Michael Nowlan

Michael Nowlan, one of the old settlers of Stark county, was born in Carlow county, Ireland, in 1800; emigrated to Newfoundland in youth, and there, for several years, was engaged in the fisheries. Mr. Nowlan was married in Newfoundland. Moving into the United States the family made a home at Boston for some time, and next settled at Worcester, Mass., the father being engaged in the construction of America's first railroad. In 1840 he sought the western prairies as a home for his large family, and came to this county via the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi and Illinois rivers — the trip, even forty-seven years ago, being a long and weary one. He settled on the west half, southwest quarter, section 22, Goshen, walking to Rock Island en route to Galena, to make the entry. Subsequently he entered the north half, northeast quarter, section 28, but made his home on the homestead of 1840, where his widow still resides. His sons, Patrick, voting of Hastings, Nebraska; James, of Toulon; William, of Goshen; and John, deceased, came with the family in 1840. There were born here —Edward, of Goshen; David, of Havelock, Ia.; Michael, deceased; Mary, a sister of the order of the Holy Cross, Baltimore, Md.; Henry, of Goshen; George, cashier of the Exchange Bank, Toulon, and Joseph, who for some years worked on the News, now in Peoria; David served in Company B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, subsequently transferred to Davidson's Battery, retransferred to Thirty-seventh and mustered out after three years' service. The father of this large and popular family died March 5, 1881.