George LANE Portrait and Biographical Album of Peoria County, Illinois
Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1890, pp. 372-373

GEORGE LANE

This gentleman is pleasantly located in Trivoli Township, owning fifty acres on section 19, and another tract of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 19 and 30. In addition to his own property, he rents two hundred and five acres, operating therefore four hundred and fifteen acres. He has set out one hundred orchard trees on his home place, has fenced and otherwise improved it, erecting in 1888(?) a barn 36 x 48 feet, and in 1890 another 36 x 37 feet. The land is fertilized by a stream which flows through it, beautified by native groves, affording the best of pasture ground for the large herds of cattle which he raises and feeds. His principal occupation is cattle feeding and shipping, his transactions in that line being more extensive than those of any other man in the township. He feeds about twelve thousand bushels of corn a year, being obliged to buy more than half this amount.

Mr. Lane uses the best farm machinery, running his corn crusher and grinder by steam, and having a steam thresher, with which he does much work during the season. he has threshed since he was sixteen years old, and held an interest in a machine for quite a number of years. Besides the cattle which he feeds, he also buys and ships hogs to some extent, feeding two or three carloads per year, and raises some draft horses. He is an excellent judge of stock, and has made more money by trade than in any other way. His home is located four miles from Farmington and three miles from Cramer, giving him convenient markets.

Our subject is of Southern ancestry, being a grandson of Col. Lewis Lane, a native of North Carolina, who located on a farm in Tennessee in 1814. He was a private in the War of 1812, and a Colonel in the Black Hawk War. For some years he held the office of High Sheriff in Tennessee and a similar office in Hamilton County, Ill., to which he finally removed. He occupied himself in farming and hunting being a well-known sportsman and at one time he was owner of eleven hundred acres of land. He was liberal and open-handed spending his money freely, was as popular as any man in the county and moved in the best of society. At one time, he was engaged in raising fast and fancy horses, owning some valuable specimens. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and lived to be over ninety years old. An heirloom in his family is a cane which he cut from timber on Andrew Jackson's place at New Orleans.

The father of our subject was Joel P. Lane, who was born near Nashville, Tenn., came to Hamilton County, Ill. when a babe and was educated there. He made several trips back and forth between that and Peoria Counties, finally removing to the latter in the fall of 1834. In 1840 he brought some running horses which he traded for the land now occupied by our subject, upon which he located and resided until his death. During his early years he was not very energetic, but later in life became very successful. When the Civil War closed he had one hundred and forty acres of land, to which he added until his estate amounted to two hundred and sixty acres. His specialty was raising swine. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, active in all its work, a Class-Leader for years and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He died in 1874, when sixty-nine years old.

The wife of Joel P. Lane and mother of our subject was Keziah Proctor, a native of Hamilton County, Ill., in which her parents, David and Jane Proctor, were early settlers. Her father was born in Virginia and was engaged in farming. Mrs. Keziah Lane is now living with our subject, being quite advanced in years. She is the mother of eight children, four of whom are still living. These are: Johnson H., a farmer in Trivoli Township; John W., whose home is in Abingdon; he of whom we write; and Alva C., a real-estate and loan agent in Eureka, Kan. The deceased are: Lewis H., who died here; Elza, Sarah and Mary.

The subject of this sketch was born April 5, 1855 on the farm he now owns, an reared upon it, early beginning to take a share in the farm work, and pursuing his studies in the district schools. He remained with his parents until twenty years old, when, his father dying, he began farming for himself, finally buying out the other heirs of the homestead. He engaged in general farming, then went into the sheep business quite extensively, having as many as fifteen hundred head, one thousand of which he bought in Kansas. He sold wool and mutton until the dogs became so numerous and trouble-some that he disposed of his flocks and embarked in the cattle business. He feeds about four carloads, or one hundred and seventy-five head per year, in addition to those raised on his own place.

Mr. Lane was fortunate in securing for his wife an amiable, capable young lady, a native of Timber Township, known to her maidenhood as Miss Ida Fahnestock. Her father, William Fahnestock made an early settlement in Timber Township, where he was engaged in farming and coopering, but is now in the hotel business at Glasford. Mrs. Lane received her education in this vicinity and for some years was successfully engaged in school teaching. She and her husband have two children--Frank and Howard.

Mr. Lane is an ardent Democrat, but will accept no offices. Honorable in all his actions, intelligent, courteous and of a friendly spirit, he is deservedly popular, while his energy, tact and thrift make the outlook for the future bright indeed


The Above Biography was submitted by Susan MEIER Thank you Susan!