Levi NOBLE is credited with the founding of the town of Kemp in Kaufman County, naming the town in honor of his Mother.  The town officially became Kemp Texas on 27 May 1851 when he received a Post Office there and was appointed Postmaster.

   He was born on 4 Aug 1791 in Wilkes Co., Ga, the son of Stephen Noble & Sarah Kemp (see PEDIGREE Below).

   On 14 Jan 1816 he married Jane STEEN.  She was born 1795 Broad River, SC, daughter of William Hays Steen & Nancy Agnes Lusk.  She died circa 1858 in Texas and according to family records is buried in the old Noble Family Graveyard near Kemp.

*New info from a letter dated 25 Jul 1857, written by Malvina Noble Watkins, has proven Jane Steen Noble was alive at that time.  See Malvina, below.

By 1837 Levi and his family were in the Republic of Texas.  He is recorded on the 1840 Nacogdoches County Tax Roll.  He is also recorded in the 1846 Nacogdoches Poll Tax List.

1850 Henderson Co TX Census

Levi Noble was a Slave Owner.  In 1850 he owned 14 Slaves and in 1860 he owned 20 Slaves.
Click HERE to see the 1850 Slave Schedule and
Click HERE to see the 1860 Slave Schedule

By 1860 Levi had remarried to a widow named Elizabeth LaFavre Hittson Hanna.  She was born in Feb 1834 Halifax Co Virginia.  She died on 1 Apr 1915 and is buried in the Kemp Cemetery.  She was daughter of Alexander & Mary Jane Motley Hittson who are believed to be buried in the Noble Family graveyard in Kemp.

Look HERE for photo & info on Elizabeth L Hittson Hanna Noble Russell Reasonover.  When she and Levi married she had three sons by Hanna, then she and Levi had 2 sons of their own.

1860 Henderson Co TX Census

Levi Noble's Probate was filed in Kaufman County - File # NCN194, filed 28 Feb 1970 and administered by his son-in-law John M Watkins.

CHILDREN of LEVI & JANE STEEN NOBLE

1.  Jamison Steen Noble
   Born 7 Nov 1817 MS  -  died spring 1855 Kaufman Co TX  
   According to family records he is buried in the Noble Family Graveyard
   Kaufman Co TX Probate File # NCN118
   filed 28 May 1855, Simeon E Noble,  Administrator
   Listed in Sabine Co TX Poll Tax Lists - 1846
   Married 4 Jan 1842 Rusk Co TX
        Louisa Jane OLIPHANT    born 7 Jan 1822 - died________
        d/o Alfred Davenport Oliphant & Jemima Allen

Children of Jameson & Louisa

1850 Sabine Co TX Census

After Jameson's death, Louisa is enumerated in the Town of Milam - in HH# 26 / 26, residing next door to her father

1860 Sabine Co TX Census

1870 Sabine Co TX Census - HH# 316 / 316

In 1880 Louisa is living with her son, Stephen - age 25 in Sabine Co TX.

2.  Narcine Noble
    Born  1820 - died as an Infant

3.  Araminta Dalmer "Minta" Noble
    Born 17 Nov 1819  Lawrence Co MS   Died 24 Aug 1875 Rusk Co TX
    Buried Wiggins Cemetery -  Rusk Co TX
    Married 6 Dec 1837  Nacogdoches Co TX
        James McANULTY
        Born 6 Jul 1817  Pike Co MS - Died 25 Feb 1877 Rusk Co
        Buried Wiggins Cemetery
        Son of James McAnulty & Sarah Sparks  - He served in the Texas Republic Army during the revolution:

CHILDREN of Minta & James

1850 Rusk Co TX Census

1860 Rusk Co TX Census HH#398 / 410

1870 Rusk Co TX Census

4.  Malvina Kemp "Mina" Noble
    See her own page HERE

5.  Simeon Emerson Noble
    Born 20 Apr 1824  Lawrence Co MS - Died 12 Oct 1903   Omen, Smith Co TX
    Buried   Elkins Cemetery  Smith Co TX
    He was always called "SE"  or  "Dock" by friends & family.  His nieces and nephews fondly called him "Uncle Dock"
    He served as Kaufman County Clerk from 3 May 1853 - 18 Aug 1858.

