Tag Archives: Ray Noyes

Ray Noyes Family Gathering

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Noyes Family Gathering

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Noyes Family Gathering (fix)

Courtesy of Nancy Benton we have this photo of a Noyes family gathering in Liberal, Missouri circa 1932.

From left to right: Jamie Noyes; Ray Noyes behind Mary Lou Noyes; Charles Bryant with Viola Noyes Harmon in front of him and Kathleen Bryant in front of Viola; Pansy Bryant, Lloyd McKinney with Dorothy in front of him and Jim McKinney in front of her; Ray Bryant with Delana Brewer in front of him; Betty Noyes. Photo circa 1932 or 1933, taken on the South side of the Noyes home, a mile east and about 1/2 mile south of the town of Liberal. The image is courtesy Nancy Benton who supplies identification.

Jamie, Mary Lou, Viola, Pansy and Dorothy (direct line) were children of Ray Noyes and Bettie Brewer. Charles Bryant was married to Pansy. Viola Noyes Harmon was Ray’s sister and wife of Ollie Harmon. Delana Brewer was Bettie Brewer Noyes’ mother.

Obituaries for Elizabeth “Bettie” Brewer Noyes of Liberal, Missouri

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We have two obituaries for Bettie Brewer. I appear to have lost the obitnoyesbbettie1.gif of the below obituary, but still have the second. Both were courtesy of Nancy Benton.

Elizabeth “Bettie” Brewer Noyes (line of the blog’s author) was the wife of Ray Noyes and daughter of David Nathaniel Brewer and Delana Louise Fowler.

WIDOW OF LATE RAY NOYES–LIFETIME RESIDENT OF LIBERAL–HER FIRST BAPTISM–IN LIBERAL METHODIST CHURCH–SON AND THREE DAUGHTERS SURVIVE–FUNERAL SATURDAY AFTERNOON

“Mrs. Bettie NOYES, eighty-six, lifetime and prominent resident of the Liberal community, died at Oak Haven rest home at FT. SCOTT, Tuesday forenoon. The eighty six year old woman had been in frail health for the past five years, suffering from degeneration of the circulatory system. She had been a patient in the FT.SCOTT rest home for the past eighteen months.

“She was born on the farm of her parents, David Nathaniel BREWER and Delanie Louise BREWER, three and a half miles northeast of Liberal, July 22, 1877. She was married to Ray NOYES, a young LIBERAL farmer, in 1895.

“She and her husband settled on the Noyes homestead in the LIBERAL vicinity following their marriage, where they reared their children and took a prominent part in the general affairs of the community and in the Methodist church. At the death of her husband in 1941, the widow took up residence in LIBERAL where she remained until it was necessary for her to enter the rest home.

“She was the first person to be baptized as a member of the Methodist Church, in the organization of which her father had played a leading role. She was twelve years of age at that time, and maintained an abiding and devoted interest in the church throughout her lifetime.

“She leaves one son, Jim NOYES, widely known and successful LIBERAL farmer; and three daughters, Mrs. Charley BRYANT, well-known Liberal woman, Mrs. Cora DIXON, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Mrs. Lloyd MCKENNEY of Carthage. One daughter, Mrs. Mary Lou HURT, died in 1953.

“The body was taken to the Komantz (?) funeral home at FT. SCOTT to be prepared for burial. The last rites were set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Methodist church at LIBERAL, the Rev. Lavrey LANEVILLE (?) officiating. Internment follows in the Liberal City….”

The remainder of the article is cut off.

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Bettie Noyes obit 2

The second obituary for Bettie Brewer reads:

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. BETTY NOYES

“Funeral services for Mrs. Betty Noyes who died July 9 at Oak Haven rest home in Fort Scott were held last Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Liberal Methodist church with the pastor, Rev. Larry Linville, officiating.

“Mrs. Evan Cooper and Mrs. Howard Talbott sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Rock of Ages.”

“Casket bearers were Albert Snodgrass, Raymond (?), Frank Miller, Rex Jackman, Bob Williams and Francis Jones.

“Mrs. Noyes was born July 22 1877 on a farm three and a half miles northeast of Liberal, the daughter of David Nathaniel Brewer and Delana Louise Brewer. She was married to Ray Noyes in 1895. They settled on a homestead in this vicinity and lived there until the death of Mr. Noyes in 1941. Mrs. Noyes moved into town after the death of her husband and resided at ther home on north Main street until 18 months ago when she entered the home at Fort Scott.

