My Genealogy Hound

EDWARD F. KANE, deceased, was, during a brief but exceedingly active career, one of the most useful citizens of Norristown, a leader at its bar, a man of affairs, whose service and influence were exercised with intelligence and ability in behalf of the community, and a prominent but unselfish factor in politics.

He was a native of the city which was the scene of his diversified labors, and was born September 17, 1864. His parents were Daniel and Alice (Conway) Kane, both natives of Ireland, The father has been many years deceased, and the mother is yet living, at the venerable age of nearly ninety years. Besides Edward, their children were Bridget, who is the wife of Patrick Marr, and Alice, unmarried, who lives with her mother at No. 345 East Airy street, Norristown.

From his early youth Edward F. Kane gave evidence of those qualities which he displayed at their best in his mature life. He was an eager seeker after knowledge, and, rightly measuring his capabilities, devoted himself industriously to the carving out of an honorable and useful career. Educated at St. Patrick’s parochial school, he was one of its brightest pupils, thoroughly learning the various branches of a liberal curriculum, to Latin and the higher mathematics and subsequently took a course in a Philadelphia business college. He was an adept in figures, and early in life was known as an accomplished bookkeeper and accountant. After his graduation he entered the drug store of John Wyeth & Company, in Philadelphia, where he rendered highly satisfactory service for several years. He left this employment to accept the position of commissioners’ transcriber, and this marked his entrance to the field of politics. While engaged in the duties of his office, he also read law under the preceptorship of the late Charles Hunsicker, Esq., a leading member of the Norristown bar, who took a deep interest in him and gave him most careful instruction. He passed the examination most creditably and on March 3, 1890, was admitted to practice. Almost on the instant his position in the profession was assured, and in a short time he was in the enjoyment of an extensive and remunerative business. In the preparation and conduct of his cases he was the peer of the most capable lawyers to whom he was opposed, and confessedly the superior of the most of their number. He was a persuasive speaker and an eloquent advocate before a jury, earnest and impetuous in his oratory, yet ever entirely self-possessed, never permitting his fervor to detract from his logic in argument or lower his dignity of manner. He won many memorable triumphs not only in civil practice, but also in the criminal courts. Among the former was his successful litigation in behalf of the Valley Forge park commission in the condemnation of land for a public park at that place. In the field of criminal law, he was counsel for the defendant in a cause celebre,-the trial of James A. Clemmer, brought to trial for the alleged murder of Mrs. Charles Kaiser. He conducted this case with masterly skill, devoting himself to it with such industry and intense interest that he never completely recovered from the severe nervous strain which it imposed. At the outset he secured the discharge of the panel of jurors on the ground of informality in their drawing, thus gaining a continuance to the ensuing term of court. He exhausted every legal resource, and pleaded for his client with matchless eloquence, running the entire gamut of oratory from pathos to persuasive appeal and fiery invective, in the effort to save the life of his client, who was, however, despite all his labors, convicted upon the testimony of an accessory to the crime, Lizzie DeKalb.

During the last few years of his life Mr. Kane was deeply interested in various business enterprises which, to some extent, engaged his attention to the exclusion of his law practice. He became, through a series of transactions, a part owner in the McCoy lime business in Upper Merion, and after the death of Robert McCoy he was owner of a one-third interest. This he subsequently relinquished, and became a half-owner in the fine Cedar Hollow lime quarries in Chester county.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Kane advocated the principles of his party with all the fervor of his nature, and almost from his first public appearance he was recognized as one of the most influential and resourceful in leadership. He was possessed of great executive and organizing abilities, and these gifts enabled him to achieve brilliant results in various important campaigns and political movements. As an orator he was at his best before the people, or in conventions, and he swayed such bodies almost at his will. He became chairman of the Democratic county committee in 1891, and served in that capacity until 1895, when his absorption in his business concerns made it necessary for him to retire from the position. In 1892, as the Democratic candidate for district attorney, he made a brilliant contest against James B. Holland, one of the strongest men in the Republican party, and, despite the popularity of his opponent, and the large adverse majority, he was defeated by only a little more than two hundred votes. Mr. Kane was for six years a member of the Norristown town council, and was one of the most industrious and sagacious who ever sat in that body. He was chairman of the committee on law, and a member of other leading committees, and took a leading part in formulating and securing the enactment of much salutary borough legislation. During the three years that his party had control of the poor board, he was its solicitor and clerk. He was a delegate to various state and congressional district conventions of his party, and in all was recognized as a potent factor in political affairs. He arranged the joint debate between Hastings and Singerly, the gubernatorial candidates in the campaign of 1894-an event of remarkable local interest as well as throughout the state, Singerly’s model farms being situated in Montgomery county.

True to the religion of his forebears, Mr. Kane was a devout Catholic, as was his wife, and their children were reared in the same faith. He was perhaps the most active and munificent in the building up of the local church, and was exceedingly liberal in sustaining its various charities and benevolences. The parochial school had in him one of its staunchest friends, and he afforded his aid and encouragement to many a youth struggling for an education, or whose inexperience placed him in need of a friend at a time when he could not discern the road to honor and success in life.

Mr. Kane married, in 1896, Miss Alice McDermott, and to them were born four children: Mary, Edward F., Alice (deceased), and Francis B. Kane. Mrs. Kane was a daughter of John and Mary (Clayton) McDermott. Mr. McDermott emigrated from Ireland in 1841, and established a grocery store on West Main street, which he conducted successfully until his death in 1900. His widow, who was Miss Mary Clayton, of Norristown, survives him.

Mr. Kane died December 14, 1903, from pneumonia. Notwithstanding he had been in declining health for a year or two previous, his death was unlooked for and created a profound sensation throughout the community. Among the expressions of regret and esteem, those expressed at a called meeting of the Montgomery county bar were as touching as they were sincere. Many of his fellow lawyers bore testimony to his high professional attainments and his excellence of personal character. Dwelt upon with peculiar appreciation was the fact that he was indeed the architect of his own fortunes; that he had made his own preparation for the duties of life; that he had ever borne himself with courage and dignity; and that the success which he achieved was due to his own unaided effort. While thus recognizing his sterling qualities of mind and personal worth, the conviction was also expressed by his eulogists, in public utterance and through the press, that had his life been prolonged high and well merited honors would undoubtedly have come to him. To his family he left a rich competence, and the more precious legacy of an unblemished and honored name.