Noah Noble
Encyclopedia
Noah Noble was the fifth Governor
of the U.S. state
of Indiana
from 1831 to 1837. His two terms focused largely on internal improvements
, culminating in the passage of the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
, which was viewed at the time as his crowning achievement. His taxing recommendations to pay for the improvements were not fully enacted, and the project ultimately led the state to negotiate a partial bankruptcy
only a four years later. The debacle led to a gradual collapse of the state Whig party, which never regained control of the government and led to a period of Democrat control that lasted until the middle of the American Civil War
. After his term as governor he was appointed to the Board of Internal Improvement where he unsuccessfully advocated a reoganization of the projects in an attempt to gain some benefit from them.
on January 15, 1794, the son of Dr. Thomas Noble and Elizabeth Clair Sedgwick Noble, one of fourteen children. Around 1800, his family moved to the frontier where his father opened a medical practice in Campbell County, Kentucky
. In 1807, the family moved again to Boone County
where his father acquired a 300 acres (121.4 ha) plantation which was operated by slave labor. Noble moved to Brookville, Indiana
around 1811 at age seventeen, following his brother James Noble
who had moved there some time earlier. James was a prominent lawyer and later United States Senator.
In Indiana he made several business ventures with his partner Enoch D. John. Together they operated a hotel in Brookville, became heavily involved in land speculation, and opened a water powered weaving mill with a wool carding machine
. Noble also opened a trading company he name N. Noble & Company. The company purchased produce from area farmers, and shipped them to New Orleans to be sold. In 1819 a boating accident destroyed one of his shipments and leaving him with a large debt that took several years to repay. Later that year he married his cousin, Catherin Stull van Swearingen. The two shared the same great-grandfather, and had three children, two died as infants, but one survived into adulthood.
's sheriff. In his 1822 reelection bid he had become very popular in the county he won election 1,186 to 9 votes. He was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 7th Regiment, Indiana militia, in 1817 and a colonel in 1820. When his term as sheriff expired, he ran to represent the county in the Indiana House of Representatives
, winning overwhelmingly. He was reelected again the following year but resigned following the death of his brother Lazarus. Lazarus had been the Receiver of Public Moneys of the Indianapolis Land Office, and his death left a vacancy. His brother, Senator James Noble used him influence to secure the post for Noble who remained in the position until 1829. The job took him to Indianapolis
where he was responsible for collecting revenue for the federal government. The position brought him into contact with many of the leading men in the state whom he was quick create good relationships with. Following the election of President Andrew Jackson
and the employment of the spoils system
, Noble was removed from the position.
Finding himself without a job, Noble attempted launched another business venture. Before he could open the new business, his friends in the Indiana General Assembly
appointed him to a commission that laid out the Michigan Road
. He remained on the commission until 1831 when he announced his candidacy for governor of Indiana
as a Whig candidate, and secured the Whig nomination.
After becoming governor he purchased several lots on the eastern edge of the capitol, planting an orchard and vineyard and building a large brick home. He brought some of his father's emancipated slaves with him to work in his household, one of which was supposedly the model for Harriet Beecher Stowe
's Uncle Tom
, she visited Noble's home on more than one occasion.
Indiana was continuing to experience a period of prosperity as a large influx of settlers was providing large income to the government by purchasing land. Noble's predecessor had begun the framework for starting the large scale internal improvements that were to come, but had significantly delayed the start of the canal projects. Noble set to work to immediately complete the job, and within a few months he completed surveying the route of the Wabash and Erie Canal
and made several recommendations regarding its construction. Noble was opposed to the railroads, which he viewed as monopolies since only the rail company could transport goods on the line, whereas canals were open to anyone had a boat. Construction on the canal began in earnest in 1832.
Construction on state roads was progressing slowly because of a lack of funding, and Noble proposed the state borrow a sum of money to speed the construction process, but the legislature rejected his proposal. He also recommended the creation of a Internal Improvement Board to coordinate the projects and possibly reduce costs through better organization and by purchasing supplies in bulk, but again the General Assembly rejected the proposal, and instead kept the projects operating under several different project boards. His first term passed with little advancement on the internal improvement front because the representatives from southern part of the state blocked any large-scale plans because such projects would have little value for their constituents, since most of the projects would be in the central part of the state.
Noble had a census conducted and recommended the legislature reapportion representation to grant more seats to the central counties. The legislature approved of the plan, and expanded the senate and house to their present size, fifty and one-hundred seats respectively. The change gave the central and northern part of the state more representatives than the south for the first time, despite the fact that the south was still significantly more populous. Noble made several recommendations for the reform of public schools. Most of the measures were not accepted, but the expansion of the Indiana College was approved, and township schools were granted considerably more power over their own operations.