“Among those from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Benton and family of Tulsa, Okla., Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Smith of Selah, Wash., Mr. and Mrs. David Brewer, Mrs. A. Montgomery and Mrs. A. Moore of Everton, Mr. and Mrs. Schyler Brewer and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brewer of Stockton, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. Alva Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brewer, and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Brewer of Joplin, Mrs. and Mrs. Phillip Hurt and family of Prairie Village, Kan., Mrs. Stella Poindexter of Greenfield, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Spurling of Mapleton, Kan., Mrs. Pearl Ferona (?) of Lamar and Mr. and Mrs. John Daly of Carthage. ”

COMMENT: The Dalys were close friends of daughter Dorothy Nadeen and her husband, Lloyd McKENNEY. It would be interesting to know who the family of Vernon SMITH was, who came from Selah Washington for the funeral, Selah being where Jessie Brewer JONES, Bettie’s sister, had moved.

Ray Noyes’ Obituaries

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Ray Noyes, husband of Elizabeth Jane “Bettie” Brewer, was the son of James Allen Noyes and Caroline Atwell Noyes. He lived in Liberal, Missouri. Ray is of our line.

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Lamar Democrat Obituary

LAMAR DEMOCRAT obituary (Tuesday, January 21, 1941) for Ray NOYES reads:
“Ray Noyes dead–Ray NOYES, one of West Barton’s best known men, died at his home just west of Liberal at 4:15 Monday morning. The cause of his death was coronary occlusion, a spasmodic contraction of the arteries of the heart. He had suffered a good deal for several years from cardiac asthma thugh he was always up and about. Ray Noes was born at Anna, Illinois, January 4, 1874. He had just passed his 67th anniversary. He was the son of James A. and Caroline NOYES. When a lad of eight he came to Barton County with his parents, in 1882. The family made the trip in a covered wagon. Ray’s father bought and improved a farm near Liberal, Ray grew up in the Liberal community and was destined to live there for fifty nine years — to the end of his days. In 1895 he married Miss Betty BREWER. He leaves her together with five children, one son and four daughters. The son is Mr. James R. NOYES, northwest Barton’s largest and most successful farmer. The daughters are Mrs. Charles BRYANT of Liberal, Mrs. Cora DICKSON of Shreveport, Mrs. Lloyd MCKINNIE of Ponca City, and Mrs. Phil HURT of Laurenburg, NC.”

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Last Rites Were at Home

LAST RITES WERE AT HOME

With All His Childlren and Many Friends Gathered to Pay Final Tribute to Liberal’s Notable Citizens, Ray Noyes, As the Casket Lay In the Home, Final Services Were Held After Which the Casket Was Escorted to Its Last Resting Place in the Liberal Cemetery

Funeral services were held for the late Ray Noyes, at the family home, just west of Liberal, at 11 o’clock Wednesday a.m. Mrs. Noyes was yet unable to sit up and was compelled to be in bed during the services. Her daughters wrapped her warmly and supported her to the side of the casket where she took a last, lingering, loving look at the features of the husband of her youth. They put her back to bed before the services started.

A large group of relatives were present from out of the county. Bob Harmon brought his mother Mrs. O. E. Harmon, Ray’s only sister, from Shreveport. Mrs. Paul Noyes was present from Springfield.

All of the children were present. Mrs. Phil Hurt was there from Laurenburg, North Caroline; Mrs. Cora Dixon was present from Shreveport. Mrs. Lloyd McKennie, with her husband and her two sons, was there from Ponca City.

Carl Kenantz directed the funeral. Rev. Earl Bingham conduced the service. Miss (cut off) Bette Lee Bainter? sang Whispering Hope and Beautiful Isel of Somewhere. They were accompanied upon the piano by Miss Geraldine Sechrist.

The casket bearers were Robert Sweatt, Ewin Lipscomb, Buford Harkins, Robert Williams, Frank Curless Jr., and Mas Davidson Jr.

The flower bearers were the members of the Friendly Folks club. There was a fine floral offering and upon the casket was a beautiiful piece wrought from lillies and red roses.

Following the service at the home, the casket was escorted to the Liberal cemetery where the frail body of this notable, vibrant and vital poineer of Liberal was reverently lowered to its final rest.

Courtesy Nancy Benton. Transcribed by JMK

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Ray Noyes Obituary

FRIDAY, Jaunary 24, 1941

Ray Noyes Dies After One Week’s Illness

Ray Noyes, aged 67, died at his home two and one half miles southeast of Liberal at 4:15 January 20 after a week’s illness of flu and complications.

