by Charles W. Bowman
Biographies
THOMAS B. NOLANMr. Nolan came to Colorado in the spring of 1867, from Junction City, Kan. He arrived at Kit Carson, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and was employed with Chick, Brown & Co., commission merchants and forwarders, at various stations on the road. In 1873, he came to Granada, in the employment of the same company, as buying and receiving clerk, which position he occupied for several years while engaged with them. Since 1876, Mr. Nolan has had a store at Granada, which has been headquarters for supplies for cattle men for a large extent of territory. Frequently he has sold goods to be taken from a hundred to two hundred miles. Since 1876, he has also been Postmaster, and from the office he distributes mail that is carried 150 miles before it reaches the person to whom it was directed. At the time he commenced trading, he had a herd of sheep, but sold his flock, and is now running only cattle. His herd consists of American stock, which he is improving with short-horn and Hereford breeds. He has 400 head of cattle and a few head of horses; has 7,000 acres of land under fence. While he was employed for Chick, Browne & Co., he had a good deal of experience with the Indians, who were very troublesome. At Ellsworth, Kan., he was obliged to hold freight teams until a large number had collected, sufficient to successfully repel the attacks of the savages. He had several men killed. At Sheridan, he had the same experience. The Indians would receive their annuities of guns and ammunition at this and other points, and afterward commit the same depredations, running off mules and killing unprotected men. His dealings with them has not had a tendency to increase his love for the dusky tribe. Granada has been for a number of years the terminus of a railroad division. In 1881, it was changed to Sargent, Kan., two miles east of the Colorado State line. Notwithstanding the larger portion of the town will move to Sargent, Mr. Nolan will remain in his present location.
