My Genealogy Hound

JOHN COLGAN, a leading druggist of Louisville, was born in that city December 18, 1840, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Christopher) Colgan, natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively. John Colgan’s paternal grandfather removed from Virginia to Kentucky about 1800, and settled on a farm in Shelby County. William Colgan came to Louisville from Shelby County about 1823, and here followed his trade of house-building and general business of a mechanic. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, and upon quitting, engaged in the drug business in 1860. During the war he was a political prisoner for four months in a Memphis prison, but through the influence of General Forrest was released through exchange. He immediately engaged in the drug business again, and in 1879 originated and began the manufacture of “Colgan’s celebrated Taffa Tulu” chewing gum, which has large sales all over the United States, Canada and Australia. He employs on an average fifty hands in the factory, and the annual aggregate sales of his tulu amount to $75,000, to $100,000. Mr. Colgan was married, in 1866, to Miss Mattie McCrory, daughter of John McCrory, of Louisville, and has living five children — Bettie, William, Henry, Mabel and Clifton. In January, 1881, Mr. James A. McAfee became his partner, and ever since the firm of Colgan & McAfee on Tenth and Walnut streets has been well known in the city.