HW Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago: HH
Hill, 1881) p 428
MICHAEL W. LANE
Michael W. Lane, farmer and
stock raiser, Ladoga, was b. in Kerry Co Ireland Aug 20, 1840 and is a son of Timothy and
Julia Hanifen Lane. He received a common English school educ. and was reared a
farmer. At the age of 12 years he emigrated to America, and late in the fall of 1852,
after a perilous voyage of 9 weeks, arrived in NY City. The following Feb he went by the
way of Indianapolis to Bainbridge, Putnam Co. IN in search of his mother and two brothers
who had preceded him. On finding his brothers he then, to his sorrow, learned that his
mother had been dead 6 months; this was truly sad news to a young boy hunting for his
mother in a strange land. After coming to IN he engaged in working out at $12 per month,
then in ditching with a spade, which he following till the age of 17, through the fall and
winter months, farming on shares in the summer. In his 18th year he gathered up his
earnings which besides a horse and saddle, amounted to $842 and on July4 started on a trip
through the southern states as far as Texas and from there turned his face homeward and
arriving in Carpentersville IN on Christmas night of that same year. in Feb 1857, he
bought a renter's crop, stock and outfit and engaged in farming in Scott Twp, but one year
later left and went to Putnam Co, and there rented a large stock farm for a term of years,
of Stephen Burk, where he invested $1800 in stock, etc. and here engaged in farming and
stock raising, and in a fair way for making money, but through the dishonesty and trickery
of his landlord and others he lost all he owned. He then returned to Scott Twp and rented
a piece of land; this he farmed with one horse, which he bought on credit from a friend,
and for a cow his wife traded her glassware and best dishes, which she had bought and
received as presents at the time of their marriage. Soon after, through the recommendation
of Mr. Robert Lockridge, he became stock purchaser for a firm near LaFayette, which he
followed about 3 years, and then began buying and selling stock on his own account. He
next sold his personal property and engaged in the liquor traffic, at the same time
running a tannery, but for the sake of humanity and his family's future benefit he
abandoned the former and ret. to farming. In the seventh of 8th years, he bought and sold
some three farms, trading the last for his present home a farm of 175 acres, located on
Sec 34, Twp 17 (*Scott) R 4W where he permanently located. June 1, 1859, he marr. Miss
Ellen, d/o Thomas and Hanorah (Fitzgerald) Welsh. She was b. in the county
of Kerry, Ireland but was principally reared in London. They have 7 children: Julia J;
Thomas W; Henry M; Charles T: Margaret H; Michael A and Mary E. His fine farm and stock,
with the aid of a most faithful and industrious wife, is all earned by hard labor and
close attention to business.
Submitted by: Karen Zach
County Coordinator: Suzy
Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net