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Barney Noel
Barney Noel Dies
Fort Towson Enterprise – March 29, 1912 – transcribed by Ron Henson

Passed Peacefully Away at Six O’clock Last Friday Morning
     Barney Noel, an old pioneer in this country, known to everybody in all this southeastern section of Oklahoma and who was revered and respected by everybody who knew him is dead. He passed peacefully away at 6 o’clock this (Friday) morning at his residence on East Main street. Mr. Noel was taken to Paris about two weeks ago. It was not known while he was here what was ailing him, but an examination by the physicians at the hospital revealed the fact that he was suffering from cancer of the liver. Wm. Westmoreland went to Paris Sunday to make the necessary arrangements to bring him home. Monday Mrs. Noel went to Paris and Tuesday he was brought to Antlers on No. 6. He was conveyed to his residence in an ambulance.
     Mr. Noel came to this country many years ago from Kansas. He was a Kentuckian by birth, but went to Kansas in his early manhood, where he married. While here he was engaged in the cattle business. He handled in his time many thousands of horned cattle. For about twelve years he lived at Corinne, where he ran a general merchandise store in connection with buying and selling cattle. Prior to living at Corinne he lived at Doaksville, near Fort Towson. About two years ago he sold out his store in Corinne and moved to Antlers. He bought a residence property of Barney Zimmerman and remodeled it and here is where he expected to spend the remainder of his days in retirement. But ever since the 20th of last December he began to decline physically, and his many years of expected enjoyment in living a quiet easy and retired life were cut short by his untimely death. Mr. Noel’s full name was Gilbert Lee Noel, but he always disliked the name and adopted a surname of his own – Barney. He was known all over the country as “Barney” Noel, always signing his name as “Barney” Noel. Very few people knew him as Gilbert Lee Noel.
     Mr. Noel was a member of the old Doaksville Lodge of Mason, one of the first lodges of Masons in Old Indian Territory. He was also a member of Anlers Chapter of Royal Arch Mason, No. 18, and was one of the charter members of Antlers council in Masonry, and was contemplating joining the Hugo Lodge of Knight Templars in the near future.
     In politics he was a Republican but he was a noble adversary. Two years ago he ran for county commissioner in the Antlers district but was defeated by H.A. Evans, one of the present county commissioners. In politics as in business and everything else he was always a man – square, honorable and upright.
     He leaves behind him to mourn his loss a wife and six sons. They are Lee, James, Albert, Benjamin, Cur [remaining missing] He was 59 yea [remaining missing]
     [missing] funeral took place Friday afternoon at 3:30 and the interment was at the Odd Fellows Cemetery. – Antlers News Record.
     The death of Uncle Barney Noel last week, at his home in Antlers was greatly regretted by his many friends here. He was known to all, as a good honest man, and will be greatly missed in this whole section of country.