Posted on: PaloAlto County Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoObits/574 Surname: Nolan, Conway, Jackman, Brennan, O'Brien, Eagan, McEvoy, Hammes, Hickey, King, Stewart, Mahan, Murphy, Guerdet, Neary, Laughlin, Downey, Sylvester, Johnson, Still, James, Walsh, Liddle, Kane, Kennedy, Kelm, Kinney, Theil, Murray, Stewart ------------------------- Emmetsburg Democrat, Thurs., October 24, 1935 Chas. Nolan Passed Away Last Thursday Member of the Original Irish Colony Called to Reward. Funeral Held From the St. Thomas Church in Emmetsburg Saturday. WAS A FINE CITIZEN He Underwent the Early Day Struggles and Faced Indian Threats to Safety. Was 80 Years of Age. Charles T. Nolan, one of the honored pioneer residents of the community, passed away at the home of his son, John Nolan, one and a half miles north of Emmetsburg Thursday morning following an illness of about ten days. The funeral was held at St. Thomas church Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. A solemn requiem high mass was celebrated by the pastor Rev. M. McNerney. Assisted by Very Rev. J. T. Finnegan, pastor of the Assumption church of this city, and Rev. Leo McEvoy of Ruthven. Interment was in St. John's cemetery. Honorary pall bearers were M. F. Brennan, P. C. Jackman, P. T. O'Brien, W. F. Eagan, J. B. McEvoy and John Hammes. The active pall bearers were J. W. Conway, L. P. Hickey, J. J. King, T. J. Conway, Charles Stewart and C. C. Nolan. Among those present at the last rites of the deceased were the three surviving members of the original Irish Colony to settle in Palo Alto county. They are J. J. Mahan and Mrs. Mary Murphy of Graettinger, and Mrs. S. J. Guerdet of Crookston, Minnesota. Mr. Nolan, with his parents, was a member of the colony. Charles Thomas Nolan was born at Elgin, Illinois, December 17, 1855. Hence he was 79 years of age at the time of his passing. He came to Palo alto county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Nolan, in 1856. The family made the trip by ox team from Elgin to this county. They left Elgin in April, 1856, and did not reach their destination until three months later, on July 8. In March, 1857, during the excitement attending the Indian Massacre at Spirit Lake, the Nolan family moved to Fort Dodge where they remained for a few months. In 1858 the Nolans established their home on their farm near Medium lake. A log cabin was built on the place. Here the family lived for some time. Members of the first Irish colony were: James Nolan, John Neary, Edward Mahan, Martin Laughlin, John Nolan, and their families and Patrick Jackman and Thomas Laughlin. Mr. Nolan was married to Alice Jane Conway October 14, 1874. The ceremony was performed in the old church near Riverdale. Mr. and Mrs. Nolan resided on their farm on the west bank of Medium lake for many years. In 1914 they retired and moved to town where they purchased a home. Ten sons and daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nolan. Mrs. Nolan passed away August 24, 1924. Five children have also preceded their father in death - Bridget Ann, Johanna, Patrick and Mrs. M. J. Laughlin. The latter died at Graettinger February 16, 1913. Since January, 1934, Mr. Nolan had made his home with his son John. The surviving sons and daughters are Mrs. Alice Libert of Iowa CIty, John F., and Thomas C. of Emmetsburg, James of Cedar Rapids, and William B. of Chicago. His death is also mourned by a brother, P.V. Nolan, of this city, and eighteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. They are Leland Laughlin of Omaha, Mrs. Marie Stewart of Ruuthven, Mrs. L. P. Johnson of Omaha, Mrs. Howard Still of Cedar Rapids, Alice Marie Libert of Iowa City, Dorothy and Richard Nolan, John Francis, Anita, Patrick, Vincent, Robert, Margery and Ruth Nolan, Alice Jane, Mary Ann, James, Thomas, Helen Marie Nolan, Irene and Margery Stewart of Ruthven; Patricia James and Billy Laughlin of Graettinger. Relatives and friends from a distance present at the funeral services were Mrs. ALice Libert and daughter, Alice Marie, of Iowa City; James J. Nolan, J. J. Walsh and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Still of Cedar Rapids; William B. Nolan of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Laughlin and family of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Laughlin, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Liddle, Mrs. Tom Conway, Mr. and Mrs. Will Kane, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Kennedy, Mrs. Mary Kelm, Mr and Mrs. Ambrose Conway and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kinney of Estherville; Mr. and Mrs. John Conway and family of Dougherty; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Theil of Britt; Miss Josie McEvoy of Cherokee and Mrs. Lil Murray of Fort Dodge, besides a large number of friends from Graettinger, Ayshire and Mallard. The passing of Charles Nolan from our midst again brings sharply to our minds the fast fading memory of the early struggles our hard pioneers underwent to found our county and the towns within its borders. Not only was the work of breaking the land and building crude homes difficult, but the colonists were often beset by dangers. Indians frequently rode through the prairies and many of them were unfriendly to the purpose of the white man. The problem of transporting food and supplies was serious. Great distances had to be covered by team and wagon in order to bring in even the coarsest of food supplies. The colony, however, soon learned the value of co-operation and each member opened his heart and his purse to his fellows. With the passing of the years other early settlers ventured into Palo Alto and with the building of the railraod west from Algona, the increase in population became rapid. Charles Nolan lived during this early period of our county's history and he knew only too well the trials and tribulations under which he and his associates were forced to make their living. For many years he conducted a farm a short distance north of the present site of Emmetsburg. He was a good farmer, was frugal in his management, and he accumulated a fair portion of this world's goods. With it he was able to retire, move to Emmetsburg and afford his large family of worthy sons and daughters good educational, religious and business advantages. His record as a citizen was an excellent one. During his declining years he was a familiar figure on the streets of Emmetsburg. He could count his personal friends by the hundreds. There are many who will remember his many acts of practical charity and who will long revere his honored name. To those who are bereaved by the death of Charles Nolan the Demcorat unites with its many readers in extending sincere sympathy.