Individual 5: Noble, Amy Susan

Individual Record 5

Name} Noble, Amy Susan

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Exa 18 Mar 1881

Place} , Perth, Ontario

Marr.: Date} Exa 20 Jun 1906

Place} Noble home, Ontario, San Bernardino, California (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 25 Apr 1971 C

Place} Community Hosp., San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California

Burial: Date} Exa 29 Apr 1971

Place} San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	70 = Interview
Source 2}	72 = Bible record
Source 3}	873 = Birth rec
Source 4}	248 = 1881 CAN cen
Source 5}	899 = 1891 CAN cen
Source 6}	210 = School recrd
Source 7}	103= Diplomas
Source 8}	193 = Yearbook
Source 9}	421 = Newspaper
Source 10}	425 = Newspaper
Source 11}	1430=Marriage rec
Source 12}	369 = Marriage rec

Parents: } Walter Noble, Sr., & Agnes Detwiller
Relationship No.} 5

1st Household No.} 89 = Logan Twp., Perth, Ontario

Occupation 1} School teacher
Occupation 2} Housewife

Religion/Church} Presbyterian

Spouses: Prime} Olson, Henry John
Total Number of} 1

Source 13} 1226=Newspaper
Source 14} 364 = Church recrd
Source 15} 40 = 1910 USA cen
Source 16} 162 = Letter
Source 17} 322 = Business dir
Source 18} 468 = 1920 USA cen
Source 19} 872 = Voter record
Source 20} 988 = City directory
Source 21} 323 = Phone book
Source 22} 324 = Phone book
Source 23} 1261=Letter
Source 24} 744 = 1930 USA cen
Source 25} 325 = Business dir

Source 26} 1255=1940 USA cen
Source 27} 2114=1950 USA cen
Source 28} 326 = Phone book
Source 29} 327 = Phone book
Source 30} 2145=Newspaper
Source 31} 328 = Phone book
Source 32} 96 = Diary
Source 33} 97 = Diary
Source 34} 98 = Diary
Source 35} 517 = Cookbook
Source 36} 668 = Cookbook
Source 37} 669 = Cookbook
Source 38} 670 = Cookbook

Source 39} 756 = Photograph
Source 40} 161 = Photograph
Source 41} 187 = Photograph
Source 42} 197 = Photograph
Source 43} 213 = Photograph
Source 44} 489 = Photograph
Source 46} 666 = Photograph
Source 46} 671 = Photograph
Source 47} 533 = Death record
Source 48} 145 = Death certif
Source 49} 1016=Funeral rec
Source 50} 19 = Cemetery rec
Source 51} 2141=Cemetery rec

Notes: Amy Susan Noble was born 18 Mar 1881 to Walter Noble and Agnes Detwiller. The family was living on Lot 27, Con. 16 of Logan Twp., Perth, Ontario, Canada. There was no doctor or midwife in attendance. Her name was registered as "Emma Susan". She was the tenth of eleven children, although sadly the first two twins had died at birth.

In the 1881 Canada Census, Emma Susan Noble, 1 month old, was living with her parents, Walter Noble, 46, and Agnes, 40, in the Logan Twp., Perth North, Ontario. Her father was a farmer, of Scotch origin and the family was Presbyterian. Her older siblings were James, 19, Mary Ann, 16, Alexander, 14, Robina, 12, Andrew, 10, Janet Mitchell, 6, and Mary, 3.

In the 1891 Canada Census, Annie Noble, 10, was living in Logan Twp., Perth North, Ontario, with her parents Walter Noble, 56 and Agnes, 52. Walter was still farming and the family was Presbyterian. Her siblings were James, 29, Marian, 26, Robina, 22, Andrew, 20, Nettie, 16, Mary, 14, and Walter, 7.

Amy emmigrated to the United States with her family in 1892, and settled in Ontario, San Bernardino, California. She became a naturalized citizen. She attended 9th grade in the Ontario Public Schools, California (1896-1897), and her grammar school diploma is dated June 26, 1896. She went on to the Los Angeles Normal School, graduating on 30 January 1902. She taught school for over 4 years before marriage. [In those day, you could no longer teach school when you married.]

Amy, her sister Mary, and her future husband Henry, and his sisters and cousins, were often mentioned in the Alhambra Advocate during the late 1890's and early 1900's. In June 1899, they all attended an evening of games, dancing, music, and refreshments in the Parish Hall, San Gabriel. In December, the gentlemen again held a dance with the same people in attendance. Parties, picnics, and church socials were all reported in the local newspapers.

