Biography - J B Lane
HON. J. B. LANE is ranked among the representative citizens of Montgomery County, and there is probably no one more deserving of mention than he, for his residence within its borders has extended over a considerable portion of his life. During this time he has served in various official capacities and always with such satisfactory results that naught but words of commendation have been bestowed upon him. He was born in Cheshire County, N. H., September 10, 1826, a son of Dr. T. L. Lane, who was born in Marlborough, N. H., September 1, 1800. He attended school at Groton, Mass., and at Hanover, N. H., and graduated from an educational institution of the latter place in 1824.
For the practice of his profession Dr. Lane first located in Sullivan, N. H., in 1825, but removed from there in 1832 to Lunenburgh, Vt., where he remained two years. Gilsum, N. H., next became his home, where he remained until 1838, and from there removed to Daysville, Ill., and in 1841 became a resident of Fillmore, where he was called from life September 1, 1849. His father, Capt. John Lane, was born in Lunenburgh, Mass., and obtained his title in the Revolutionary War, in which he was a courageous and faithful soldier. He was of English descent. The wife of Dr. T. L. Lane was Miss Roxanna Harvey, a native of Massachusetts, where she was born August 2, 1802.
The maternal grandfather, lumber Harvey, was born in the old Bay State in 1755, and during the Revolutionary War attained to the rank of Sergeant He was of English lineage. Dr. T. L. Lane and Roxanna Harvey were married at Marlborough, N. H., October 25, 1825, and became the parents of two sons and two daughters: J. B., the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest of the family; Jane A., born November 25, 1828, died May 6, 1836; Timothy was born April 2, 1830, and died April 20, 1832; and Mary J., born December 15, 1837, the wife of Andrew J. Richmond, of Oregon. J. B. Lane remained with his father and mother until their respective deaths, and in 1860 started a store in what was Old Fillmore, of which place he was appointed Postmaster in 1854, and very efficiently filled the position until Cleveland's administration, when he was displaced. Upon the election of Harrison, his son took the office. The town of Fillmore is built on the farm which was owned by Mr. Lane, and it was owing to his exertions that the village was founded. He was first married on the 9th of March, 1848, to Miss Sarah Harris, who died July 4, 1851, having borne her husband a son, Timothy, who is a resident of Fillmore. Mr. Lane's second marriage was celebrated on the 3rd of February, 1852, Rachel S. Bost, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Cress) Bost, becoming his wife. She was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., and at the age of seven years became a resident of Montgomery County, Ill., where she has since resided.
This union resulted in the birth of seven children: Margaret is the wife of Rev. Hiram L. Gregorys minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a resident of California; Torrance H. is associated with his father in the mercantile business; Augusta F., widow of George W. Lewey, is assistant in the post-office at Fillmore; Ora E., a successful farmer, resides at Fillmore; Carrie M. and Ella L. are at home. Mr. Lane is the owner of four hundred acres of land in and adjoining the village of Fillmore, where he and his son conduct a large general mercantile establishment. They keep a large and well-selected stock of goods, which they dispose of at very reasonable rates, and their efforts to please their patrons, their genial and cordial manners and upright business methods have made their house a very popular and liberally patronized one.
Mr. Lane is a pronounced Republican, and on that ticket was elected Associate Judge in 1869. During his four years of service in that position justice was meted out with an impartial hand, and decisions were made after careful and painstaking study of the evidence adduced. He was also a popular and intelligent Justice of the Peace and adjusted the difficulties of his neighbors in a, manner very satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Lane was at one time the owner of six hundred acres of land, but gave each of his boys considerable real estate, and was also very liberal with his daughters. He is a prominent citizen of his own township, and is respected and esteemed for his sterling integrity, sound judgment, broad intelligence and progressive ideas.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 341-342.
