YELL COUNTY, AR - WILLIAM T. NOLAN - Bio SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. -------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. -------------------------------------------------------------------- William T. Nolan, a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade, being attracted by the rich forests of oak and hickory, which grew in and about Yell County, came to Bellville in 1882 for the purpose of engaging in business. After prospecting and looking around he connected himself with Mr. May, and is now known as the senior member of the firm of Noland & May, wagon-makers, cabinetmakers and blacksmiths, and also owners of the extensive planing-mill plant, which was added to their immense business in 1888, and is fully supplied with machinery for cutting out spokes and felloes, and making a greater part of the wood. work of the wagons manufactured in his shops, the material being supplied from the native timber. He was born in 1855, in the State of Mississippi, to Javid and Emma P. (Reese) Nolan, also of Mississippi, and who followed farming as an occupation. After the father's death, January 15, 1870, our subject left school with a very limited education, and assumed the care of his widowed mother [p.174] and an infant sister, who, having grown to maturity, has since married and resides in this county, his mother remaining with him till her death, August 3, 1890, being fifty-two years old. He was married November 10, 1878, to Tennessee Payne, who was born December 21, 1860, and was a daughter of Marcus and Nancy Payne, of Arkansas and Mississippi nativity. To this union were born seven children: Idella Vincent, Jessie, Cleveland and Mary Annie (living); Buffing, Ada and Javid (deceased). He and family are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and socially he has been initiated into the Christian Lodge No. 394, of the A. F. & A. M., and politically votes with the Democratic party. As a citizen he is active and enterprising, doing everything in his power to aid and promote the interests of his county.