of the Ohio, under command of General Nelson, and took an active part in the siege operations before Corinth, including the battle of Corinth, after which it moved with Buell’s army through Northern Mississippi and Alabama into Tennessee. In September it reached Louisville, Kentucky, and following General Bragg’s retreat from that State, after the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, it went to Nashville, thence, in December, with Crittenden’s corps of Rosecrans’ army, it marched to Murfreesboro and engaged the enemy for three days at Stone River. The regiment remained quietly encamped at Cripple Creek after this vigorous campaign, guarding a mountain pass near Murfreesboro, until the forward movement of the army to Chattanooga was begun in June, 1863. It took a prominent part in the battle of Chicagamauga, after which it went into camp at Bridgeport, Alabama, where on January 1, 1864, it became a veteran organization, the members reenlisting. Our subject was given a veteran furlough and made a short visit to Indiana. After his return to the regiment, now an organization of considerable reputation on account of its gallantry and loyalty, it saw much hard service. The 31st was conspicuous at the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Pine Mountain, Bald Knob, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Smyrna camp ground on the Chattahoochie River, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Franklin and Nashville. At the close of the war, the regiment moved with General Sheridan’s army to Texas, where it was mustered out of the service, December 8, 1865. During its long and arduous service, this organization of brave men had lost 432 of its members in killed and wounded. On January 24, 1863, Captain Noble was honorably discharged by reason of promotion from sergeant major of his regiment to regimental adjutant, for meritorious services. His former promotion had been for the same reason, in April, 1862. On September 13, 1864, he was commissioned captain of Company C, and was mustered out as such on November 11, 1864, being breveted major by special order.

After his return from the army, Captain Noble settled in Illinois and entered upon the study of the law at Champaign, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of that State in May, 1870. In the same year he came to Topeka, where he engaged in the practice of the law until 1873. He then became associated with the Kansas Loan & Trust Company as secretary, vice-president and one of the general managers until 1893, when this company was succeeded by the Trust Company of America, of which he served as vice president until 1898. This company has been one of the large financial organizations of the State, having made loans to the amount of $20,000,000. Since 1898 Captain Noble has devoted his time to the business of real estate loans, mortgages and insurance. He is the senior member of the firm of George M. Noble & Company, the other members being A. D. Washburn and J. H. Noble. The firm has the handling of property, including farms, ranches, alfalfa lands, wheat lands and pasture lands, in all sections of Kansas and in adjoining States. In addition to their extensive operations in realty, they handle the leading insurance lines and are the accredited local financial agents for Eastern investors. The offices of the firm are at No. 435 Kansas avenue.

Captain Noble was married at Champaign, Illinois, on January 25, 1872, to Eva A. Reed, who was born at Fredericktown, Ohio. They had two sons, Walter T. and George M., Jr. The former was a very brilliant young man, a Princeton graduate. His death took place in August, 1904, leaving his parents, brother, wife and three children.

Captain Noble is an ideal citizen, ever ready to work hard in the interests of his community, ready to unselfishly foster and promote enterprises that will add to the general welfare and to support public-spirited measures for the benefit of all. He is one of the leading members and has been one of the directors of the Topeka Commercial Club. He has long been connected with the higher branches of Masonry and is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 51, A. F. & A. M., and of Topeka Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M. He belongs also to the Grand Army of the Republic and the Kansas Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Since 1870 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and almost continuously since has been one of the trustees.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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