Nicholas Sheran

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Nicholas Sheran (1841–1882) 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.

[edit] History

After his service in the American Civil War, 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 coulees 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.