Amy Noble married Henry Olson on June 20, 1906, in her family's home in Ontario, California. Their first home was at 326 Wilson Avenue, Alhambra, California, which Henry had built in 1905. Their son Donald Keith was born March 29, 1907.

In the 1910 U.S. census, Amy Noble Olson, 29, and Henry J., 30, were living at 326 Wilson, Alhambra, with their son Donald Keith, 3. Henry was the manager of the Alhambra Planing Mill, and their home was owned free of mortgage. Their daughter Agnes Wilma was born October 4, 1911. Amy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Alhambra, California, from January 29, 1908 until her death. Her picture appears in the 1962 Photograph Album of the church members. Her recipe for Italian Delight, a macaroni casserole, appears in the Women's Association cookbook.

During the summer, the family would visit Balboa Beach, Laguna Beach, the San Gabriel River at Whittier Narrows, and the Rio Hondo River. The photograph to the left shows them enjoying Laguna Beach circa 1916. In later years, they traveled to Camp Baldy, in the San Antonio Canyon of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The 1915 Alhambra Directory shows Amy living with her husband Henry at 340 North Wilson Avenue, Alhambra. In the 1920 U.S. census, Amy N. Olson, 38, and Henry J. Olson, 39, were still in their home on North Wilson, Alhambra. Henry was the manager of the planing mill. Donald K., 12, and Agnes W., 8, were both attending Garfield Avenue elementery school.

In 1923 and 1926, the Alhambra Directory shows the family living at 420 North Second Street. Henry had built the two-story house about 1922. He built the cabin at Camp Baldy in the summer of 1925, with help from the family as seen in the photograph at right.

In October 1928, Agnes became ill, and passed away January 19,1929, during her senior year of high school. In the 1930 U.S. census, Amy N. Olson, 49, and Henry J., 50, were living at 420 N. Second Street, Alhambra. They owned their home, valued at $12,000. and had a radio set. Henry was the proprietor of a planing mill. In the household was their son, Donald K., 23, Amy's mother-in-law Mary Olson, 74, and a nephew, Maurice Noble, 25. Donald was going to the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena.

Amy's husband Henry passed away May 9, 1934, from renal tuberculosis. Both she and Don were also ill, with Don spending time in a sanitarium during his college years. As a result, in her later years Amy did not venture out to church or other affairs very often.

In the 1940 U.S. census Amy Olson, 59, a widow, was still in her home at 420 N. Second St., Alhambra. She had 3 years of college (L.A.Normal), she owned the home valued at $6,000, and had income from another source. Her son Donald, 33, was the proprietor of the planing mill, working on his own account with income from other sources. He had completed 4 years of college.

Amy was always hopeful that she would someday have grandchildren, but Don was in no hurry to settle down. He finally married Frances Dorthea Miller on October 1, 1944, in the First Presbyterian Church, Alhambra. They went on to give her seven grandchildren. When she died at age 90, she also had 4 great-grandchildren. She recorded the daily coming and goings of the Olson family and children in her diaries.

In the 1950 U.S. census, Amy N. Olson, 69, was living with her sister, Mary A. Noble, 72, at 505 North. Second St., Alhambra (just across the street from the family home where Don and his family now lived). An additional bedroom (seen in the photo at right), with wood paneling, was built onto the back of the house for her. Here she lived until her final illness.

In June 1954, Amy N. Olson, as owner of the Mt. Baldy cabin, was ordered to appear before the Upland Justice Court to answer charges for failing to comply with fire prevention regulations. The disposition of the case is unknown, but it is presumed that her son Donald took care of the matter.

Amy cooked, and many of the recipies she collected have survived. Her grandchildren will remember the pot of pink beans that she would occasionally send across the street for supper. But most remembered is "Grandma Olson's Cake". This was a cake made by her mother-in-law, Mary Staheli Olson, but the boiled cream and brown sugar icing was Amy's creation. It's a tricky cake to make, sometimes coming up with lumps of flour in it, or cracked icing, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren still make it today.

Amy died 25 Apr 1971 in the Community Hospital of San Gabriel, San Gabriel, California. A cerebral hemmorage was cause of death. Her funeral services were held at the Chapel of Turner & Stevens, Alhambra, on 29 Apr 1971, the Rev. Russel J. Prentice of the First Presbyterian Church presiding.&nbsdp; She is buried in the Olson family plot in the San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, California.

Among her and her sister Mary's possessions were the chair and the secretary desk seen at the right. These, and two end tables, are now in the possession of Karen Hancock.