David was born in Franklin, Franklin County Pennsylvania October 9, 1809, and was the son of Joseph and Mary (Duncan) Noggle, natives of the same place. His father belonged to that class known as Pennsylvania Dutch, while his mother was of Scotch-Irish descent. When he was sixteen years old, with his father's family he moved to Greenfield, Ohio. Here he experienced, as a farmer, the hardships and privations of frontier life. His educational advantages had been limited to a few weeks of each winter spent at the district schools of his native State, before the age of sixteen, where, however, he developed a taste for literary pursuits and a controlling desire to become a lawyer; but, owing to the limited means of his parents, he was somewhat discouraged in his ambitious desires. At the age of nineteen, he left home in quest of a more remunerative employment, and was for four years employed in a manufactoring establishment at Madison, N.Y. In 1834, he returned to Ohio. With a younger brother, he assumed the liabilities of his father, who had become embarrassed in his financial matters, and the brothers improved a water-power by the building of a saw-mill that proved a success, furnishing the means for more extended operations. On the 15th of October, 1834, he married Miss Anna M. Lewis, of Milan, Ohio, and two years
later, he moved with his wife to Winnebago County Illinois, making the long journey with an ox team. Here they made a home in the wilderness, and made the preparation for the profession he so ardently desired to pursue as a life's calling. In 1838, after a rigid examination by the Supreme Court of Illinois, he was admitted to the bar of that State, without having spent an hour in a law office or having received direction in his studies from any member of the profession. In 1839, he sold his farm in Illinois and removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he opened a law office, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and enjoyed from the outset the patronage of a large clientage in the counties of Winnebago and Boone, in Illinois, and in Rock, Walworth, Green and Iowa Counties, in the then Territory of Wisconsin. In 1840, he was appointed Postmaster at Beloit, a position he retained some five years. In 1845, he removed to Janesville, and, in 1846, he was elected a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was recognized as among the leaders of that body. He stood with the progressive elements of the Convention in favor of homestead exemption, an elective judiciary, and the rights of married women. In 1854, he was elected to the State Legislature from the Janesville district, and at once took a leading position in that body. He was again elected in 1856, and was emphatically the leader of the house during the session of 1857. In 1858, he was elected Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Wisconsin, composed of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green, and held the office for eight years, discharging its duties with acceptability and establishing for himself an enviable reputation as a sound jurist and an impartial administrator of the law. He retired from the bench in 1866, and, for a short time, resided in Iowa, where he was engaged as attorney for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He afterward returned to Beloit, where he purchased an elegant home and built up a lucrative practice. In 1869, he was appointed by President Grant to the office of Chief Justice of the Territory of Idaho, a position he retained until 1874, when failing health obliged him to resign. For a time, in search for health, he resided in San Francisco, Cal., and returned to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1875, to his old home in Janesville, where he resided until his death, which took place on the 18th of July, 1878. He was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. In politics, Judge Noggle was identified with the Democratic party, until the organization of the Republican party. In 1844, he was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated President Polk, and, in 1852, to the Convention which nominated President Pierce. He was likewise a delegate to the Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and was ever after an uncompromising Republican. The name of Judge Noggle is indissolubly connected with the history and progress of Wisconsin. He was a gentleman of fine presence and commanding appearance, earnest and impressive as a public speaker, possessing great natural force and mental power. His life illustrates what can be done by a well-directed purpose, by a determined will, even though one be thrown upon the world in early manhood without influence, friends or pecuniary resources. [The History of Rock County Wisconsin 1879.]