Mr. Noyes was well known throughout the county as a very successful and prosperous farmer. He was a good man and a substantial citizen. He was worthy of and had the respect of the entire community. He was devoted to his family, by whom he will be greatly missed, and passing represents a loss to the entire commuity.

Ray Noyes was the son of James A. and Caroline Noyes. He was born at Anna, Ill., January 4, 1874. In 1882 he came with his parents to Barton county in a covered wagon. He was marrried to Miss Betty Brewer in 1895. To this union five children were born, namely Mrs. Chas. Bryant of northeast of Liberal; Mrs. Cora Dickson of Shreveport, LA; Mrs. Loyd McKennie, Ponca City, Okla; Mrs. Philip Hurt, Laurinburg, N.C., and Jim Noyes of near Liberal. There are ten grand children and one great grand child. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Viola Harmon, formerly of Liberal but now of Monroe, La.

Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday morning at 11:00 o’clock with Rev. Earl Bingham of Mapleton, Kans., officiating.

The many beautiful flower sprays expressed the esteem and sympathy the folk of this community have for the family.

Burial was in the Liberal cemetery. The Konantz Funeral Service had charge of the body.

All the children were present for the funeral also his sister, Mrs. Harmon and son Bob Harmon of Monroe, La.

Transcribed by JMK

Obituaries are courtesy of Nancy Benton.

Paul and Ray Noyes

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Paul and Ray Noyes

Paul, b. 1869, and Ray, b. 1874, were two of four sons of James Allen Noyes and Caroline Atwell Noyes. The family moved from Illinois to the freethought community of Liberal, Barton County, Missouri in 1882. Ray was about 8 at the time and Paul about 13. Allen would have been about 15 and Victor about 17. Sisters Cora and Emma were about 19 and 22 respectively in 1882, and Emma already married. It’s difficult for me to guess the ages of Ray and Paul here but whether the photo was taken before or not long after the move to Liberal, I can’t hazard a guess as to why Allen, at least, wouldn’t have also been included, unless the photo was taken in Liberal and Allen was already living outside the home, as well as Victor.

1892 Oct 17, Letter from Ray Noyes to Caroline Atwell Noyes

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A letter from Ray Noyes of Liberal, Missouri to his mother Caroline Atwell Noyes. Paul and Edna Stark had married on June 8 1891 and their daughter Grace was born March of 1892. Paul and his family stayed in Miller, Oklahoma in 1892/93 in preparation for the land run of 1893.

I don’t know where Caroline was staying at the time of the letter.

The letter is courtesy of Nancy Benton.

Liberal MO Oct 17, 92

Mrs. C. A. Noyes

Dear Mother

Well Paul has given up the place and he and Edna left today.

Now the place is open and free for you to come and live here. I would be glad if you would come and be with us at home again

Every thing is getting along fine and we are all well.

There is not any news to tell that I know of I will expect to hear from you immediately

Ray Noyes

1892 April 23, Letter from Caroline Atwell Noyes to Ray Noyes

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A letter from Caroline Atwell Noyes to her son Ray in Liberal, Missouri. She was staying with son Allen Marble Noyes who made the land run in 1889.

The letter is courtesy of Nancy Benton.


Miller Oklahoma April 23, 1892

Dear Ray. — I thought you would like to hear from Allens place I will write you a little.

Allens wheat is looking pretty well. There are twenty acres of wheat twenty seven of corn and dont know how many of oats and plenty of potatoes onions and peas. All up and looking well. The little trees and bushes you sent Allen are growing.

Allen has brought a cow and calf. The cow gives about three gallons a day but the calf gets over half and he is fat and pretty. We make butter enough to do us very well. (?) has a nice colt a week old. The mules and pony and

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colt are all doing well. The grass is up green where it has been burnt. Allen burnt his pasture some time ago.

I suppose you have read in the paper about the opening of the new indian land. I have not seen any paper that tell about it but Allen went to Elreno and saw the race. There were five new counties come in and a great many went to get lots in the county seats. Bert went and has not got back yet. There was a hard shower and hail storm here the 19th but it was local. I understand it did not rain at all in the new country. It has rained a little to day and Allen think we will have a hard rain before it gets through. One of Allens hens wants to set. We consider that a great event.

Your mother

C. A. N.

CARRIE NOYES LETTER TO ALLEN NOYES, 1887

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CARRIE NOYES LETTER TO ALLEN NOYES 1887

Liberal, Barton Co. Missouri
July 23d 1887

Ray Noyes was 13 at the time of this incident. Allen is noted as being in “Sunny Dale”. Where this was, I’ve not been able to discover, but Allen was in Oklahoma by at least 1889.

