John Nolan, 1827 - 1905

NOLAN, CONWAY

Posted By: Anonymous (email)
Date: 5/2/2010 at 12:45:22

PASSING OF A PIONEER
THE DEATH OF JOHN NOLAN OCCURRED MONDAY

MR. NOLAN CAME TO PALO ALTO COUNTY IN 1856, AND SETTLED ON A FARM WEST OF THE LAKE

On Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock occurred the death of Mr. John Nolan at his home just north of this city. He had been ailing for some time and for the ten days previous to his death the family knew that it was only a matter of a few days until he would be called hence.
The deceased was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, March 17, 1827,and had he survived until his next birthday, he would have been 79 years of age. In 1850 he came to America, but shortly after coming here he went to the Isthmus of Panama and worked on the construction of the first railroad across it. Later he worked on a vessel that made trips between Aspenwall and New York City. Quitting New York, he came west and on the 20th of October, 1854, he was united in marriage in Chicago, Ill., to Miss Bridget CONWAY. About two years later, in 1856, he and his brother James NOLAN, and their families drove from Elgin, Ill., to this county and settled on the edge of the timber northwest of this city. They were members of the original Irish colony about which so much has been written, and who were the pioneer settlers of this county. Mr. NOLAN with the rest of the colony were the original standpatters of Palo Alto county, and espite cold and heat, wet and dry, famine and plenty, grasshoppers, and even the Indian outbreak of 1857, they stayed by their task of subduing the wild country into a habitable region until it was accomplished and handed down to posterity a heritage second to none in the world.
Mr.NOLAN was a member of the party that made up the relief expedition that went from Fort Dodge to the relief of the settlers at Spirit Lake in the spring of 1857. A monument erected in memory of this massacre nearly Pillsbury Point on West Okoboji has among others the name of Mr. NOLAN inscribed upon it. Mr. NOLAN participated in the organization of the county and participated in the first election. He also served as sheriff of the county. He was of a rugged nature and no trial nor hardship could daunt his spirit. He was very hospitable and in the early days, any weary traveler found shelter and good cheer in his home. He was honest, frugal and industrious, but frank and outspoken in all his views. He lived to a ripe old age, despite the hardships of pioneer life and his name will be revered as one of that hardy band who opened the way of civilization in this county and laid the foundation for the many happy and prosperous homes of today. He has gone to his reward, but verily his labors live after him.
His wife died in 1901 and the only surviving children are two sons, Mr. P.V. NOLAN and Charles NOLAN, both of this city.
The funeral was held on Wednesday at 10:30 o'clock from Assumption church, the services being conducted by Very Rev. J.J. Smith. It was very largely attended. The remains were laid to rest in St. John's cemetery.