The Second Bank of the United States was closed during Noble's first term, leaving the state without a bank to hold government deposits or to supply paper money. There had been no banks operating in Indiana for a decade, so with no alternative to the situation the General Assembly created the Bank of Indiana
. Noble didn't take a position on the bank, but did sign it into law. The bank turned out to be very profitable and one of the most important acts of his time in office. Noble also oversaw the creation of plans to build Indiana's third statehouse in 1831. The building was completed in 1835, and he also oversaw the move of the government's offices.
Noble was re-elected in 1834, campaigning against James G. Read for a second time. During the campaign, Noble sold a Kentucky slave that belonged to his father. The account was widely published, and turned the anti-slavery elements in the state against him, demonstrating by him on receiving 28 votes from the Quaker dominated eastern counties of the state. He ultimately won the election though, 27,767 to 19,994 votes. Noble called out the militia in parts of the state when it was threatened during the Black Hawk War
, a Native American
uprising to the west of Indiana. 150 men were sent to Illinois
where they skirmished with the native uprising. The scare was only brief, and the focus soon returned to the internal improvements.
With the legislature closely divided on the issue, additional projects were proposed for the southern portion of the state to gain the support of their representatives. All the projects were bundled into one bill and passed as the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
in 1836. The act caused a great deal of celebration in the state and Noble considered the act his greatest achievement at the time. To pay for the act which was projected to cost $10 million, Noble had also recommended a 50% increase in all state taxes. The legislature had failed to pass the measure though.
The Panic of 1837
hit the following year, causing a sharp decrease in tax revenues, which was already in a large deficit because of the interest for the debt. Property taxes was the state's primary regular income, and to increase its revenue Noble proposed the tax be levied ad valorem. The change would save the state a significant amount in administrative and collection costs, and make more land subject to taxation. The tax was approved and led to a 25% increase in revenue the following year, but still not enough to cover the deficit. Noble proposed the projects be prioritized, and work halted on the lesser important ones to conserve funds, but the plan was rejected. By the time Noble left office, the states financial situation was bleak, but it was not fully apparent that far more had been burrowed than could be paid back. Despite the dire situation, Noble left office as a popular political figure and was able to use his prestige to help elect, David Wallace, his Lieutenant Governor as Governor.
In both 1834 and 1836, Noble had his named entered as a candidate for the United States Senate, but in both years, the legislature decided to send someone else to Congress, much to Noble's disappointment. His term ended in 1837, and he left office.
to negotiate a bankruptcy with the state's creditors and all of the internal improvement projects, except the separately funded Wabash and Erie Canal
, were turned over to the creditors in exchange for a 50% reduction in the state's debt.
Noble returned to private life following the dissolution of the Internal Improvement Board in 1841. The situation was too dire, and opinion to against the Whigs for Noble to seriously have a chance at winning public office again. He died two years later in Indianapolis, Indiana
on February 8, 1844, aged 50, and buried next to his wife, the former Catherine Stull Van Swearingen, in Greenlawn Cemetery. His body was moved to the Crown Hill Cemetery
in Indianapolis, Indiana
in 1979. Noble County, Indiana
is named in his honor.
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
from 1831 to 1837. His two terms focused largely on internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
, culminating in the passage of the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was a bipartisan law passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble in 1836 that greatly expanded the state's program of internal improvements. It added an additional $10 million to spending and funded several projects,...
, which was viewed at the time as his crowning achievement. His taxing recommendations to pay for the improvements were not fully enacted, and the project ultimately led the state to negotiate a partial bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
only a four years later. The debacle led to a gradual collapse of the state Whig party, which never regained control of the government and led to a period of Democrat control that lasted until the middle of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After his term as governor he was appointed to the Board of Internal Improvement where he unsuccessfully advocated a reoganization of the projects in an attempt to gain some benefit from them.
Family and background
Noah Noble was born in Berryville, VirginiaBerryville, Virginia
Berryville is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Clarke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,963 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on January 15, 1794, the son of Dr. Thomas Noble and Elizabeth Clair Sedgwick Noble, one of fourteen children. Around 1800, his family moved to the frontier where his father opened a medical practice in Campbell County, Kentucky
Campbell County, Kentucky
Campbell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed on December 17, 1794, from sections of Scott, Harrison and Mason counties. As of 2010, the population was 90,336. Its county seats are Alexandria and Newport...