    Married #1    17 Mar  1846
    Mary Margery OLIPHANT
       born 1830 - died 9 Jul 1859 - buried Noble Graveyard in Kemp, TX  
       d/o Wilford Davenoport Olipant & Martha Stigler
       She is listed on the 1860 Kaufman Co Mortality  schedule as:
       Noble, Mary M   age 29,   
          female, Married, born MS, died July  from Billious Fever

    Married #2    18 Nov 1865  Rusk Co TX
    Katherine Bailey "Kate" LACEY   
       born 25 Feb 1832 - died 17 Sep 1923  Buried Elkins Cemetery  Smith Co TX
      d/o Donald Ross Lacey & Jane Bailey

Children of Simeon & Mary Oliphant

Childen of Simeon & Kate Lacey

1860 Kaufman Co TX Census - Kaufman HH# 38 / 38

During the Civil War Simeon Emerson Noble served in the Confederate States Army - Co G 3rd Texas Cavalry

See a letter written to Kate Noble 1864 HERE

1870 Fannin Co TX Census- Bonham HH# 139 / 139

1880 Rusk Co TX Census- Prec 6

1900 Smith Co TX Census - Justice Prec 2

6.  William Franklin
    born 1827  MS - Nothing is known about this son of Levi
    *If you have information on William F Noble please contact Kathey Hunt

7.  Sebron Miles Noble
    Born 1832  MS - Died 8 Apr 1864 Mansfield LA (he was shot April 2, 1864 in battle (per O M Roberts - "Confederate History of Texas") he didnt' die til April 8th)
    Died during the Battle of Sabine Cross Roads during the Civil War
    He was called "Seb" by family and friends.
    He enlisted as a Captain in Co A 17th Texas Cavalry - field commanded the 3rd Texas Cavalry  - was a Lt. Colonel at the time of his death.

S M Noble was Deputy Surveyor of the Nacogdoches Land District.

Below is a heart-wrenching letter written to Sebron Noble from his sister-in-law, Mary Lacey Noble, telling of the death of her son - it is transcribed here exactly as written and punctuated:

He is on the Nacogdoches 1857 Tax List.  In 1860 he is living in the Hotel of Wm. Clark (signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence)

1860 Nacogdoches Co TX Census

Sebron's probate can be found in the Nacogdoches Co TX County Clerk's Office - Will Book A pages 84 & 269.  His Last Will & Testament was written 28 Mar 1864, ironically only a few days before his death.  It was proven  14 May 1864 by Executor, James H Sterne.  In his will  he mentions his sister Araminta and his brothers.

Look HERE to see a photo of Sebron M Noble and a copy of a letter written to him during the civil war.

8.  George Washington Noble
Following is a letter written by Jefferson M Noble to Sebron M Noble telling of the death of their brother George W Noble:

(*NOTE: Bluford was a Noble family slave)

SEE George W Noble's own page  HERE

9.  Sarah Jane Noble
Nothing is known about this daughter after the 1850 census.
There is a marriage between Sarah J Noble & John Vannoy in Kaufman County in 1852, but it is not known if it is the same Sarah Noble.
*If you have information on Sarah Jane Noble please contact Kathey Hunt

10.  Jefferson Monroe Noble
    Born 17 May 1837 MS   Died: 21 Jan 1874  Kemp, TX
    Buried Noble Family
    He was called "Roe" & "Monroe" by family & friends.
    Married   1 Jul 1857  Kaufman Co TX
    Harriet Shephard "Hattie"  PARSONS
        b- 19 Oct 1841 d - 29 Jan 1927   
        d/o Sylvester Gould Parsons & Mary Hill
        After his death she married William Henry NABORS

1860 Kaufman Co TX Census - Kemp HH# 585 / 583

In 1860 J M Noble owned 1 slave - a 26 yr old black male

He served in Confederate States Army - Co G 12th TX Cavalry as a Lieutenant.  There are 2 letters written by J M Noble during the civil war which are housed and can be viewed at the Pearce Civil War Collection of Navarro County College in Corsicana, Texas.

He was elected Tax-Assessor & Collector for Kaufman County and served in that capacity from July 1866 - Dec 1867.

1870 Kaufman Co TX Census

CHILDREN of J M & Harriett Noble

In 1880 the three children of J M Noble & Harriett still living were Sarah, Paul and Emerson.

