Biographical Sketches
JAMES W. NOEL
To its farming community Jackson county is largely indebted for its progress and upbuilding. The rich lands surrounding the cities and towns of this locality furnish trade to the commercial centers and utilize their railroad facilities for shipping. The well conducted business interests of the farmers is the foundation upon which rests the activity in trade circles. Mr. Noel is a representative of a family that has long been connected with farming interests and has devoted his own energies to the cultivation and improvement of land until he is today one of the leading agriculturists of Jackson county.
Our subject is numbered among the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred September 18, 1841, in Van Buren township, on the adjoining section to his present home. His grandfather, John Noel, was a native of Kentucky, whence he removed to Anderson county, Tennessee, where he married Sallie Tatum. Their family numbered 4 sons and 4 daughters, namely: James, John, William, George, Polly, Barbara, Elizabeth and Martha Jane. Elizabeth was the wife of Spencer Rice. The father of our subject, James Noel, was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, and was reared in that state on a farm. He married Rachel Powell, who was born in the same county, in 1812, a daughter of Joseph and Annie (Jusan) Powell, who were early settlers of Jackson county, Missouri, and lived with their children here until their death. The father served as an officer in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Powell was 3 times married. He first wedded Susan Edward, and their children were Thomas, Joseph and Abraham. His second wife bore the maiden name of Ruth Jones, and their only child, Ruth, became the wife of John Smith. The children born to Joseph and Hannah Powell were John, who married Esther Bealer; Jonathan, who married Annie Rice; Richard, who married Susan Mayes; Joab, who married Anna Bealer; Absalom, who married Elizabeth Rice; Annie, wife of James Bridges; Jane, wife of John Bealer; Polly, wife of Stephen Adams; Rachel, wife of James Noel.
There were 8 children born to the paternal grandparents of our subject. The eldest was the father of James W. John, who died in California in 1851, married Melinda Jackson, and had 3 children: Nancy, who died in 1857; George, who died in the Confederate service in January, 1862; and Sarah, wife of D. A. Linder, of Delavan, Missouri. William, who married Raney Waters. George, who married Minta Farmer, and had 2 children - Alice, who died in 1883, and Henry, who is living with his mother. After the death of her husband Mrs. Minta Noel married James Gates, and now lives in Vacaville, California. Polly and Barbara were the next of the family. Elizabeth became the wife of Spencer Rice. Martha Jane was the youngest. Hon. Thomas E. Noel, who was a law partner of General Frank P. Blair, of St. Louis, Missouri, and died in the United States service, was a second cousin of our subject. Ephraim Noel, a prominent Methodist minister, was also a second cousin.
The parents of our subject were married in Tennessee, where they lived until 1832, when they came to Missouri and made a temporary location on the Roop farm, on Section 32, Van Buren township, Jackson county. They afterward made a permanent location on Section 14. The land on which they settled was all wild, and Mr. Noel entered the greater part of it from the government, but it is now one of the oldest improved places in the township. There the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred March 28, 1877, while his wife died August 17, 1893. In their family were 14 children. The eldest, John P., is deceased. Elmira is the wife of Frederick Bunn, of Oregon, and they have 1 child, John Marion. Louisa and Alvis Taylor are both deceased. Sarah Jane is the widow of Walter Davidson, and has 3 children - James, William N., and Mary Anna. Since the death of her first husband she has been again married, and 1 son, Alvis W. Biggs, has been born of this union. Joseph E. married Jennie Meador, and lives in Cass county, Missouri, with his wife and 2 children - Ralph and Ethel. James W. is the next younger. Absalom Marion and Emeline have passed away. Mary became the wife of T. T. Maxwell, and died leaving 6 children - Lydia, James N., Mary, Ollie, Thomas and Grover Cleveland. Margaret Ann became the wife of Thomas Sanders, who died leaving 2 sons - Ernest and Watts. She has since married David Mays, by whom she has 2 children - Susie and William. William A. married Addie Colburn, now deceased, and their 2 children have also passed away. His home is now in Kansas City. Martha is deceased. George Henry married Minnie Shaw, by whom he has 1 son, Joseph, and resides on Section 14, Van Buren township. The mother of his family was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. 3 sons served in the Civil War, namely: Alvis T., Joseph E. and James W., -- all members of the same regiment.
We now take up the history of James W. Noel, feeling assured that it will prove of interest to many of our readers, as he is both widely and favorably known in his native county. He is indebted to the district schools for his educational privileges: was reared on the old home farm, all of the children of the family remaining at home until after they had reached mature years. During the Civil War, when sectional feeling ran so high on the border between Missouri and Kansas and one was obliged to announce his sympathies either with one party or the other, he joined the Confederate service and was with the commands of Cockrell, Upton Hayes and Robert Renick, participating in the battle of Lone Jack, and was afterward arrested by Colonel Penick and held a prisoner in Independence. On his release he went to Carroll county, Missouri,where he remained until the close of the war.
When hostilities had ceased Mr. Noel returned home; but after 2 years went to Texas, where he remained for about 12 months. The following 8 years he spent in Johnson county, Kansas, then formed a partnership with his brother, William A., and operated the home farm and engaged in cattle dealing in Colorado and New Mexico for 11 years. He now lives upon the farm, which was the old Major & Russell ranch, having made his home here since 1888. It comprises 640 acres of valuable land, all highly improved with the exception of an 80 acre tract of timber. Mr. Noel successfully carries on general farming and stock raising and is a wide awake, progressive business man, energetic and far-sighted. He has achieved considerable success in life and now ranks among the substantial farmers of the community.
In 1883 Mr. Noel was united in marriage with M. J. Cox, a native of Van Buren township, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Keirsey) Cox, both now deceased. Their family numbered 3 children, viz: Mrs. Noel; Fannie, wife of Jonah Tucker; and Mattie, deceased. 3 children also grace the union of our subject and his wife, namely: James Cox, William Lee and Forest Rothwell. Mrs. Noel is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and her many excellencies of character have gained her a warm circle of friends. In politics Mr. Noel is a stanch democrat, and is a warm advocate of Grover Cleveland. He is now serving as president of the local school board of the Plum Grove district, and takes an active interest in educational and all other work or interests calculated to prove of public benefit.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.