Daughter of William Goodwin Noble and Mary Ann Harper

Married Robert Leeming Fishburn, 9 Mar Jun 1869, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Harper Waterhouse Fishburn, Mary Ann Fishburn, Lauretta Fishburn, Arthur Goodwin Fishburn, James Alfred Fishburn, Lillie Jane Fishburn

Her life was marked with many hardships, and blessed with faith and testimony which made the hardships bearable and her life a blessing to those who knew her.

When Mormon Elders came to the area where Laura's family lived, they embraced the teachings of the restored Gospel and began making the plans to join the Saints in Zion. Shortly after joining the church Brother Noble, Laura's father, accepted a call to do missionary work in the area of Dorchester, England. Laura was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church in the summer of 1858 by Charles W. Penrose and William Budge who were serving as missionaries in England at that time.

The Noble family, which included the parents, one son and six daughters, left the comfort of their England home to accept the challenges of the new world and the new religious faith they had accepted. They sailed from England on the sailing vessel "The William Tapascott" and spent eight weeks on the ocean before anchoring in New York. The family crossed the New York harbor and settled in Williamsburg. The supposed brief stay was lengthened to years, for shortly after arriving there Brother Noble was called to serve a mission in the Eastern States. Even though there were no finances to provide for the family, the call was accepted as one coming from the Lord.

In actuality the whole family accepted the call as divine and even the young children set out to do whatever they could to help support the family. At this time Laura was ten years old and her contribution to the family support consisted of running errands, caring for children, and doing house work. Laura frequently told grandchildren of one of her employers the lady had beautiful dark furniture and required Laura to dust it so well that when rubbed over with a white cloth there was no trace of dust. The wooden floors in the house were scrubbed with sand until they were white. This type of work was hard for a young girl, but she never complained that she must do it.

In the spring of 1862, William Goodwin Noble was released from his mission after having served 19 months. The family gathered their few worldly belongings together and began their trip to join the Saints. They made their way by rail and boat to Florence, Nebraska where a company was being equipped to cross the plains by ox team. While waiting to leave for the Salt Lake Valley all of their belongings save one trunk were destroyed by fire. Such a disaster would have left many people broken and down, but the faith that marked the joining of the Church and the confidence they had developed in the love of their Heavenly Father, they left Florence in late 8 August 1862 and arrived in Salt Lake City in 17 October of that same year.

Though Laura was but a child of 12 years, she walked virtually every step of the way and most of the time barefooted. Her first shoes were made of cowhide, the furside in and the rawhide on the outside. The trip was not one without its hardships. The fact that most of their belongings were destroyed made it difficult and the family was extremely happy when they reached the valley. They were met by Robert Leeming Fishburn and George Henry Gilbert and then by ox team traveled to Brigham City and them to Smithfield. Even though the trip had been hard and they were exhausted they were confronted with a new problem that of survival. They began immediately as a family to earn the substance for winter food and clothing. To meet this extreme emergency so late in the season they turned to gleaning the wheat fields.

The first home in Smithfield was a small log cabin dirt roof. The cabin which was in the fort line was anything but comfortable, but the faith that had brought them to the mountains carried them through the first disheartening winter. Laura was then 12 years old. She met this new situation with great courage hope, determination, and faith in the rightness of her parents' judgement in accepting hardships resulting from their acceptance of the Latter day Saint doctrines. Even at this age she had a determination to win and this character trait helped build her character and personality.

On March 9, 1869, Laura Noble became the second wife of Robert Leeming Fishburn, being married in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City. Robert Leeming Fishburn married Eliza Priscilla Noble at Lehi, Utah. In 1858 and he and his wife Eliza Priscilla had gone Smithfield with the colonizing group of 1862. Laura and Robert made their home In Brigham City until Laura's mother died on December 3, 1881, at which time she and the family moved to Smithfield to take care of her father who was almost blind. Laura remained with her four children for six years when her father married Mrs. Mary Ann Clayton Albiston.

