Related Link: Lane Family Photo Album

Biographical Index to History of Whiteside County, IL 1908
By William W. Davis, M. A.
Vol I & II
The Pioneer Publishing Co., 1908

Transcribed by: Gail Anderson

William Lane

William Lane is justly classed among the substantial agriculturists of Prophetstown Township, for he is the owner of four hundred and thirty nine acres of as fine land as can be found within the boundaries of Whiteside County. He is also worthy of mention in this volume from the fact that he is one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War, where he was found as one of the loyal defenders of the Union.

Mr. Lane was born in Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, June 18, 1837, a son of Benjamin and Charity (Roper) Lane, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, the former born in Ulster County, June 5, 1804, while the mother's birth occurred in Cayuga County, September 18, 1809. From the Empire State the father removed with his family to Berrien County, Michigan, being numbered among its pioneer settlers. The father there took up a tract of Government Land, whereon he made his home for some time. His family numbered six children, of whom only two are now living, the sister of our subject being Mrs. Sarah A. Winchell, of Tampico, Ill. The wife and mother passed away in Michigan March 17, 1843, at the comparatively early age of thirty four years. The father married a second time, this union being with Mrs. Elizabeth F. Robinson, who died in 1878. In 1855 the father removed to Illinois, settling near Yorktown, in Henry County, where he had purchased land the previous year and there he made his home for a long period, but the last few years of his life were passed in the home of his son William, his death occurring October 14, 1886, when he had reached the very advanced age of eighty two years.

William Lane spent the period of his boyhood and youth on the homestead farm in Berrien County, Michigan and his education was acquired in the common schools of Niles, that state. He was a youth of nineteen years at the time of his father's removal to Henry County, this state (Illinois) and there he remained during the succeeding six years, when, feeling that his first duty was to his country he enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company K, Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, enlisting on the 12th of May, 1862, for three years' service. He participated in many engagements, the most important of these being at Corinth, Town Creek, Resaca, and he was also a participant in the Atlanta campaign, was in the engagement at Bentonville, North Carolina, and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. He was wounded in the battle at Corinth but not so seriously as to become disabled for active service, nor did he ever lose anytime on account of sickness but was always found at his post of duty, being honorably discharged May 21, 1865.

Mr. Lane then returned to his home in Whiteside County, where he resumed the occupation of farming. His first purchase of land was eighty acres, which was still in a wild state, but he at once undertook the task of developing and improving this and has since added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of four hundred and thirty nine acres, located in Prophetstown Township. He has placed many improvements on this property, including a good country residence and substantial outbuildings, while the land has been placed under a high state of cultivation, annually yielding abundant crops as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon it. In addition to carrying on general agricultural pursuits, he is engaged in raising stock, making a specialty of hogs, of which he annually raises large numbers. He is enterprising in all that he does, keeping in touch with modern methods of agriculture, so that he is meeting with well deserved success.

Mr. Lane was married in Prophetstown, October 18, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Wroe, who was born in Virginia, March 11, 1852. Her parents were Benjamin and Matilda (Kennedy) Wroe, who were likewise natives of Virginia, the former Born July 18, 1807 while the birth of the latter occurred February 9, 1816. Removing from Virginia to this state (Illinois), they established their home near Princeton, Bureau County, (Illinois) becoming pioneer settlers of that section of the state. Later they removed to Missouri, where the father died on the 30th of June, 1857, when he had reached the age of fifty years. After the death of the father the mother returned to Whiteside County, where she lived for a time and then went to Kansas, where her remaining days were spent, her death there occurring on the 4th of May, 1901, when she had reached the extreme old age of eighty five years. Of their family of seven children only four are now living, namely: John W., who resides in Oregon, James T., a resident of Missouri; Mrs. Grace M. Sweet, also a resident of Oregon; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Lane.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lane has been blessed with six children: Ida E., who is engaged in teaching school and lives at home; William C., of Prophetstown Township, who wedded Fannie May Fee, by whom he has a son, Paul; Charles F. who wedded Bessie Templeton, by whom he has two daughters, Hazel and Gladys, and makes his home in Savannah, Ill.; Mary A., the wife of Clifton Naftzger, a resident of Prophetstown Township; Grace, who is engaged in teaching school; and Nellie, at home.

Mr. Lane cast his first presidential ballot in support of Abraham Lincoln and has supported every candidate of the Republican Party since that time. He has served as school director for a number of years, but aside from this has held no public office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest, while with his old Army comrades he maintains pleasant relations through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of highest commendation.