No element has been more potent in the rise and progress of the immense agricultural interests of Peoria County than its native-born citizens, and as a representative of such this gentleman occupies an honorable position in its farming community. He has a well-conducted and finely-improved farm, in Trivoli Township, and his home here is one of the most attractive in the locality.
Our subject comes from one of the earliest and best families of the township. (For an account of his ancestry see biography of George J. Lane on another page of this volume.) He was born April 17, 1847, in the humble log house which constituted the pioneer home of his parents on section 29 Trivoli Township. He had excellent school advantages and as soon as he was old enough was set to work to assist his father in his labors. At the age of twenty he received a certificate to teach, but never availed himself of it as his attention was devoted entirely to agricultural pursuits. When he was twenty-one he undertook the management of the home farm on shares, and carried it on successfully for some years. In 1873 he bought one hundred acres of his present farm for $4,800, and subsequently sold twenty acres of it which was timber land.
Mr. Lane did not take up his residence on his farm until 1882. By the quiet force of persistent labor, directed by a thoughtful, well-trained mind, wise judgment and constant devotion to duty, he has greatly improved his estate, and increased its value. He is the proprietor of eighty acres of land on section 29, forty acres on section 22, and seventy acres of the old homestead that belonged to his father, on section 29, comprising in all two hundred and ten acres of highly cultivated land. It is well-fenced and well-drained, having twelve thousand and three hundred tiles on it; beautiful groves and a fine orchard adorn the place, which is amply supplied with buildings of a substantial order. Mr. Lane's farm is well stocked, he having some good cattle and draft horses, using two teams in his farm work, and he makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs. He only operates one hundred and twenty acres of his land and from the rental of the rest has a good source of income.
Mr. Lane was married in Trivoli Township in his present house, before breakfast, June 11, 1868, to Miss Ann M. Ralston. She is a woman of exceptionally fine character and her zealous help has greatly lightened the burden of his toilsome years. She was born in Salem, Westmoreland County, Pa., September 2, 1845. Her father, Samuel Ralston, was a native of the same county, and was a son of one John Ralston, who was born in Ireland and after his emigration to this country, made his home in Pennsylvania, where he carried on farming until his death. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Lane's father was a farmer in his native State until he came to this county in 1865, and settled in Trivoli Township., Later he bought a place here, and a few years after that he bought a residence in Farmington, and died there is September, 1877. He was a Presbyterian in religion and strong in the faith. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Buchanan, and she was born in the Keystone State, a daughter of David Buchanan, also a native of that State, and a farmer and blacksmith. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He came here in 1870 with his wife and they died in Farmington. Mrs. Lane's mother departed this life in 1878.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralston were the parents of eleven children, namely: Margaret, now Mrs. Leahman of Yates City; Ann M., wife of our subject; Alexander, a resident of Montana who enlisted in 1862, in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Cavalry in which he served until the close of the war; James C., a grocer of Farmington who enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war; David B., a resident of Lexington; John C:(?) Lizzie, who died in 1870; Elijah M., a resident of Trivoli; Samuel H., commission merchant and dealer in horses at Chenoa; Laura, now Mrs. Sceiber, of Denver; Frank, who died in Denver in 1888. Mrs. Lane's marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, of whom two are living: Wilbert C., and James Otis. Their daughter Emma died at the age of twenty-six months.
Mr. Lane is a man of superior intelligence, of sound principles and of a blameless life, and is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He is serving his eighth year as School Director, and his hand is seen in all plans to promote the educational, religious or material status of the community. He is one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has been Steward and held other church offices, and is Superintendent of the Sunday-School. No man has done more to establish the Methodist faith here than he. In 1884, he was one of the most prominent of the men who were interested in the building of the new church; he was one of the building committee and did nearly all of the work in connection with the erection of the building, and he is now Trustee of the church. Our subject has served on the Petit and Grand Juries. He is a Democrat in his political views but is not radical.
The Above Biography was submitted by Susan MEIER Thank you Susan!