. In 1807, the family moved again to Boone County
Boone County, Kentucky
Boone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1798. The population was 118,811 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Burlington. The county is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone...
where his father acquired a 300 acres (121.4 ha) plantation which was operated by slave labor. Noble moved to Brookville, Indiana
Brookville, Indiana
Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
around 1811 at age seventeen, following his brother James Noble
James Noble
James Noble was the first U.S. Senator from the U.S. state of Indiana.Noble was born near Berryville, Virginia and moved with his parents to Campbell County, Kentucky when he was 10...
who had moved there some time earlier. James was a prominent lawyer and later United States Senator.
In Indiana he made several business ventures with his partner Enoch D. John. Together they operated a hotel in Brookville, became heavily involved in land speculation, and opened a water powered weaving mill with a wool carding machine
Carding
Carding is a mechanical process that breaks up locks and unorganised clumps of fibre and then aligns the individual fibres so that they are more or less parallel with each other. The word is derived from the Latin carduus meaning teasel, as dried vegetable teasels were first used to comb the raw wool...
. Noble also opened a trading company he name N. Noble & Company. The company purchased produce from area farmers, and shipped them to New Orleans to be sold. In 1819 a boating accident destroyed one of his shipments and leaving him with a large debt that took several years to repay. Later that year he married his cousin, Catherin Stull van Swearingen. The two shared the same great-grandfather, and had three children, two died as infants, but one survived into adulthood.
Entry into politics
Noble entered politics in 1820, winning an election to become Franklin CountyFranklin County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,151 people, 7,868 households, and 6,129 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 8,596 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
's sheriff. In his 1822 reelection bid he had become very popular in the county he won election 1,186 to 9 votes. He was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 7th Regiment, Indiana militia, in 1817 and a colonel in 1820. When his term as sheriff expired, he ran to represent the county in the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, winning overwhelmingly. He was reelected again the following year but resigned following the death of his brother Lazarus. Lazarus had been the Receiver of Public Moneys of the Indianapolis Land Office, and his death left a vacancy. His brother, Senator James Noble used him influence to secure the post for Noble who remained in the position until 1829. The job took him to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where he was responsible for collecting revenue for the federal government. The position brought him into contact with many of the leading men in the state whom he was quick create good relationships with. Following the election of President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and the employment of the spoils system
Spoils system
In the politics of the United States, a spoil system is a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its voters as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party—as opposed to a system of awarding offices on the...
, Noble was removed from the position.
Finding himself without a job, Noble attempted launched another business venture. Before he could open the new business, his friends in the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
appointed him to a commission that laid out the Michigan Road
Michigan Road
The Michigan Road was one of the earliest roads in Indiana. Roads in early Indiana were often roads in name only. In actuality they were sometimes little more than crude paths following old animal and Native American trails and filled with sinkholes, stumps, and deep, entrapping ruts...
. He remained on the commission until 1831 when he announced his candidacy for governor of Indiana
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
as a Whig candidate, and secured the Whig nomination.
Governor
During the campaign, he accused his Democrat opponent James G. Read of being ineligible to run because he was a Federal Receiver. The state constitution forbade state officials from holding both federal and state positions simultaneously. His opponent made a similar charge against Noble, who still held his position as a federal commissioner working on the Michigan Road. Noble campaigned heavily on the internal improvement platform and won the election by plurality of 23,518 votes to Read's 21,002, with independent Milton Stapp taking 6,894.After becoming governor he purchased several lots on the eastern edge of the capitol, planting an orchard and vineyard and building a large brick home. He brought some of his father's emancipated slaves with him to work in his household, one of which was supposedly the model for Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
's Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
, she visited Noble's home on more than one occasion.
First term
Wabash and Erie Canal
The Wabash and Erie Canal was a shipping canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River via an artificial waterway. The canal provided traders with access from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico...
and made several recommendations regarding its construction. Noble was opposed to the railroads, which he viewed as monopolies since only the rail company could transport goods on the line, whereas canals were open to anyone had a boat. Construction on the canal began in earnest in 1832.
Construction on state roads was progressing slowly because of a lack of funding, and Noble proposed the state borrow a sum of money to speed the construction process, but the legislature rejected his proposal. He also recommended the creation of a Internal Improvement Board to coordinate the projects and possibly reduce costs through better organization and by purchasing supplies in bulk, but again the General Assembly rejected the proposal, and instead kept the projects operating under several different project boards. His first term passed with little advancement on the internal improvement front because the representatives from southern part of the state blocked any large-scale plans because such projects would have little value for their constituents, since most of the projects would be in the central part of the state.
