JOHN EDWARD NOLAN was born on his father's farm in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, February 13, 1864, and is a son of Michael and Phebe Catherine Nolan.

The Nolan family is of Irish extraction, and the grandfather, Isreal Nolan, was born in New Jersey. He was married to Fanny Corrington. They emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, at an early date, where he worked as a weaver, but prior to the birth of their son Michael, in 1818, they settled on a farm in Miami County, three miles east of the present Nolan farm. Eight children were born to them - John, James, Daniel, Michael, Elizabeth, Han-nah, Sarali and Mary-all of whom are deceased.

Michael Nolan followed an agricultural life until he went to California in 1853 in the days of the gold excitement there, and during the three years that he remained there, made enough by mining to give him a fair start in life, buying property situated east of the present Nolan farm, which as then owned by Daniel Nolan. In 1860 he married Mrs. Phebe Catherine (Conrad) Kaw, she having one daughter, Caroline Kaw.

Phebe Catherine Conrad was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to America at the age of nineteen years. To this union six children were born, namely; Emma J.; John Edward; Elizabeth A,; Cory H.; Hattie and Nora B. On the death of Daniel Nolan, Michael bought the farm, and with his family moved on it, and here he passed away June 6, 1889, at the age of 66 years, 9 months and 5 days.

John Edward Nolan was educated in the district schools and at Ada College, Ohio, where he graduated in the commercial department, in 1888. His life has been mainly devoted to agricultural activities, although he learned and for several years worked at the carpenter trade. He carries on general farming and gives his estate the careful attention which brings him bountiful harvests as a result. He is one of the township's intelligent, practical men, takes a good citizen's interest in public matters, particularly those pertaining to his own township. He votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Masonic lodge at Troy, Ohio.