A Dr. Clark is mentioned in the letter. This would be Dr. J. W. Clark who arrived in Liberal in 1884. He and Dr. Gish, for a number of years, were the only two doctors in Liberal. Dr. Clark graduated from the Medical School at Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Noyes family had also lived in Ann Arbor, so it may very well be that they knew each other from Michigan.

Carrie Noyes letter 1887 page 1

Carrie Noyes letter, 1887, pages 2 and 3

CARRIE NOYES LETTER TO ALLEN NOYES 1887
Liberal, Barton Co. Missouri
July 23d 1887
Ray Noyes was 13 at the time of this incident.

Dear Allen

You said if anything happened to write you at Sunny Dale. Something serious has happened. The colt Rustus (?) kicked Ray in the belly yesterday morning between half past six and seven o’clock. We had Dr. Clark here by half past eight. He said there were no bones broken and it was not a serious case. He dont get any better. We gave him a pack last night and a pill this morning. He has pain in the bowels all the time and sometimes it is very bad for a short time. He had a pail on his arm when he was kicked and Rustus foot hit the pail and the pail pressed against the side and belly. It knocked him over, but he got up himself and ran out of the yard and laid down on the ground outside of the gate, afterwards he walked in the house. Your Father saw it all and came in the house with him. I would have waited longer before writing you but am afraid you will not get my letter if I delay as they only get mail at Sunny Dale two or three times a week. I must not spend any more time writing. Hope you are well and having a good time.

Your mother

Carrie A. Noyes

Courtesy of Nancy Benton. Transcribed by JMK.

The 1900 census for Ozark, Barton, Missouri shows Dr. Clark as Joseph W. Clark from Vermont:

43/43 CLARK Joseph W. head w m July 1850 49 married 16 years b. VT father b. TN mother b. Spain physician and surgeon
Louisa J. wife wf Aug 1863 34 1 child (living) b. KY parents b. KY
Frederick A. son wm April 1878 22 single b. MO father b. VT mother b. MO engineer (stationery?)
Macon B. son wm April 1880 20 single ” ” blacksmith and machinist
Sidney G. son wm July 1885 14 single ” ”  at school

 

June 6th, Ray Noyes letter to Bettie Noyes

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Dated with a month and day but no year, I have vacillated back and forth on whether this letter from Ray to Bettie Noyes would have been written during Bettie’s 1902 June visit with the family of Allan Noyes (a brother of Ray) in Oklahoma. Bettie’s first letter to Ray (at least the first of her two surviving letters) was written May 30th, and then another was from June 23rd, and I was given the impression she wrote frequently. However, Ray’s letter, written in response to one from Bettie which hasn’t survived, mentions that her letter had been dated the 12th but not postmarked until the 14th, which would be May 12th and May 14th. So, is this from another year? Or is it possible that the dates only appeared to be the 12th and 14th, and were so transcribed, when instead they were the 2nd and 4th. It seems more likely to me that the dates were June 2nd and June 4th. Mail traveled and was delivered quickly. Bettie could write a letter to Ray and seemingly be certain he had received it the following day. Also, I’ve a difficult time imagining that Ray, who prompts Bettie in this letter to get her mail out more quickly, would have waited more than half a month to respond to her. Not only this but Ray appears to mention his brother, Paul, taking the cattle to “the nation” at the same time Bettie left, which would be the Osage Nation. It’s difficult for me to imagine Paul would have been gone for that long a period of time to take the cattle to the Osage Nation. He had his own farm to which to attend.

Yet, Ray states also that he had “set a hen” the week Bettie left and he imagines she will hatch some time that week. If it takes about 21 days for chicks to hatch then if the chicks were expected to hatch some time around the 8th (the 6th was a Friday), he would have set the hen around the 18th of May.

The letter is primarily concerned with answering inquiries Betty had written concerning their farm–which seem to be the only inquiries she’s made as lists his answers numerically and there are no answers concerning anything else. The letter, however, seems playful. Ray does a nice job describing his meal for the evening and teasing Bettie with how good it was.