later, he moved with his wife to Winnebago County Illinois, making the long journey with an ox team. Here they made a home in the wilderness, and made the preparation for the profession he so ardently desired to pursue as a life's calling. In 1838, after a rigid examination by the Supreme Court of Illinois, he was admitted to the bar of that State, without having spent an hour in a law office or having received direction in his studies from any member of the profession. In 1839, he sold his farm in Illinois and removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he opened a law office, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and enjoyed from the outset the patronage of a large clientage in the counties of Winnebago and Boone, in Illinois, and in Rock, Walworth, Green and Iowa Counties, in the then Territory of Wisconsin. In 1840, he was appointed Postmaster at Beloit, a position he retained some five years. In 1845, he removed to Janesville, and, in 1846, he was elected a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was recognized as among the leaders of that body. He stood with the progressive elements of the Convention in favor of homestead exemption, an elective judiciary, and the rights of married women. In 1854, he was elected to the State Legislature from the Janesville district, and at once took a leading position in that body. He was again elected in 1856, and was emphatically the leader of the house during the session of 1857. In 1858, he was elected Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Wisconsin, composed of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green, and held the office for eight years, discharging its duties with acceptability and establishing for himself an enviable reputation as a sound jurist and an impartial administrator of the law. He retired from the bench in 1866, and, for a short time, resided in Iowa, where he was engaged as attorney for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He afterward returned to Beloit, where he purchased an elegant home and built up a lucrative practice. In 1869, he was appointed by President Grant to the office of Chief Justice of the Territory of Idaho, a position he retained until 1874, when failing health obliged him to resign. For a time, in search for health, he resided in San Francisco, Cal., and returned to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1875, to his old home in Janesville, where he resided until his death, which took place on the 18th of July, 1878. He was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. In politics, Judge Noggle was identified with the Democratic party, until the organization of the Republican party. In 1844, he was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated President Polk, and, in 1852, to the Convention which nominated President Pierce. He was likewise a delegate to the Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and was ever after an uncompromising Republican. The name of Judge Noggle is indissolubly connected with the history and progress of Wisconsin. He was a gentleman of fine presence and commanding appearance, earnest and impressive as a public speaker, possessing great natural force and mental power. His life illustrates what can be done by a well-directed purpose, by a determined will, even though one be thrown upon the world in early manhood without influence, friends or pecuniary resources. [The History of Rock County Wisconsin 1879.]
David was born in Franklin, Franklin County Pennsylvania October 9, 1809, and was the son of Joseph and Mary (Duncan) Noggle, natives of the same place. His father belonged to that class known as Pennsylvania Dutch, while his mother was of Scotch-Irish descent. When he was sixteen years old, with his father's family he moved to Greenfield, Ohio. Here he experienced, as a farmer, the hardships and privations of frontier life. His educational advantages had been limited to a few weeks of each winter spent at the district schools of his native State, before the age of sixteen, where, however, he developed a taste for literary pursuits and a controlling desire to become a lawyer; but, owing to the limited means of his parents, he was somewhat discouraged in his ambitious desires. At the age of nineteen, he left home in quest of a more remunerative employment, and was for four years employed in a manufactoring establishment at Madison, N.Y. In 1834, he returned to Ohio. With a younger brother, he assumed the liabilities of his father, who had become embarrassed in his financial matters, and the brothers improved a water-power by the building of a saw-mill that proved a success, furnishing the means for more extended operations. On the 15th of October, 1834, he married Miss Anna M. Lewis, of Milan, Ohio, and two years
later, he moved with his wife to Winnebago County Illinois, making the long journey with an ox team. Here they made a home in the wilderness, and made the preparation for the profession he so ardently desired to pursue as a life's calling. In 1838, after a rigid examination by the Supreme Court of Illinois, he was admitted to the bar of that State, without having spent an hour in a law office or having received direction in his studies from any member of the profession. In 1839, he sold his farm in Illinois and removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he opened a law office, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and enjoyed from the outset the patronage of a large clientage in the counties of Winnebago and Boone, in Illinois, and in Rock, Walworth, Green and Iowa Counties, in the then Territory of Wisconsin. In 1840, he was appointed Postmaster at Beloit, a position he retained some five years. In 1845, he removed to Janesville, and, in 1846, he was elected a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was recognized as among the leaders of that body. He