Biographys: John Allen Lane
Submitter:James M. Perrin, 14187 Randall Ave., Hammond, LA 70403 5/98


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                        JOHN ALLEN LANE

John Allen Lane was born 13 Sept. 1806 in Elbert County, GA, and
was the son of Thomas Lane and Nancy Haley (also spelled Healey). John
was given a good education and received a solid Methodist religious
foundation. John married 25 Nov. 1830, probably in GA, to Ann Pettway
Mayfield. Ann was born in April 1807 in Franklin County, GA.
By the early 1830's John and Ann had removed to Vicksburg, MS. John had 
family connections in the new Mississippi River town, as his uncle Rev. 
John Lane, who was only a few years his senior had settled in Vicksburg
much earlier. Rev. John Lane married Sarah C. Vick, one of the
daughters of Rev. Newit Vick and Elizabeth Clark Vick.

John Allen Lane and his uncle Rev. John Lane, operated a business 
together, worked together on charitable and educational causes
worshiped in the same church, and of course were relatives. Because 
they lived in the same community for many years and were both named 
John Lane, they have sometimes been misidentified.

John Allen Lane purchased or constructed a home in Vicksburg, and
also purchased a plantation in Washington County (now Issaquena 
County), MS. He also owned plantations in other Mississippi counties,
as well as those in Madison, Carroll and Terrebone parish in Louisiana. 
In 1834, he purchased an 880 acre plantation on Millikens Bend in
Carroll Parish. He later purchased a 1132 acre plantation from his 
wife's brother through the estate of William Sims Mayfield (Wm. S.
 Mayfield b. 18 Nov. 1802 in Warren Co., GA, d. 21 Dec. 1857). This 
plantation, called "Reclusia," was one of his favorites and was a 
residence for his family, especially in the late 1850's and early
1860's.

Ann Lane died 19 Sept. 1843 at the family home in Washington Co.,
MS.

Ann and John Allen Lane had a number of children.

    * Alberta Lane, b. 1831, d. 1832.

    * John Jay Lane, b. 1833, m. Alice S. Hubbard.
    * Dr. Alexander Gallatin Lane, b. 1835.
    * Cornelia Victoria Lane, b. 1837, d. 1844.
    * Jane Anna Lane, b. 1839, m. Richard P. Salter.
    * Emma Vick lane, b. 1841, m. James W. Scott.
    * George Washington Lane, b. & d. 1842.
    * Octavius Lane, b. & d. 1843.

Between 1843 and 1850, John Allen Lane, his children and his
brother-in-law, William S. Mayfield moved to south Louisiana. John and
William entered into a partnership in a large sugar plantation at Bayou
Grand Caillou, Terrebone Parish, LA. John also started a commission 
merchant business in New Orleans, called Lane, Mayfield, & Co. William
Sims Mayfield, died 21 Dec. 1857, and was buried in the Lane tomb in 
the Girod Cemetery in New Orleans, which is now below the Superdome in 
which the aply named New Orleans Saints play football. John continued 
in the business after Mr. Sims' death, and took in his sons John J.,
and Alexander G. Lane into the business, as well as his son-in-law,
Richard P. Salter.

The War Between the States was an economic disaster for the Lane
family. John and other family members had invested most of their wealth
into land, and slaves to work the sugar and cotton plantations. At the 
end of the struggle the slaves were freed and the land value was 
greatly reduced.

John's sons John J. and Alexander G. Lane, as well as his son-in-
laws Richard P. Salter and James W. Scott served the cause of the 
South.

John continued to work as a commission merchant after the war. He 
invested in cotton lands in Chicot County, Arkansas. Sometime after 
1873, John moved from New Orleans to Chicot County, where his son-in-
law James W. Scott and his children were living. John Allen Lane's life 
ended 15 Aug. 1883 at Eudora, Chicot Co., Arkansas, and he was buried 
in the town cemetery.

Thus ended the life of lad from the granite hills of Elbert 
County,Georgia, who gained wealth and respect from the cotton and sugar
lands of the South, and left a legacy of hard work and achievement for 
his descendants.

James M. Perrin, 14187 Randall Ave., Hammond, LA 70403