"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 428.
 
CHARLES WINSTON NOBLITT

     A noteworthy position among the pioneers of Oregon is held by Mr. Noblitt
of Clackamas county, who is a pioneer of 1852. He was born in Grayson county,
Va., November 14, 1822, being a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Knuckles) Noblitt,
natives of Virginia, where the mother died. In 1837 the father took his family
to Missouri and settled in Ray county, where he arrived in June, hopeful of the
future and earnestly desiring to attain a home of his own. These ambitions were
never fulfilled, for he died in September following his arrival. Before leaving
Grayson county he had filled the office of sheriff, and while riding around the
country on duties connected with this office he wore a pair of silver spurs,
which are now in the possession of his son, Charles Winston. In the family there
were three sons and four daughters, namely: Euphemia, who was born January 19,
1809; G. W., who died in Missouri ; Addison S., who was born in August, 1816.
and died September 16, 1893, at seventy-seven years of age; Pulaski H., who was
born January 23, 1819, and died in Missouri; Dorthala, who was born March 2,
1821, and died in Oregon ; Charles Winston ; and Susanna E., who was born March
23, 1824, and is now living in Texas.
     Very few educational advantages brightened the boyhood years of Mr.
Noblitt. At eighteen years of age he secured employment in teaming and general
farming. Two years later he rented a forty-acre tract in Ray county, Mo., which
he purchased a year later. After two years he moved to a tract on the Missouri
river in the same county, and about the same time bought out a livery business
in Camden. After operating it for eighteen months, in 1852 he crossed the plains
with ox teams, spending three months and twenty-six days in the journey from the
time of leaving St. Joseph, Mo., May 4, until landing was made at Eagle Creek
August 28. In 1853 he took up a donation claim of three hundred and fifteen
acres at Needy, Clackamas county, where he has one hundred acres under
cultivation, and improved with a neat residence and substantial barns.
     In addition to managing the donation claim, upon which he still resides,
Mr. Noblitt has had other interests. In 1874 he was mail contractor from
Portland to Salem, via Silverton, and ran the stage every day but Sunday. In
1889 he started a livery stable in Oregon City, and this he operated
successfully until July, 1899, when he disposed of the property. During the
Indian wars of the early days he enlisted in a company of volunteers, October
16, 1855, and served until his honorable discharge, February 7, 1856, holding
the rank of sergeant. He is identified with the Grange and in politics votes
with the Democratic party. The office of road supervisor he filled a number of
years ago, in addition to which he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriffs John
Myers, Hedges, Shepps, and Ganong.
     March 1, 1846, in Ray county, Mo., occurred the marriage of Mr. Noblitt and
Katherine Sconce, who was born in Kentucky January 18, 1822, and died July 14,
1888. Her father, John Sconce, a Kentuckian by birth, migrated to Missouri in an
early day and engaged in farming there until his death. During the Indian wars
in Florida he served in the United States volunteer army as a captain. In the
family of Mr. Noblitt there were eight children, and five of these are now
living. John makes his home in Molalla, Ore.; Sarah Ann died on the plains while
the family were coming west and was buried near Fort Kearney; Margaret Jane,
Mrs. Moreland, has had charge of her father's home since the death of her
mother; Mary Emma died in Oregon ; Charles Robert is now in Oregon City; Walter
remains at home; and Minnie married Hal E. Burns and lives in Portland.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Donation Land Claim # 3851; Clackamas Co, Or.
Charles W. Noblitt, b 1822, Grayson Co., Va.
Arrived in Oregon August 28, 1852
Settled claim Oct. 11, 1853
Married Catherine Jan 31-Mar 1846, Ray Co, MO.
Affidavit: Alexander K. Mark, Henry Samson, Wm. J. Brown, Amos S. Gleason


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.