My Genealogy Hound

JOHN LANE, an influential citizen of Berrien County, residing upon section 2, St. Joseph Township, was born in Livingston County, Ky., April 12, 1843. He is of Canadian descent, his paternal grandfather, Ashar Lane, Sr., having been born in that portion of the Queen’s dominions. The father of our subject, Ashar Lane, Jr., was born in Steuben County, N. Y., and removed when a young man to Kentucky, after having served for one term in the regular army.

Arriving in Kentucky, Mr. Lane settled in Livingston County, and was there united in marriage with Miss Nancy McKenney. After that important event, the newly-wedded couple commenced housekeeping upon a farm in the Blue Grass State, but later, disposing of the place, about 1850, removed to Missouri, where they sojourned for one year. Thence removing to La Salle County, Ill., they resided there for a brief period, and later established their home in Galena, the same State, where Mrs. Lane died in 1853.

From Galena Mr. Lane returned to La Salle County, and thence one year afterward went to Rockford, Ill. In 1856 he came to Michigan and settled in Berrien County, where for a time he worked in different places. As soon as possible he purchased a tract of land in Lincoln Township, but later disposed of the property and bought a farm in St. Joseph Township, where he remained until his death, in 1872. During the late war he enlisted as a member of Company G, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and later continued in the army as a member of the Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, Company I. At Thompson’s Station, Tenn., he was taken prisoner, and after a short confinement in prison was paroled and discharged.

John Lane is the only survivor among the three children comprising the parental family. At the age of seven years he accompanied his parents to Missouri, and later removed with them to Illinois. He was about thirteen years of age when he came to Michigan, and upon a farm in Berrien County he grew to manhood, meantime having meagre opportunities for acquiring an education. However, through experience and observation, he has more than made up for the lack of early advantages, and now occupies a position among the intelligent men of the community.

In April, 1861, when the nation was overwhelmed by the horrors of civil war, our subject enlisted in the defense of the Union, his name being enrolled as a member of Company G, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and he served for about twenty months as a member of the company. At the battle of Antietam he was wounded by a bullet, which injured him to such an extent as to necessitate his discharge from the army. Upon his recovery he enlisted as a member of Company B, Sixth Michigan Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged with the rank of Corporal. Among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Cedar Mountain, Gainesville, South Mountain and the second battle of Bull Run. He was also in the McDowell campaign in Virginia.

After the close of the war Mr. Lane traveled through Kansas and Nebraska, spending about two years in the West. He then returned to Michigan and settled in Benton Harbor, where he made his home for fourteen years. In 1884 he came to the farm where he has since made his home, and upon which he has placed a large number of improvements, making it one of the best estates in the vicinity. Upon the thirty-two acres comprising the property, he has set out fruit trees of every variety, and now conducts a large business as a fruit-grower. He has erected all the buildings on the place and it is largely due to his efforts that the farm is one of the finest on Lincoln Avenue.

In March, 1863, Mr. Lane married Miss Mary E., the daughter of Joseph Whitaker, and a native of Elkhart County, Ind. At the age of nine years she came to Michigan with her mother and settled in Oronoko Township, Berrien County, where her mother is still living, making her home among her children. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lane has been blessed by the birth of one child, Ella, who resides with her parents. In his political views Mr. Lane is a Republican and served as delegate to the last Republican State Convention. He has also been a delegate to Congressional Conventions. His interest in political matters has been deep and unchanging, and he has served as a member of the Republican Central Committee and has also been Chairman of the Township Committee for eight years. As might be supposed, he retains connection with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is Junior Vice Commander of the post. He belongs to the Union Veteran Union, of which he is the present Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. In his religious views he is liberal, but though he does not hold membership in any church, he is generous in his contributions to the various denominations, as well as to all charitable projects.