Noble had a census conducted and recommended the legislature reapportion representation to grant more seats to the central counties. The legislature approved of the plan, and expanded the senate and house to their present size, fifty and one-hundred seats respectively. The change gave the central and northern part of the state more representatives than the south for the first time, despite the fact that the south was still significantly more populous. Noble made several recommendations for the reform of public schools. Most of the measures were not accepted, but the expansion of the Indiana College was approved, and township schools were granted considerably more power over their own operations.
The Second Bank of the United States was closed during Noble's first term, leaving the state without a bank to hold government deposits or to supply paper money. There had been no banks operating in Indiana for a decade, so with no alternative to the situation the General Assembly created the Bank of Indiana
Bank of Indiana
The state Bank of Indiana was a government chartered banking institution established in 1833 in response to the state's shortage of capital caused by the closure of the Second Bank of the United States by the administration of President Andrew Jackson...
. Noble didn't take a position on the bank, but did sign it into law. The bank turned out to be very profitable and one of the most important acts of his time in office. Noble also oversaw the creation of plans to build Indiana's third statehouse in 1831. The building was completed in 1835, and he also oversaw the move of the government's offices.
Second Term
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
, a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
uprising to the west of Indiana. 150 men were sent to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
where they skirmished with the native uprising. The scare was only brief, and the focus soon returned to the internal improvements.
With the legislature closely divided on the issue, additional projects were proposed for the southern portion of the state to gain the support of their representatives. All the projects were bundled into one bill and passed as the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was a bipartisan law passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble in 1836 that greatly expanded the state's program of internal improvements. It added an additional $10 million to spending and funded several projects,...
in 1836. The act caused a great deal of celebration in the state and Noble considered the act his greatest achievement at the time. To pay for the act which was projected to cost $10 million, Noble had also recommended a 50% increase in all state taxes. The legislature had failed to pass the measure though.
The Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
hit the following year, causing a sharp decrease in tax revenues, which was already in a large deficit because of the interest for the debt. Property taxes was the state's primary regular income, and to increase its revenue Noble proposed the tax be levied ad valorem. The change would save the state a significant amount in administrative and collection costs, and make more land subject to taxation. The tax was approved and led to a 25% increase in revenue the following year, but still not enough to cover the deficit. Noble proposed the projects be prioritized, and work halted on the lesser important ones to conserve funds, but the plan was rejected. By the time Noble left office, the states financial situation was bleak, but it was not fully apparent that far more had been burrowed than could be paid back. Despite the dire situation, Noble left office as a popular political figure and was able to use his prestige to help elect, David Wallace, his Lieutenant Governor as Governor.
In both 1834 and 1836, Noble had his named entered as a candidate for the United States Senate, but in both years, the legislature decided to send someone else to Congress, much to Noble's disappointment. His term ended in 1837, and he left office.
State bankruptcy
After leaving office he became a member of the Board of Internal Improvements which was tasked with overseeing the ongoing internal improvements in the state. In 1840, the state ended all funding for the projects. By early 1841 it was clear that the state would not be able to even pay the interest on the their debt, and paying it off was out of the question. The board approved of sending James LanierJames Lanier
James Franklin Doughty Lanier was a entrepreneur who lived in Madison, Indiana prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War . Lanier became a wealthy banker with interests in pork packing, the railroads, and real-estate.-Biography:James Lanier was born in 1800 in Beaufort County, North Carolina...
to negotiate a bankruptcy with the state's creditors and all of the internal improvement projects, except the separately funded Wabash and Erie Canal
Wabash and Erie Canal
The Wabash and Erie Canal was a shipping canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River via an artificial waterway. The canal provided traders with access from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico...
, were turned over to the creditors in exchange for a 50% reduction in the state's debt.
Death and legacy
Before Noble had left office, many of his opponents began to blame him for the state's financial situation. He argued that he had proposed tax increases to fund the project, and it was the fault of the General Assembly for not enacting them. Although the short term situation was devastating to the state and the projects ended in a total disaster, the groundwork the project laid led to a rapid development once the financial situation was resolved. In the meantime though, the debacle became apparent to the public in his successors term and led to the gradual collapse of the state's Whig party, which never recovered, and never regained power in Indiana. In the immediate years the Democrats came to power and disposed of all of the projects. The situation led to the prohibition of the state in assuming debt in the 1851 constitution.Noble returned to private life following the dissolution of the Internal Improvement Board in 1841. The situation was too dire, and opinion to against the Whigs for Noble to seriously have a chance at winning public office again. He died two years later in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
on February 8, 1844, aged 50, and buried next to his wife, the former Catherine Stull Van Swearingen, in Greenlawn Cemetery. His body was moved to the Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1979. Noble County, Indiana
Noble County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,275 people, 16,696 households, and 12,288 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 18,233 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
is named in his honor.