Funeral services were held recently in Williston, N.D. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for John L. Nolan, 76, native of Richland Township, Rice County, who for 21 years was prominent in Williston business circles. Burial was made in St. Joseph's Cemetery. The Rev. Blaine R. Cook, pastor of the church, officiated. He was a brother of Hugh Nolan, Faribault, who attended the final rites. Other survivors include: a son, Charles Clayton Nolan, Seattle, and three daughters, Mrs. Frank Shotwell (Isabella) Buford, N.D.; Mrs. Francis Saterlie (Frances) Whitefish, Montana, and Mrs. Robert Duncan (Catherine) Cut Bank, Montana; three sisters, Mrs. Fred Brick, Mrs. James Cashman and Mrs. Frank O"Brien, all of Owatonna; five brothers, Ray, Janesville, Hugh, Faribault, James, Alhambra, Calif., Frank, Rugby, N.D. and Leonard, Minneapolis and his mother, Mrs. P. H. Nolan, Owatonna, 96. His wife, the former Catherine McGrath, whom he married in 109 in Minot, N. D., preceded him in death in 1946. Also preceding him in death were two brothers and one sister. Mr. Nolan was born Dec. 21, 1878 in Richland Township. He was reared and received his education there. In 1903 he came to North Dakota to homestead 18 miles north of Williston. He was employed in that city until going with the police force, retiring from service as chief of police in 1931. He then went into business, retiring in 1952. An unusual tribute was paid the late Police Chief Nolan recently in a "People's Column" letter in the Williston Herald. The article, written by D. I. Todd of Williston, stated: "May I use your columns to pay tribute to the memory of John L. Nolan, Williston's Chief of Police 40 years ago? Nolan was one of the few police officers in the United States who believed every citizen, even an Irishman, had the constitutional right to criticize social conditions so long as he didn't slander other citizens in doing so. "One morning, about a year after the IWW trouble in Minot, a Wobbly organizer, named Sullivan, told Chief Nolan he was going to make a speech, that evening, on Second St., west of Main, and asked Nolan to see that no one interfered with the with the meeting. Sullivan showed the Chief some handbills he planned to pass out, reading "I.W.W. Come out this evening and hear the principles of this organization explained by one of its official organizers. Your questions will be answered courteously." "Chief Nolan said, "O.K.! All I ask is that you be a gentleman." The street was crowded that evening while the people listened, in amazement, to a speech that might have come from a college professor. The speaker explained that the itinerant worker, deprived of the ballot when away from home, had no voice in the making of the laws and only by organization could he secure decent wages and working conditions. Many businessmen got a bit of education that evening, and they chipped in when a collection was taken for the benefit of the speaker. Some shook hands with him. "It was the first Wobbly speech every heard in Williston, but the story went over the nation that free speech was a reality in Williston, and years later the Great Northern Railroad officers, in St. Paul, stated that their detectives had less trouble in Williston than in any other division point from St. Paul to Portland. Chief Nolan, and later, Chief Olson, by their understanding and tolerance, saved lives and property, but got small recognition from the public for their behavior. I'm writing this simply to give credit where credit is due, and to keep the record straight for the City of Opportunity."

Source: Faribault Daily News --02/Mar/1956 via Dalby Database