Jefferson County, Arkansas
By Pris Weathers
This Web Site has a lot of information. I suggest you visit it.
Noble - Gravier Family
St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery
St. Paul's, on the Earliest Catholic Churches in Jefferson County once stood in front of this unmarked cemetery which occupies 6/10 acre. Highway 65 runs between the cemetery and the site of the church building.
The earliest burials in this cemetery were probably 1830 - 1840. The church was built about 1851 before two acres were deeded in 1852 by Emma Kelly (Emily Callius), and was still in existence as late as 1878.
Some tombstones that once stood here have disappeared and some graves were likely never marked.
Arkansas was ruled by France, Spain, and again France prior to the Louisiana purchase of 1803. In 1819 it became the Territory of Arkansas and achieved statehood in 1836.
People of early Richland Township were mostly French, German, Spanish, and Indian. Then came settlers of Scottish-Irish, English, and Italian extraction. The resulting mixture of languages meant that many names had various spellings and pronunciations.
Noble Lake and Noble Community were named for the Noble Family.
Marker erected by Mary Place Chapter, Arkansas Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Noble - Gravier Descendants, and Friends - September 4, 1988.
Frances Gravier Noble (1807 - April 1862)
ca 1807-Frances Gravier was born at Arkansas Post, daughter of Francois Ambrose Gravier and Suzanne Venoy/Menoy (Marie Marguerite Plenoy).
ca April 1862-Frances Gravier Noble died, family knowledge - she was buried in this cemetery.
ca 1720-Gravier (Grabert/Greve) Family first arrived in Biloxi, Miss., later to Arkansas Post in mid 1700's.
John Noble (June 1798 - October 1843)
June 3, 1798-John Noble was born in province of Cumberland, Tn., son of Mark Noble (Revolutionary War Patriot) and Catherine Elliott (Hellett).
May 11, 1799-Baptized at Arkansas Post by Spanish Priest, Father Pedrow Janin.
November 20, 1819-In first edition of Arkansas Gazette at Arkansa Post, Noble's mother (Mrs. Catherine Dudley) and his half-sister Catherine Gossieau (Gocio) were listed under "marriages."
February 4, 1822-Noble helped establish mail route from Arkansas Post to Ouachita, Louisiana, now Monroe, Louisiana.
June 9, 1823-Was appointed to Grand Jury Duty, Circuit Court, Arkansas County. 1830 was appointed to First Grand Jury, Jefferson County.
ca 1824-Married Francis Gravier at Arkansas Post, Arkansas Territory.
January 1829-Arkansas Gazette article lists Noble in Richland Township.
1830s-Tradition says he was accessory in building First Catholic Church in Ark. (St. Mary's"; Also St. Peter's Catholic Church.
September 5, 1842-Received land grant from Pres. Tyler adjacent to this cemetery.
ca October 1843-Family knowledge-John Noble was buried in this cemetery.
RR built 1852-68 had depot on Noble's Land and Spur to Noble Lake.
Unknown Woman - 60 Years of Age
