Biography of Joseph Lane, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: Lane, Hart, Shelby

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - December 2001
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Oregon Native Son, Vol, 1, May 1899, page 44

JOSEPH LANE

General Lane was born in North Carolina December 14, 1801. At an early age his
father moved to Henderson county, Kentucky, where he lived until the age of
twenty. At this early period of life he married Miss Polly Hart, and they
moved to Vanderburgh county, Indiana, where for some twenty-five years he led
the life of a farmer. Being an active participant in all matters of enterprise
that would bring the greatest good to the county, his abilities were soon
recognized and he was sent as its representative to the legislature, remaining
a member of it until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he resigned as
state senator to accept the colonelcy of the Second regiment, Indiana
volunteers. He was badly wounded in the shoulder at the battle of Buena Vista,
where he commanded the left wing of the army, but, nothing daunted, he refused
to leave the field until victory was assured. Subsequently, while in command
of a corps destined to the relief of General Scott, he defeated the Mexicans
in several engagements. After joining General Scott, he was actively engaged
very prominently in the war until peace was restored. From the rank of colonel
he rose through merit and bravery to brigadier-general and major-general of
volunteers. No sooner had the sun of military life seen its setting than that
of political dawned again, for on his return from the battlefield he found
himself commissioned governor of Oregon territory. He immediately set out for
the scene of his new duties, coming via Mexico and Arizona, accompanied by a
military escort to San Francisco, where he took passage on a sailing vessel
for Oregon City, the then seat of government. On the 3d of March, 1849, he
issued his proclamation as governor. In 1851 he was chosen delegate to
congress, and served in that capacity until Oregon was admitted in 1859 as a
state, when he was elected one of its first United States senators. In 1853 he
distinguished himself in the Rogue river Indian war, receiving a severe wound
at the battle of Evans creek. The subsequent treaty with the Indians at Table
Rock was brought about largely with his influence with the hostiles. In 1860
he was the nominee of one out of three factions into which the hitherto
victorious democratic party had been divided, for the office of
vice-president, the nominee for president on the same ticket being John C.
Breckinridge. The house divided against itself resulted in its defeat, the
republican ticket headed by Abraham Lincoln being elected. General Lane then
retired to his home near Roseburg, where the remaining years of his life were
brought to a well-rounded close in the heart of his family. In the spring of
1881 this good and noble man slowly but surely began to feel the ebbing tide
of a life well spent, and in April of that year closed his eyes to all things
earthly. In battle he was fearless, in political life clean, at borne the idol
of his family, and among his neighbors none was more loved or respected for
his virtues. He left behind a large number of relatives, one of whom,
Lafayette Lane, a son, was a member of congress from this state, and Harry
Lane, a grandson, is a well-known physician of Portland; and Eugene Shelby,
another grandson, has been for years the agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., at
Portland.