NOLAN, (Capt.) John T., Lexington, KY., then Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Among the influential and representative citizens of Ascension parish, La.,
Capt. John T. Nolan, planter, Donaldsonville, stands pre-eminent, for his
career has been honorable and upright in every particular.  He is a native
Kentuckian, born in Lexington, June 18, 1842, and is a son of Dr. John T.
Nolan, who graduated from the Lexington Medical college.  When a young man
the father came to Louisiana, located in West Baton Rouge parish, and there
made his home until 1861.  From there he went to "the Lone Star state,"
located at Marlin, but in 1866 moved to Dallas, of that state, where his
death occurred in 1881 at the age of seventy-two years.  He was president
of the police jury in West Baton Rouge parish for twelve years and was
coroner and justice of the peace at the same time.  While a resident of the
above mentioned parish he was the owner of Westover plantation, which was
then one of the finest in the parish.  He was very successful, but lost
heavily during the war.  He was the son of George Nolan, who was a native
of Georgia and a cotton planter in his native state until his death.  Dr.
Nolan married Miss Jane Garnett Frazer, of a prominent Virginia family, and
the fruits of this union were six children, only one, our subject, now
living.  The mother died in 1850, when thirty-eight years of age.  Capt.
John T. Nolan was thoroughly educated in Magruder's school in Baton Rouge,
Oakland college, Mississippi, and the University of Virginia, from which he
graduated.  He was in Virginia at the breaking out of the war and left
school to go home and join the Delta rifles, Fourth Louisiana infantry, as
a private, remaining with this until after the battle of Shiloh, when he
was transferred and promoted to second lieutenant of Company A, Miles
Louisiana legion.  He remained with the company until the fall of Port
Hudson, after which he was sent out with dispatches and reached Brook
Haven, Miss., before being captured.  After being paroled and exchanged he
returned to Louisiana and collected enough of Miles' legion to form two
companies, after which he was promoted to major.  Just before the surrender
his command was attached to Gober's regiment of cavalry.  He was in the
battle of Ship Island, Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Jackson, Miss., and
others.  After the war Capt. Nolan was without means, and he started out as
a cotton planter, following this two years, when he gave it up, having lost
both crops by high water.   Coming to Donaldsonville he located on the
plantation with A. A. Maginnis (St. Elizabeth plantation), this being one
of the finest of its size in the state, and has been a resident of the same
since 1860.  In 1887 he became sole owner. The following year he became
part owner and manager of Hermitage plantation.  Mr. Nolan was a member of
the police jury the last four years of McEnery's administration.  He has
been in the militia ever since the war and at the reorganization of
Donaldsonville cannoneers he was elected first lieutenant.  At the
disbanding of cannoneers in 1883 he organized Ascension rifles and was
elected captain, serving four years.  In 1863, while on parole, Capt. Nolan
married Miss Sarah E. Maginnis, daughter of A. A. Maginnis of New Orleans.
By this union two sons and four daughters have been born, only one of the
sons living , the other having died at the age of seven.  The children are
named as follows:  Arthur Tilghman (deceased); John T.; Martha Frazer, wife
of Samuel -----, of the New Orleans bar; Elizabeth Garnett, wife of Dr.
Frank H. Brickell of New Orleans; Laura A. and Emma V., at home.  The
Captain is a member of the Knights of Honor, and he was the first dictator
in Donaldsonville lodge.  In politics he is a democrat.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 280-281.
Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.

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