Liberal MO June 6

Dear Girl, Your long welcome letter arrived today seems like yer were rather long getting it mailed the letter was dated the 12 and the (illegible) postmark was the 14, I would think when he is harrowing (?) wheat yer could get a letter mailed any day. Well I will answer questions first No. 1 The garden looks real nice the sweet corn is in tassel

No. 2 the blackberries are very fine the largest early harvest that I ever saw but there

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wont be many of them

picked 22 qt. today and took them to town and sold them got $7.75 easy I think they will all be gone in 10 days more picked 3 qt of red raspberries and caned them and they made three pt. after they were caned. No. 3 Your chickens are doing real well considering their master but the old hen down at the cattle shed has had some bad luck and her brood has thinned out a good deal they all live on shelled corn now I set a hen the week after you left so you would have something to do when you got back she will hatch some time this week so I guess I will (illegible)

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a job. You have just four little ducks left.

No. 4 The timothy (?) looks real nice but not a great big crop but a good average will likely comence setting about the first of next month.

No. 5 how I get along batching well just Burn (?) but to tell you what that means I will tell you what I had for supper tonight and then you can guess To commence writing I had light bread with cream, Honey, Syrup and jelley to eat on it next I had Grape (illegible) and fingersnaps and some awful good minced ham, drank milk so you see I made no fire

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now was that not good wages for any body would you not of liked to of ate with me. No. 6. No have not sold (illegible) more haven’t tried to (illegible) (person’s name illegible, Paul?) took his stock out of the pasture and went to the nation about the time you left he never said (illegible) about the pasture bill either

No. 7 a fellow by the name of Ray has (rest of page illegible)

P.S. I f this aint long enough will lose more

1902 June 23 letter, Bettie to Ray Noyes

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This is one of two surviving letters sent from Bettie Brewer Noyes to Ray Noyes when she went from Liberal, Missouri to Oklahoma to stay with Ray’s older brother, Allen, and his wife, Susie. It wasn’t a pleasure trip. Allen and Susie’s daughter, Carrie, is mentioned in the second letter, so Bettie was there subsequent her birth in 1902. But Susie had also been ill and in the hospital. The letter doesn’t give an indication of the nature of her illness, which appears to have required surgery, but whether the surgery was essential is unclear as Bettie states she felt Suzie’s stay in the hospital did more bad than good. Bettie does mention Suzie’s experiencing headaches. However, Bettie’s visit there seems to have less to do with Suzie’s having been ill than a subsequent, nearly immobilizing depression. Perhaps Suzie was actually suffering from postpartum depression.

The mail was fast back then. It may as well have been email, it was so fast. Bettie states that she imagines by now Ray has gotten the letter she wrote Sunday. June 23rd was a Monday and she’s writing Ray at about 10:00 at night. The Sunday letter would have to be the one she had written the day before. I have the impression that she was likely mailing him nearly every day.

Having been helping out with Allan and Susie for a full three weeks, Bettie’s patience was wearing thin between Suzie’s crying spells, which had not abated, and the arrival of relatives of Suzie’s which meant the descent of two continually crying children on the household. Bettie must not have been used to such behavior from her own children, which would fit with what I’ve heard of them running a very formal household. Also, Bettie seems to have gathered no understanding of the reason for Suzie’s crying spells, and appears to even be dubious of them. The household is in such a state of upset that she wonders how her brother-in-law can get farm hands.

Miller Okla. June 23

My dear Boy

I will write a little to you tonight. Joe Reynolds folks came and if nothing happens I will be at Home Sunday night.

It is awful hot here now. Allen is still cutting oats he has six men besides his self. but I don’t mind the work very bad but Joe Reynolds kids both squall ALL OF THE TIME and I get sick of that they don’t hardly let Carrie sleep any in the day time

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I don’t know what they will do when I am not here to do the work but I dont feel that I am able or that it is my duty to stay and do for them all by myself.

I told Allen I wanted to come home and he said all right I thought maby he would try some more to get a girl but he has not. I don’t think there has been any change in Susie she has worried lots since Joe’s come. She takes a spell of crying most every day when the men come in to dinner. I think it strange that he can get any hands. How would you like to

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go in to dinner and hear a woman crying and talking and two kids qualling as loud as they could every day.

Allen says it gives him the head ache and I have had a headache so much since I have been here though never so bad as to have to go to bed. We all want to come home awful bad. I expect you got my letter I wrote Sunday by now. We went and took it to the Office were all awfully tired when we got back well it is 2 and 1/2 miles up there but we got so lonesome here by ourselves

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Well I will quit and go to bed and try and sleep a spell, it is so warm I don’t know whether I can go to sleep or not – but it is getting late for it was almost 10 oclock when I got through with the work. so by bye.

Go to the May 30, 1902 letter, Bettie to Ray
A letter from Ray to Bettie, dated June 6th, unknown year