Laura learned many useful arts in her youth and she put these to pleasant and profitable use both as a girl in her teens and later in her home as a wife and a mother. She became very adept in the art of spinning, weaving, needlework and clothing making. Her ability in weaving and spinning made it possible for her to take care of herself and assist her family economically. She spun the cloth for the baby clothes she made for her own first child.

The first child born to Robert Leeming and Laura Matilda Noble Fishburn was a daughter. Mary Ann was born February 23, 1871; she married Alfred Bence Chambers on January 31, 1895. Other children born in this union were Waterhouse Harper born October 24, 1872, died December 31, 1874; Arthur Goodwin born April 5, 1875, died December 20, 1876; James Alfred was born April 14, 1877, married Martha Callan June 22, 1904; Lilly Jane was born May 23, 1880 and married Everett Smith on September 10, 1901; Laurette, the last child, was born March 11, 1885, married Albert McCann on June 11 1903.

When father, William Goodwin Noble remarried, the family moved into a log house on the corner of 2nd North and 1st East. Robert purchased farm land in Smithfield and some of the boys from the first family came in the summer to farm it. Around the small family home apple and plum trees were planted. A barn was constructed and a small hard of milk cows were established. These with a flock of chickens comprised the farm holdings. Later a more modern home was built on the corner.

As the children grew older they were given responsibilities and shared the chores. Mae and Loretta took care of things in the house, washing, ironing, cooking and mending. Lilly helped her mother with the milking. They sold eggs for 100 a dozen and butter for 10 cents a pound. Alfred and his brothers from Brigham City were responsible for the farm lands, attending school in Logan in the winter.

In her own home life, she made superior use of her knowledge of home economics. This knowledge and practice is now reflected in the social, industrial, and economic status of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her pattern of industry, thrift, faithful performance of religious, social and civic duties, as well as musical talents, pleasures and responsibilities, are easily recognized as a legacy to these many descendants who followed after her.

Laura's home was a place her children, grandchildren and friends loved to visit. Her hospitality and unselfishness made her loved by all. She was happy to entertain her family and friends and her home became the gathering place for many after the Sunday afternoon meeting. The house would ring with laughter and song as visitors chatted, sang the loved Pioneer song, etc.

In the early summer of 1905 Eliza Priscilla became ill. Laura went to Brigham to care for her. Loretta and Albert McCann, who recently married, were left to care for things in Smithfield. On June 30th Eliza Priscilla passed away. Laura then moved to the family home in Brigham to care for her husband, Robert.

They were comfortable and happy. Robert was in the Merchant business with his sons and went to work each day until his health failed him. When he couldn't work, he would take his violin down and spend hour after hour playing the tunes he had loved so much. He played his violin while crossing the plains and for dances for many years.

During this time a granddaughter Alta Chambers lived with them. Alta lived nearly four years with her grandmother, two school years before her grandfather died and then two years as assistant sewing teacher in the Box Elder High School. The next summer Laura moved back to Smithfield where she built a beautiful little home close to the home of her daughter Lauretta.

Although life was not easy for the women who helped settle the scattered Mormon communities, it was not a life that was without joy and pleasure. Pioneer women more or less made their own entertainment. There were rag tearing and quilting bees in the fall and winter. During the summer months families and friends joined together cutting and drying fruits and vegetables. Such associations cemented friendships and even at the time of her death, January 14, 1929, Laura had no bitterness in her heart for the many trials and hardships she had encountered.

Throughout all of her life, Laura held fast to the Gospel Jesus Christ, which had been the force which brought her family from England. She loved to attend Relief Society and contribute much from the knowledge she had gained through her life. Her children and grandchildren remember her love and devotion. She willingly gave of herself to help others. When a new child was born into the home of a son or daughter, they always knew Mother would be there to help. The grandchildren were especially pleased by the visit of their grandmother for they loved her because of her love for them.

The faith and determination which marked her life also guided the lives of her children and their children. They were raised to be leaders in civic and business affairs. Perhaps the thing that would most please Laura, they have remained faithful to the Church which meant so much to her.

Testimonies given at her funeral give a good summary of the life of this woman. "She was a pillar of strength in all her life's activities. Her noble, and self-sacrificing character exemplified her life's mission."