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The mineral deposit at the Noble Mine was discovered as early as 1730. Originally mistaken for copper ore due to its striking resemblance, early prospectors were consequently unable to smelt it. By the 1760's, William Alexander also known as "Lord Stirling", and for whom the tract of land was later named after, acquired the property. He too was unable to manufacture the ore. Following his death in 1783, the property came into possession of Robert Ogden and his sons. A family of notable iron industrialists, they too were unsuccessful at mining the zinc and iron ore.
The tract remained wholly within the Ogden family until 1837 when the southwestern portion was sold to Robert Ogden's son-in-law Samuel Fowler, a renowned mineralogist. This portion became known as the Noble Mine. Unfortunately for Fowler, he also met with failure attempting to mine the ore despite a substantial amount of effort. The mine was passed to his heirs upon his death in 1844.
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