Leander Lane Biography


	This biography appears on pages 758-759 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	LEANDER LANE. - In the pioneer epoch of South Dakota Leander Lane 
came to this state and was an important factor in the substantial 
development and permanent improvement of Yankton county. He was born on 
the 23d of April, 1838, in Clermont county, Ohio, of which state his 
parents, Nathaniel and Martha (Simpson) Lane, were also natives. The 
father was an agriculturist, owning and operating a well improved farm 
in Clermont county, where he died in 1857. In politics he was a Whig 
and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. She long survived her husband, passing away in 1896. 
In their family were eight children, four of whom are still living. On 
the paternal side the subject's ancestors were originally from North 
Carolina.  

	In the state of his nativity Leander Lane grew to manhood and in 
1861 he led to the marriage altar Miss Ann Sheperdson, by whom he had 
one child, Elizabeth, now the wife of Albert Young. For his second wife 
Mr. Lane wedded Mrs. Mary (Chappel) Case, the widow of John Chappel. 
Her parents, Chauncey and Mary E. Case, were natives of New York and 
were also members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Case followed 
farming principally but was also a good mechanic and patented a turning 
lathe. His political support was given the Democratic party. He died in 
New York state in 1848, and his wife departed this life in 1882. Their 
family numbered six children, three of whom are living at the present 
writing in 1903.  

	It was in 1866 that Mr. Lane left the east and came to Dakota, 
while his wife came to this state with a Dakota colony in 1868. He 
first located on Jim river near the present site of Henry O'Neil's 
home, but after living there six months he moved to the place now owned 
by Joseph J. Volin. Later he purchased the present home place, at first 
buying one hundred and sixty acres of government land, to which he 
added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he 
owned eight hundred acres of fine farming land, nearly all under 
cultivation. He set out all of the trees upon the place and erected 
good and substantial buildings which stands as monuments to his thrift 
and enterprise. He was a natural carpenter, being very handy with 
tools, and everything about his farm was kept in first-class condition. 
He raised a good grade of shorthorn cattle, feeding not less than one 
hundred and forty head per year and as high as two hundred.  

	During his early residence in South Dakota Mr. Lane encountered 
many discouragements, losing hogs to the value of one thousand dollars 
in floods. During the flood of 1866, when the Missouri and Jim rivers 
so overflowed their banks, he was forced to leave his house at three 
o'clock at night and seek higher ground. The Indians, though friendly 
at that time, often visited his home begging for something to eat, and 
if not carefully watched they would steal considerable corn. Being fond 
of hunting, and a good marksman, Mr. Lane took great delight in that 
sport during pioneer days and his trusty rifle brought down many a 
deer, elk and antelope, besides smaller game such as ducks, wild geese, 
etc. In fact the early settlers depended a great deal on hunting and 
fishing for something to eat. Mr. Lane once caught a catfish in Jim 
river which weighed one hundred pounds and was over five feet long. It 
pulled him a half mile down the stream before he was able to land it.  

	Politically, Mr. Lane was a stalwart Democrat. He held school 
offices and assisted in establishing the first school conducted in his 
part of the county, each family at that time doing their share toward 
boarding the teacher. He was a Universalist in belief, but also a 
liberal supporter of any church in his neighborhood, and everything 
that was for the betterment of humanity received his hearty support. 
Mr. Lane passed away, after an illness of two weeks, on February 28, 
1904, at his home south of Gayville, having attained the age of sixty-
six years, ten months and four days. The funeral occurred Wednesday, 
March 2, 1904, from the Gayville Methodist Episcopal church, the pastor 
officiating. The interment was held at Yankton cemetery, at which the 
Rev. Mr. Rosenberry, of Yankton, officiated. Throughout the career of 
Mr. Lane he had shown himself a man in whom all placed the highest 
confidence. He was a loyal citizen and an ardent supporter of 
everything that went to advance the general welfare of the community of 
which he was a member. His memory will always be cherished and esteemed 
by the large circle of kinsmen and friends who are left to mourn his 
loss.