Thomas Patrick, the son of Irish emigrants, was born in Kansas, IL, in 1863. His parents, Patrick Nolan (????-c1882), a shoemaker, and Catherine Ryan, are believed to have married in Ireland in the late 1850s and then emigated to the US. Sometime thereafter they settled in the state of Kansas and raised a family of 7 children: John, Mary, Martin, Thomas, Jim, Dick and Johny.
More Information on Thomas Patrick, Thirza Jane and children:
Thomas Patrick and Thirza Jane, the daughter of English emigrants, George Little, a railroad carriage builder, and Martha Gibbs, met in Atchison, KS, where where Thirza's father working for the Pulman company had been transfered. Thomas and Thirza were married in 1884 and their first son, Charles Albert was born in 1885. Over the years 11 more children would follow but, due to the lack of medical facilities 5 of the family's 12 children died at an early age.
Thanks to his father-in-law's railroad connections, Thomas P. initially got a job with the railroad working on the road. However, due to a labour strike around 1889-1890, Thomas P. lost his job. The family, however, was very supportive and, this time, an uncle of his wife, Tom McNabb, who was the then master mechanic at the railroad yards in Lethbride, AB, offered him a job. So it was that Thomas P. made his way to Lethbridge in 1890. He worked initially as a wiper, then a fireman, and within a year had attained the prestigious position of railroad engineer. In 1891, Thirza and the three surviving children at that point, Charles, Albert and Kitty, joined Thomas P. in Lethbridge. The remaining children were all born in Alberta.
In 1902, the family moved to a ranch they had purchased on the Oldman (then Belly) river, about 1.5 miles from where the Nolan Bridge now stands. The Nolan ranch was initially a cattle operation but, recognizing the commercial viability of raising horses for homesteaders, Thomas P. switched to raising horses, a practice which he continued with his sons until the farm was sold in 1942. Thomas P. and Thirza spent their remaining years in Coaldale, AB. The family is also known to have been Methodist.
Children of THOMAS PATRICK NOLAN and THIRZA JANE LITTLE:
Charles Albert (1885-1905), plagued with ill health, he died shortly after the family had moved to the ranch in 1902.
Albert Martin (1887-1898) died young, of rheumatic fever.
Katherine Mary "Kitty" (1889-1891) died in Lethbridge shortly after the family's arrival.
Thomas Henry(1892-1971)
m1. Lillian Etta Kane (1891-1939) in 1916; they lived in Alberta and had 4 children: Bernard George (1917), Beatrice Evelyn (1919), Thomas Erwin ((1930) and Ellen (1933);
m2. Lucille Alexander (1909); they had 2 children: Ronald and Rita.
- a twin sister of Thomas Henry (1892) died at birth.
Gladys (1895- ) m. Damon NOBLE (????-1967) in 1914; they lived in Alberta and had 4 children: Cyril (1915), Red (1917), Velva (1918) and Althea Ruth (1920) who died within two months of birth.
Leslie George "Les" (1898-1979) m. Jessie Faye Ralston in 1942; they had 5 children: Joanne, Pat, Betty, Jesssie and Marion.
a twin sister of Leslie George, Lestie Seaman (1898-1900) died in her second year.
Joseph John "Joe" (1900-1977) never married but worked on the family farm and at various jobs after the farm was sold in 1942.
Bessie Ella (c1903) m. Donald Reginald Baldwin in 1938 ****
Willie (c1905)
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