Parents and Siblings
Commission addressed to
Varnum Noyes, c. 1840.
Reverend Varnum Noyes was born on July 1, 1804, to parents Josiah and Mehitable in Acton, Massachusetts. At the age of seventeen, in November of 1821, Varnum decided to follow religion as his career. He enrolled in Dartmouth College in 1824, but was unable to stay past his second year due to a “severe and protracted illness.” While he recovered, he was able to periodically teach and eventually studied theology with Reverend Dr. Ide from Medway. He eventually graduated in 1829 and was ordained by the Mendon Congregational Association in 1831. On August 25, 1831, he was ordained as an Evangelist for the West at Medway and began preaching at Guilford, Ohio on October 2nd of the same year. He married Lois Walker on July 13, 1833, in Medina, Ohio. He worked at the Seville Presbyterian Church as their first pastor from 1836-1849 and then again from 1854-1871. both during and after his time at the church, he worked as a farmer alongside his sons. From his letters, he appears to be a rather stoic and religious man, but a devout father. He passed away on April 20, 1888, at the age of 83.
Lois (Walker) Noyes was born on August 6, 1810, in Medway, Massachusetts. She received her education from Brookfield and at the age of 17 began teaching in the Sabbath School at the 2nd Congregation Church of Medway. She married Varnum Noyes in 1833 before they had their ten children. In the 1880 census, her occupation is described as 'keeping house.' Following her husband's placement in a church, they moved to Seville, Ohio, where she lived until she died on March 24, 1887, at the age of 76. In her obituary, she is described as religiously devout and a "helpmeet."
Edward Payson Noyes was born on September 30, 1834, in Guilford Township, Ohio. He was the eldest sibling, and according to items in the collection, spent his time farming and working on inventions. It appears that a couple of his inventions were even patented. He also had a talent for music and assisted with the music at the local church. He died on October 16, 1902, at the age of 68. He was not entirely of sound mind and had been suffering for several months prior to his death.
Francis 'Frank' Josiah Noyes was born on May 31, 1838, in Guilford Township, Ohio. He married Hannah Margaret Hamsher on January 30, 1866, and settled down with her in Medina, Ohio. Sometime in 1867, Hannah gave birth to a stillborn son, probably due to a protracted illness. She died later in the same year. Francis died on December 22, 1875, at the age of 37 after being sick for several months. He appeared to have some sort of disease in his intestines, including a tumor. He was buried with Hannah's engagement ring.
Click here to read about the last months of his life, as written by his sister Clara.
Image from: "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BJ9F-TZ?cc=1614804&wc=ZRZR-YWL%3A121347701%2C121668501 : 15 July 2014), Medina > Marriage records 1864-1878 vol D1 > image 109 of 413; county courthouses, Ohio.
Gilbert Fay Noyes was born on June 4, 1842, in Guilford Township, Ohio. He had been sick for about 2 weeks of typhus fever before he died at 8 years old on September 11, 1850. Gilbert is buried in Medway, Massachusetts, and according to the 1850 census, was staying with his Aunt Clarissa (Walker) Fay and his cousin, Gilbert near the time of his death. He is the only Noyes sibling to not survive into adulthood and is referenced in letters as part of the circle of family and friends in heaven.
Image from "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S5Q-JWD?cc=1401638&wc=95RX-4WR%3A1031311001%2C1032801201%2C1033170801 : 9 April 2016), Massachusetts > Norfolk > Medway > image 17 of 67; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
Emily 'Em' Noyes was born on May 4, 1846, in Guilford Township, Ohio. As a young woman, Harriet's letters to Emily indicate that Em had some troubles with her eyes. She was the first female graduate of the University of Wooster (now the College of Wooster) in 1874. After her graduation, she became Lady Principal and Professor of Mathematics in the Normal College at Wadsworth until her resignation in 1892. She also worked as a Sabbath School teacher and was a proponent for equal education. Emily died on December 18, 1937, at the age of 91.
Image from: "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953" database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PKP-4JJV?cc=1307272&wc=MD9F-YNL%3A287599101%2C294705401 : 21 May 2014), 1937> 74901-77900 > image 3121 of 3251
Sarah H. Noyes was born on June 2, 1848, in Guilford Township, Ohio. Her sister, Harriet, sometimes jokingly called her Sade in letters from China. She became a teacher and lived in Columbus working at the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and the Dumb in the Primary Department for several years. She eventually retired and lived with her sisters. She died on January 16, 1933, at the age of 84.
Image from "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PKX-9LFD?cc=1307272&wc=MD96-XTL%3A287599601%2C289039602 : 21 May 2014), 1933 > 03001-06000 > image 1758 of 3280.
Clarissa 'Clara' F. Noyes was born May 21, 1850, in Guilford Township, Ohio. Like her sisters, she attended the University of Wooster (College of Wooster) and worked as a school teacher both prior to and following her education. Besides the missionaries, Harriet, Henry, and Martha, she is probably the Noyes sibling whose presence is greatest in the collection due to her diary entries from 1865 and 1875. Based on her writings, she seems to have been closest with her sister, Mary who she often affectionately referred to as May. She died on March 2, 1933, from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 82.
Mary L. Noyes was born on March 31, 1853, in Guilford Township, Ohio. She attended the University of Wooster (College of Wooster) alongside her sisters Martha and Clara. She became a school teacher and was promoted to the Deaf + Dumb Institute of Pennsylvania. She died on June 22, 1935, at the age of 82 in Guilford Township, Ohio.