Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-26
A BRIEF SKETCH
A BRIEF SKETCH
OF
Hon. ORANGE NOBLE
Democratic Candidate for State
Treasurer.

Democratic Candidate for State
Treasurer.
The following sketch of Hon. Orang,
Noble, the Democratic candidate io
State Treasurer, nominated at th,
State Convention held in Wiliamsport
Wednesday, September 2Sth, is taker
from the Eric Observer. Few men hav,
a better record OF honorable business
sterling integrity, and he IS pre- emf
nently scltmado man-onc Of the
people:
"The Observer has not often referred
to the Democratic candidate for As
sembly in this city, the Hon. Orange
| Noble, but VIC feel as much interest in
bis success as that of any other candi
date. 1t has always seemed to us that
tho people Of Eric would elect Mr.
Noble by an overwhelming majority
in the city, and even by party vote
he should be triumphantly elected.
'"There are many reason why Mr.
Noble should be elected. He did not
seek the Office, but was nominated by
Democrats, because he is worthy
man and regarded as a strong candi.
date. The following sketch published
some time ago in the Herdld, contains
that which should be borne in mind by
Erie people in making up their tickets
on election day
"Mr. Noble came to our city in 1864,
having first purchased Of Mr.. Gray
the elegant residence since occupied by
his family. Largely through his in.
fluence colony Of wealthy oil men
selected Erie as their homo at the
same time, among whom may be
named G. T. Churchill, h. l.. Lamb, l..
IL. Hall, Rev l.. Reed, and Horace
Noble, all of whom have proven good
and progressive citizens. Up to that
date Erie had been derisively known
as the sleepy borough" and her rapid
advance since then has unquestionably
been due to very great extent TO the
impulse given by this colony from the
oil regions.
THE Keystone National Bank, Of
which Mr.. Noble has been from the
FIRST President and principal stock.
holder was started in December 1864,
and it will not be disputed that this
institution, by its liberaIlty and sound
management, has been Of incalcuabe
value to the city. When the bank was
opened, Eric county money was at q
discount Of ten to fifteen per cent.
Every business man had large
amount on hand which be was Obliged
to keep stored in his safe or sell at a
disastrous shave, and mechanics and
Others who happened to get hold OF
the notes in pay for their work, had 10
get rid oil it IN the best way they
could at a fearful sacrifice Mr. Noble,
with his usualsympathy for the masses,
resolved to make tho money as good
as greenbacks. The bank was pro
hibited by ITS charter from taking any
action in the case, but Mr. Noble, max.
ing 1t the medium of his operations,
riskcd his private fortune on the effort
to the extent Of 100000 By this
step our county money was made to
pass as freely as United States cur.
rency, and the people Of the city and
county were saved incalculable loss
and annoyance.
"ln 1865 Mr.. Noble bought out the
Bay State Iron Works, of which he
still owns one-balf This concern has
been steadily operated in hard times
as well as good, and has given employ
ment to many worthy mechanics. Its
capital is $4,000 and it has an aver.
age of hundred and thirty employees.
"The Noble Block was built in 1866,
at costof sl35, 600, and the Keystone
Bank building at cost of $40 900, the
same year, the former wholly by Mr..
Noble, and tho latter by his inspira.
tion.
"ln 1867, in company with Messrs.
McCarter, Brown and Shannon, he
erected the first elevator at our harbor,
which was the inception of the i'm
mense grain trade which now centres
here. He is the owner of one.third
Of the blast furnace, erected IN 1869,
at total cost of over 100000, and
was leading stockhoderin the rolling
mill up to the time of its financial dis
aster lie was also an original stock
holder Of ibc Burdett Organ Factory,
Of the Dime Savings Bank and Second
National Bank, Of the wood pulp mill,
and Of several minor enterprises which
are unnecessary to name,
During the last year he purchased
tho machinery of the Whitney Sewing
Machine Company at Patterson, n, j.,
which has been removed to our city,
and recently put into operation, with
the expectation Of dong prosperous
business and giving employment to a
large force Of mechanics.
Altogether the various institutions
with which MIR. Noble is connected
work TO between four and
five hundred men, and bread to fully |
two thousand people.
W Hcu AhN Sh'Hi bNihNHt " wv N'""'
was under discussion, Mr.. Noble was
one of party organized TO purchase
IL and continue IL in operation with an
increased capacity. In this way they !
were thwarted by the unexpected sale
of the improvement, and but Tor that
II would be open today and ailording |
the means Of support TO hundreds OF |
our citizens. lie has also been the
earnest advocate OF railroad to the
oil and coal regions, bas twice sub
sciibed literally toward building one,
and has not yet abandoned the hope of
m ultimate Independent connection by |
rail with the rich markets Of tho In.
terror Had. Mr.. Noble been allowed
TO carry out his plans for cnlarging the
trade Of Erie, our population would be
double and our Importance as busi'
ness centre would be increased thres.
Iold.
"What othorcitizen ol Eric has done
more in proportion to his means for its