Noyes Hartly Whitcomb was born on October 2, 1875 to John and Irene Howe Whitcomb in Monticello, Minnesota. "Whitecomb" was the original spelling, but following the previous generations' move from England, it was changed.

Whitcomb's application for his homestead was dated and signed by Theodore Roosevelt on October 19, 1908. He then moved to North Dakota. He first lived in a shack and later built a stone house of native rock. Later, a pole barn was built. He was married and they had one daughter, Muriel. After losing his wife, Whitcomb rented his farm and moved into Flasher, North Dakota.

He served as postmaster for twelve years and then entered a partnership in a service station. He served on the school board and was involved in other community activities. In 1925, Whitcomb married Marie Ketterling of Logan County, south of Streeter, North Dakota, daughter of Christoph and Barbara Perman Ketterling. They had three sons, John, Curtis, and Dale.

Whitcomb died in June 1948.