Based upon Emails received in 2025 via the NolanFamilies.org website from:

• Kathleen Lewis dave2kathy@bellsouth.net
• also Kathleen O’Mara froghill@comcast.net

we know that:

Sometime around 1850 John Nolan made an ocean voyage to Springfield IL, possibly departing from Liverpool, England. on 17 FEB 1851, listed as passenger #227, on the immigrant ship Columbus, bound for New York via Fayal, Azores. Once in the US, John sent back for his betrothed Marya. According to family lore her ocean crossing was a rough perilous journey of six months.

Settling in Springfield, Illinois, John and Maya had altogether 7 children all born there. Their names in order of birth were: James H. (b. 10-08-1854), Nellie, Maria, Lucy, John, Peter and Kathryn.

John H. went to work for his uncle Pat Sheehan in Kansas as Livestock farmer and, upon his return, bought land and tended bar in Morrisonville.