stood with the progressive elements of the Convention in favor of homestead exemption, an elective judiciary, and the rights of married women. In 1854, he was elected to the State Legislature from the Janesville district, and at once took a leading position in that body. He was again elected in 1856, and was emphatically the leader of the house during the session of 1857. In 1858, he was elected Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Wisconsin, composed of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green, and held the office for eight years, discharging its duties with acceptability and establishing for himself an enviable reputation as a sound jurist and an impartial administrator of the law. He retired from the bench in 1866, and, for a short time, resided in Iowa, where he was engaged as attorney for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He afterward returned to Beloit, where he purchased an elegant home and built up a lucrative practice. In 1869, he was appointed by President Grant to the office of Chief Justice of the Territory of Idaho, a position he retained until 1874, when failing health obliged him to resign. For a time, in search for health, he resided in San Francisco, Cal., and returned to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1875, to his old home in Janesville, where he resided until his death, which took place on the 18th of July, 1878. He was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. In politics, Judge Noggle was identified with the Democratic party, until the organization of the Republican party. In 1844, he was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated President Polk, and, in 1852, to the Convention which nominated President Pierce. He was likewise a delegate to the Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and was ever after an uncompromising Republican. The name of Judge Noggle is indissolubly connected with the history and progress of Wisconsin. He was a gentleman of fine presence and commanding appearance, earnest and impressive as a public speaker, possessing great natural force and mental power. His life illustrates what can be done by a well-directed purpose, by a determined will, even though one be thrown upon the world in early manhood without influence, friends or pecuniary resources. [The History of Rock County Wisconsin 1879.]
later, he moved with his wife to Winnebago County Illinois, making the long journey with an ox team. Here they made a home in the wilderness, and made the preparation for the profession he so ardently desired to pursue as a life's calling. In 1838, after a rigid examination by the Supreme Court of Illinois, he was admitted to the bar of that State, without having spent an hour in a law office or having received direction in his studies from any member of the profession. In 1839, he sold his farm in Illinois and removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he opened a law office, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and enjoyed from the outset the patronage of a large clientage in the counties of Winnebago and Boone, in Illinois, and in Rock, Walworth, Green and Iowa Counties, in the then Territory of Wisconsin. In 1840, he was appointed Postmaster at Beloit, a position he retained some five years. In 1845, he removed to Janesville, and, in 1846, he was elected a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was recognized as among the leaders of that body. He stood with the progressive elements of the Convention in favor of homestead exemption, an elective judiciary, and the rights of married women. In 1854, he was elected to the State Legislature from the Janesville district, and at once took a leading position in that body. He was again elected in 1856, and was emphatically the leader of the house during the session of 1857. In 1858, he was elected Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Wisconsin, composed of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green, and held the office for eight years, discharging its duties with acceptability and establishing for himself an enviable reputation as a sound jurist and an impartial administrator of the law. He retired from the bench in 1866, and, for a short time, resided in Iowa, where he was engaged as attorney for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He afterward returned to Beloit, where he purchased an elegant home and built up a lucrative practice. In 1869, he was appointed by President Grant to the office of Chief Justice of the Territory of Idaho, a position he retained until 1874, when failing health obliged him to resign. For a time, in search for health, he resided in San Francisco, Cal., and returned to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1875, to his old home in Janesville, where he resided until his death, which took place on the 18th of July, 1878. He was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. In politics, Judge Noggle was identified with the Democratic party, until the organization of the Republican party. In 1844, he was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated President Polk, and, in 1852, to the Convention which nominated President Pierce. He was likewise a delegate to the Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and was ever after an uncompromising Republican. The name of Judge Noggle is indissolubly connected with the history and progress of Wisconsin. He was a gentleman of fine presence and commanding appearance, earnest and impressive as a public speaker, possessing great natural force and mental power. His life illustrates what can be done by a well-directed purpose, by a determined will, even though one be thrown upon the world in early manhood without influence, friends or pecuniary resources. [The History of Rock County Wisconsin 1879.]
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