Nicholas Sheran
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Sheran was an entrepreneur born in New York City
. He spent his early years apprenticing as a printer, working on Arctic
whalers
, and serving in the United States Army
.
, Sheran followed a fellow soldier (Joseph Healy
) to Montana where he worked as a prospecter and trader. In June 1874, he went north to Fort Whoop-Up
, a whiskey-trading post started by Healy's older brother John
in what is now Lethbridge
, Alberta
.
While in the area, Sheran started a ferry
service across the Belly River (now Oldman
). In addition, he also mined coal from a seam in the nearby coulee
s and sold it to traders who came to the fort.
In 1878, Sheran lived common-law
with a Peigan
woman named Mary Brown, and they had two sons together: Charles and William. Sheran drowned the May before his second son was born.
, leisure centre, and elementary school in Lethbridge are named after Sheran.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He spent his early years apprenticing as a printer, working on Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
whalers
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
, and serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
History
After his service in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Sheran followed a fellow soldier (Joseph Healy
Joseph Healy
Joseph Healy was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Newton, Massachusetts. He completed preparatory studies and then worked as a hotel keeper. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits....
) to Montana where he worked as a prospecter and trader. In June 1874, he went north to Fort Whoop-Up
Fort Whoop-Up
Fort Whoop-Up was the nickname given to a whisky trading post, originally Fort Hamilton, near what is now Lethbridge, Alberta. During the late 19th century, the post served as a centre for various illegal activities...
, a whiskey-trading post started by Healy's older brother John
John Healy
John Healy was an American entrepreneur in the late 19th century. Originally from Montana, he and Alfred B. Hamilton established a whiskey trading post near present-day Lethbridge, Alberta in 1869...
in what is now Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
While in the area, Sheran started a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service across the Belly River (now Oldman
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
). In addition, he also mined coal from a seam in the nearby coulee
Coulee
Coulee is applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley or drainage zone.The word coulee comes from the Canadian French coulée, from French word couler meaning "to flow"....
s and sold it to traders who came to the fort.
In 1878, Sheran lived common-law
Common-law marriage
Common-law marriage, sometimes called sui juris marriage, informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute, is a form of interpersonal status that is legally recognized in limited jurisdictions as a marriage even though no legally recognized marriage ceremony is performed or civil marriage...
with a Peigan
Northern Peigan
The Northern Peigans or Aapátohsipikáni are a First Nation, part of the Niitsítapi . Known as Piikáni, "Pekuni" or Aapátohsipikáni , they are very closely related to the other members of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Aamsskáápipikani , Káínaa or...
woman named Mary Brown, and they had two sons together: Charles and William. Sheran drowned the May before his second son was born.
Namesakes
A parkNicholas Sheran Park
Nicholas Sheran Park is an urban park in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and is named after one of the city's founders, Nicholas Sheran. The largest park in West Lethbridge, it was conceptualised as a regional park in 1969, and constructed in 1974.-Amenities:...
, leisure centre, and elementary school in Lethbridge are named after Sheran.