CHILDREN of LEVI & ELIZABETH HITTSON NOBLE

1.  Levi  "Morgan"  Noble
    Born  27 Jul 1857 Kemp, TX    Died  24 Dec 1874

2.  James McDougald  "Mack"  Noble
    Born  20 Feb 1860 Kemp, TX    Died  2 Nov 1950 Kemp, TX

By 1870 Elizabeth had remarried and was a widow again.  She is living in Kaufman with her sons from three marriages, operating a Diner:

1870 Kaufman Co TX Census

Parents of Levi Noble

FATHER
Stephen NOBLE  
    born on 12 Aug 1769 in VA     died on 28 Jun 1828 in Marion Co MS
    married Sarah KEMP   16 Apr 1789.

MOTHER
Sarah KEMP  
    born on 16 Apr 1769  Hancock Co  GA    died on 2 Oct 1798

CHILDREN of Stephen & Sarah Kemp:

1. Martha "Patsy" Noble    born 16 Apr 1790
2. Levi Noble  (twin)
3. Simeon Noble  (twin) born 4 Aug 1791 died Dec 1793
4. Mary "Polly" Noble    born  3 Jan 1794
5. Mark Noble    born 1795
6. Elizabeth "Betsy" Noble   born  26 Dec 1798

TIME LINE of STEPHEN NOBLE

STEP-MOTHER
   After Sarah's death Stephen married 2 Apr 1799
Sarah FIELDER
   Born  18 Oct 1779  Hancock Co GA     died  2 Oct 1852  Houston, Harris Co TX

CHILDREN of Stephen & Sarah FIELDER:

1. William F Noble    born 19 Apr 1800 died 6 Nov 1835
2. Tabitha B "Bvithey" Noble    born 6 Nov 1802 died 10 Apr 1828
3. Edward Bishop Noble    born 16 Apr 1805 died 17 Jun 1879
4. Stephen Franklin Noble    born 22 Sep 1808 died 1882
5. Assenith Fair Noble    born 22 Jan 1810
6. Letty Ann Noble    born 6 Dec 1812
7. Abram Washington Noble    born 28 Feb 1816 See his own page HERE
8. Annie Lee Noble    born  21 Mar 1819 died 23 Oct 1824

Info on Stephen Franklin Noble

   In 1836 Stephen F. Noble came to Texas on a tour of investigation and liked the land he saw in East Texas.  He traded his horse for a section of land in the Mexican village of Nacogdoches and went back to Mississippi for his family.  By the fall of 1837 they were settled in Nacogdoches County.

Info on Edward Bishop Noble

   Edward and Stephen, half brothers to Levi Noble, came to Texas in 1836.  Edward became a traveling land judge for the Republic of Texas, mostly settling land disputes of laws in conflict with Mexican laws.  After the victory at San Jacinto conditions were safer and, together, both Edward's and Stephen's families moved deeper into Texas and settled briefly in Brazoria County in 1842, then moving to Houston in December the same year.

In 1853 the family moved to Anderson Co, then to Cypress in 1858, but back to Houston in 1863.  Edward fought in the Cherokee Indian War.  He served as wharf-master for the port of Houston.  He envisioned Texas would need a seaport in the future and Matagorda Bay seemed a likely choice.    -Excerpt from narrative written by Edwin Rice Brown III

   In Houston Edward Bishop was appointed wharfmaster of the small port concentrated in Buffalo Bayou at the foot of Main Street where supplies for the new town arrived by barges and tow boats in ever increasing numbers, and congestion was a problem to be avoided.  Supplies that could not be made locally were hauled from the older community, Harrisburg, at the head of navigation on the bayou five miles east of the Allen brothers' new real estate developments.  Ox-drawn wagons often bogged down to their axles in the muddy roads even in the center of the town.  The building of railroads was eagerly awaited in Houston and as they slowly pushed into Texas, new towns sprang up along the right-of-way, and new people flocked to Texas to work for the railroads, and small towns such as LaGrange, Giddings and Anderson developed social life rapidly.

INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY Justin Sanders & Kathey Hunt

• Kaufman County's Families: Bible Pages from the John Marr Watkins Bible
• The Kaufman County, TX Wall of Honor
• Kaufman County, TX Reflections