Untitled Surnames: Lester, Reves, Jones, Devendorf, Graham, Hocomb, Gillette, Beebe, Ellis, Van Elston, Lawton

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 66-67

HENRY C. LANE, a retired hardware merchant, and a very prominent citizen of Platteville, Grant county, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, born in September, 1819, a son of David and Nancy (LESTER) LANE.

David LANE was born in Connecticut, and descended from an old Pilgrim family; his wife was a native of Leicestershire, England, and a great-granddaughter of Lord LESTER. From Connecticut, in which State they were married, Mr. and Mrs. LANE removed to Ohio, where Mr. LANE followed his trade of hatter for some years. Subsequently he purchased land on the old turnpike running from Pittsburgh, Penn., to Cleveland, Ohio, where he built a hotel, conducting same until his death, many years ago. To this worthy and venerated couple were born the following family of children: Maria, who died in 1808; Julia, who was married to Isaac REVES; Louisa, wife of Dr. Asil JONES, he and she being now deceased; Mary A., deceased wife of Jacob DEVENDORF; Emily, who married Milton GRAHAM, both now deceased; Lester, who died on the old homestead; Dr. Levit LANE, deceased, who was a practitioner at Monroe; Albert, who died in Milwaukee, Wis., leaving two daughters, Ada and Louella, residents of Platteville, the latter being the widow of Mr. GRAHAM, and making her home with Mr. and Mrs. H. C. LANE; and Henry C., the gentleman whose name opens this sketch.

Henry C. LANE was educated in the common schools of Trumbull, Ohio, and when a young man learned blacksmithing. In 1840 he came to Platteville, Wis., when it was but a small village, and here worked at his trade three and a half years; then returned to Ohio, and the same year married Miss Lucy A. HOCOMB, of Hartford, that State. She was a daughter of Horace and Julia (GILLETTE) HOCOMB, who were born in Connecticut, and after their marriage removed to Broome county, N.Y., where Mrs. Lucy A. LANE was born in January, 1821. In 1833 the HOCOMB family removed from the empire State to Ohio, locating in Trumbull county, and shortly afterward the father died, leaving his widow with three children: Judson, now residing near Madison, Wis.; Hannah, widow of William BEEBE, and living in Lancaster, this State; and Mrs. Henry C. LANE. After the death of her husband Mrs. HOCOMB made her home with Mr. and Mrs. LANE until her demise in 1880.

Immediately after marriage Mr. LANE brought his bride to Platteville, and a few years later relinquished blacksmithing and engaged in the hardware trade, in which he continued over thirty years, realizing a competency, and now owning a large number of city lots, which he has improved: he owns, besides, other valuable real estate. The union of Mr. and Mrs. LANE has been blessed with four daughters, viz.: Maria, born in 1844, is the wife of Lester DEVENDORF, and has two children - Cora, wife of William H. ELLIS, a lawyer of Platteville; and Charles DEVENDORF, a traveling salesman, of Iowa. Julania, a graduate of the Academy, is the wife of A. C. VAN ELSTON, a banker and merchant of Muscoda, Wis., and a former representative in the state Legislature; they have had two children, one son and one daughter, Henry L. and Florence, of whom the latter died in 1899. Maretta, now Mrs. William JONES, is the mother of five children, Lottie, William, Vandy, Florence and Louella. Jessie is the wife of John LAWTON and the mother of two children, Elvira and John, both students in the city college.

Religiously all the LANE family are members of the Congregational Church, to which they freely contribute, and to the building of all the churches in the city Mr. LANE has ever lent willing aid financially. Politically he is a stanch Republican, has served as member of the council, and filled several other offices of minor importance, but has never aspired to public positions simply for the sake of the honor attached thereto, serving from a sense of public duty. Fraternally he is a charter member of the Masonic lodge of Platteville, and socially he and family enjoy the esteem of the entire population of the city.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck