Published in The Pilot, March 15, 1911

DEATH CLAIMS DOCTOR H. NOBLE

WAS A WELL-KNOWN OLD TIME RESIDENT OF BLAIR, PASSED AWAY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, FUNERAL HELD FRIDAY AFTERNOON

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Dr. Hiram Noble, to use his own familiar expression, passed over at his home at 5:30 Wednesday evening, March 8, 1911, of paralysis after an illness of a few months duration. Dr. Noble was past 82 years of age and had been a familiar figure in the city for more than twenty years, where he had practiced his profession up to within a few months before his death.

He was born in Markham, Ontario, Canada, in 1828, where he grew to manhood. Later he was demonstrator of anatomy in Victoria college, Ontario. In 1871 he located at Onawa, Iowa, where he was a practicing physician, and came here in 1882, where he continued his practice until the time of his death. He served as mayor of Onawa and also of Blair.

Dr. Noble served as a member of the county board and up to the time of his sickness held the office of county physician and has been a member of the board of United States pension examiners for several years. He was a graduate of the McGill & Victoria Medical college of Ontaria, Canada, and has always enjoyed a large practice, prescribing for his patients and officiating as pension examiner before being stricken with his illness. Of his immediate family there survives him his wife, one daughter and three sons, Mrs. F. M. Castetter and Herbert of Blair; Parker of Allegan, Mich.; and Ambrose of Ogden, Utah; with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Three of the children have preceded him to the great beyond. Mary, the first child, died in infancy; Ed S., died in Blair in 1893; and Fred died at Nome, Alaska in 1899. Dr. Noble was possessed of a rugged constitution and although past four score years was more active than many men at fifty. He celebrated his sixtieth wedding anniversary last fall and at the time said he never felt better in his life. Rev. A. F. Marsh conducted the funeral from the residence at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon and the remains were laid to rest in the Blair cemetery.

# 2 - - also from The Pilot, March 15, 1911

Dr. Hiram Noble passed over to the other side of the river at about 5 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon, having been hovering over its troubled waters for several weeks. But the end came at last and the spirit that had inhabited the earthly temple for over 82 years was set free to wing its way nearer to the great heart of its Maker.

The funeral service was held at the family residence at 2:30 Friday afternoon, Rev. A. E. Marsh officiating. The body was committed to old earth by the side of his son, Edward S., the father of Geo. H. Noble, whose death occurred in this city Sept. 23rd, 1893.

Hiram Noble was born in Markham, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 21st, 1828, and was educated in the public schools at that place. He studied medicine in The Victoria Medical College at Toronto, and was also a graduate of The McGill College of Medical Surgery at Montreal, where he remained for a time as Master of Anatomy, but left that work for the active practice of his profession.

He was married to Jane Ann Thomson on Nov. 5th, 1850, and on the 5th of last November, the sixtieth anniversary of that happy day was celebrated at the home of their daughter, Mrs. F. M. Castetter, in this city. There were born to them five sons and one daughter, Theodore Parker of Alagen, Mich.; Ambrose of Ogden, Utah; Frederick H., whose death occurred in Alaska during the first rush of gold seekers to that place; Herbert T., of this city; Edward T., whose death is noted above, and Anna Catherine, now Mrs. F. M. Castetter.

In May, 1871, they moved to Onawa, Iowa, and in the fall of 1882, came to Blair, which has been their home ever since. During his residence in Onawa the Doctor served as mayor and was also chosen mayor of Blair for two terms. He also served on the city council for several years and was at one time a member of the board of county supervisors. He was a member of the pension board, of the insanity board, and was county physician at the time he was taken sick.

Up to about the time of the celebration of his sixtieth wedding anniversary last November, he was exceptionally vigorous for a man of his years, but from that time on he failed rapidly, being confined to the house for about two months before final dissolution came last Wednesday. Death was really due to old age, the tired organs finally ceasing from their labors of over 82 years.

Dr. Noble enjoyed a big practice in his earlier years and up to the last had many patients who relied implicitly upon his medical skill. For many years he put out a diphtheria remedy that had a wide sale all over the United States. Since the discovery of the anti-toxin serum, the sale for his remedy has decreased but is still sold in many places as a household remedy.

He was of a jovial, happy temperament and his familiar face will be missed by everyone. But the one who will miss him most was his loyal companion for over sixty years. She, too, is old in years and “feeble as frail,” but she has borne up well under her greatest sorrow, a sorrow that will not be assuaged until she goes to be with him in the eternity that is to come.

(typed as printed in the newspaper. Some variations may occur.)