David Henry Noel

On this day, 20 August 1932, David Henry Noel, my 2nd great-grandfather, passed away.

David Henry Noel was born on 4 February 1857, in Reading Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was the fourth known child of Mathias Noel and Elizabeth Meyer.

Circa 1860, brother Willie Noel was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 14 June 1860, the Noel Family was residing in Reading Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Living in the household were Mathias and Eliza Noel, along with their children Ann, Catherine, Daniel, David, and Willie. Laborer, Jason Tombier (sic), was residing with the family. Mathias Noel was a farmer. The property was valued at $500, and their personal property worth was estimated at $800.

On 5 November 1862, father Mathias Noel enlisted in Company G, 165th Pennsylvania. Mathias Noel served in the Union Army until 28 July 1863, when he mustered out and returned home to his family.

Three years later, circa 1863, brother Syvery Noel was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Sister Jennie Noel was born five years later on 10 March 1868, in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 12 August 1870, the Mathias Noel family was living in Mount Pleasant, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Residing in the household were Mathias and Elizabeth Noel, along with their children David, Syvery, and Jenny. Mathias Noel was a day laborer, and Eliza was keeping house. The property was valued at $600, and their personal property worth was estimated at $1,000.

Sadly, on 8 June 1879, sister Jennie Noel died in Mount Pleasant, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 10 June 1880, the Mathias Noel family was living in Mount Pleasant, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Residing in the household were Mathias and Elizabeth Noel, along with their children Anna, David, and Syvery. Granddaughter Mary, daughter of Anna, was also living there. Mathias Noel was a post fencemaker, and Eliza was keeping house. Syvery was a laborer, and David was also working as a post fencemaker.

In 1881, at the age of 23, David H. Noel married Elizabeth E. Fogle in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 3 August 1883, daughter Edna E. Noel was born in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Daughter Minnie A. Noel was born in March 1888, in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 3 June 1893, the couple welcomed son Joseph Guyon Noel, who was born in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Three years later, son Luther David Noel was born on 22 October 1896, in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

David and Lizzie youngest child, Stephen Earl Noel (my great-grandfather), was born on 16 October 1898, in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

In early 1900, the David H. Noel family suffered two major losses. On 5 February 1900, daughter Minnie A. Noel died in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Then, a month later, on 10 March 1900, father Mathias Noel passed away in Mount Pleasant, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 11 June 1900, the David H. Noel family resided in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania. The household consisted of David H. and his wife Lizzie and their children Guyon, Luther P., and Stephen E. David H. Noel worked as a day laborer.

On 28 February 1909, David’s mother, Elizabeth (Meyer) Noel died in New Oxford, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

On 23 April 1910, the David H. Noel family lived at 336 East Gas Alley, York, York County, Pennsylvania. Residing in the household were David and Lizzie and their sons Guyon, Luther, and Earl. Both David and Guyon were laborers for the safe works.

Something unfortunate happened between 1910 and 1920 to the Noel family. David H. Noel does not appear in any of the 1920 Census records. However, on 14 January 1920, both his wife Elizabeth (who claimed to be a widow) and his son Luther were living in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland in the household of son Guyon Noel and his family. Guyon was a manager of a five-and-ten store, and Luther was working as a machinist.

The next year, on 15 October 1921, Elizabeth E. (Fogle) Noel died in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. Her body was taken back to Pennsylvania for burial and was laid to rest in New Oxford Cemetery, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Sadly, fortune turned for David H. Noel in his later years. On 21 April 1930, David H. Noel was listed as an “inmate” in the York County Almshouse, York, Pennsylvania. Both the indigent and the insane were admitted to the almshouse, although the mental health patients were later transferred to the State Mental Hospital in Harrisburg. The almshouse also gave temporary shelter to vagrants, also known as tramps. It is uncertain in which group David H. Noel would have been classified, although signs point to extreme poverty as the reason behind his placement.

As if things were not bad enough for David H. Noel, on 3 October 1930, daughter Edna E. (Noel) Fogle died in York, York County, Pennsylvania. She was 47 years old.

On 20 August 1932, David H. Noel was still a resident at York County Almshouse. At died at 12:50 p.m., David H. Noel died of a cerebral hemorrhage, with a secondary cause of chronic nephritis in Springettsbury, York County, Pennsylvania. He was aged 75 years, 6 months, and 16 days. David H. Noel was buried beside his wife in New Oxford Cemetery, Adams County, Pennsylvania; however, no headstone marks his final resting spot.

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