Centennial of Haywood County by W C Allen pp142-143 with picture.

David Russell Noland.
No family in Fines Creek township has been more active in building up that
section of the county than the Nolands. The family originally came from. Belgium
and brought with it to this country some of the spirit of the ancient Belgians
who resisted Caesar so stubbornly when he conquered their country about 55 B. C.
One branch of the family came to the mountains of western North Carolina and
settled on Crystal Creek, now known as Fines Creek.
David Russell Noland was born Feb 11, 1866, 1n Fines Creek township. His father
is James Hardy Noland, still living an active old man, and his Mother Sara E.
Noland. As a boy he was sent "to the public schools of his neighborhood and
later to the academy in Waynesville while his brother, Thomas W., was principal
in 1885. Later in 1888-1890 he attended school at Weaverville College in.
Buncombe.County, where he was more thoroughly equipped for the active duties of
life.
Returning from college Mr. Noland taught school for a year, and then engaged in
farining and stock raising in which he has been very successfuL He has succeeded
in accumulating considerable property and is considered today one of the most
successful and prosperous farmers in Fines Creek township. . '
. In 1902 Mr. Noland was elected sheriff of Haywood County and moved to
Waynesville to live. He served so acceptably that he was re-elected in 1904 and
served until 1906, when he declined to be a candidate longer. Before being
elected sheriff he was, for a number of years, tax collector. This year (1908)
he was chosen. chairman of the Haywood County Democratic executive committee. He
now, lives in Waynesville. March 11, 1892 he married Etta A. Reeves. They have
one child, David Reeves Noland, who is in school at the academy in Waynesville.
Sheriff Noland is a member of the Methodist Church and a Knight of Pythias.