Patrick “Pat” Dolan

Patrick “Pat” Dolan was born on October 2, 1843 in Ireland and died February 12, 1930 in El Paso, Texas.

Dolan served as a Union Army Officer during the Civil War and as the first Sheriff of Uvalde County in the 1870’s.

Dolan came to Fort Davis as a saddler with the re-occupying troops in 1867, and was later a wagon master in charge of hauling lumber from the ‘pinery’ to the post. In 1870 he was appointed Deputy Customs Inspector at Eagle Pass, Texas before he was elected Sheriff of Uvalde County in 1872. In 1874 he married Margaret Jane Cook (sister of John Cook for whom Cook Flat is named) and began working for the Leona Ranch Company.

In 1876, Dolan was appointed Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers and was promoted to Captain in 1878, where he served until April of 1879. In 1884 he moved his family and his herd of Durham cattle to the Davis Mountains, which is now part of the lower U Up U Down Ranch.

After he served as Jeff Davis County Sheriff from 1889-1890, he continued ranching and in 1898 he sold his ranch to GS Locke and moved to Marfa, Texas to open a saddle shop. By 1902 he was residing in El Paso, Texas.

The Dolans were parents to 7 children.

Patrick “Pat” Dolan photo courtesy of Carl C. Williams collection