Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 26

Identified with the educational interests of Fresno for more than a quarter of a century, during which time he has taught in the principal schools of the city, Frank M. Lane has made his influence felt for the good of the rising generations. He is a native son, born on Chowchilla Creek, Mariposa County, November 3, 1864, a son of "Col." Joseph Parker Lane, who was born in North Carolina, a son of John Lane, who removed to Tennessee. His mother was a niece of Nathaniel Macon, United States Senator from North Carolina.

Joseph Parker Lane was educated in Knoxville, Tenn., then took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in Tennessee, and when twenty-two years of age he went to San Antonio, Tex., where he practiced his profession.

In 1849 he came to California, riding mule back the entire distance to Los Angeles, thence to Stockton, where he engaged in trading and packing to the mines in the mountains. In 1850, together with N. Fairbanks, he opened a wholesale liquor business on Main Street, Stockton. By his comrades, and members of the train who had chosen him commander of their company, he was given the title of "Colonel," which he bore until his death.

In Stockton, "Colonel" Lane married Ann Mary Barnett, born in Tennessee, November 6, 1851, a daughter of Bird B. Barnett, who was a large planter and tobacco grower. Her mother was Martha (Walker) Barnett, a native of South Carolina. The Barnett family came to California in 1850, crossing the plains via Salt Lake, and arriving in California, Mr. Barnett opened a hotel in Stockton. In 1855 Joseph P. Lane moved to Monterey County where he farmed and raised stock for several years. During this time he served as justice of the peace, and two terms as county supervisor. He then engaged in the cattle business in Mariposa County till 1868, then was in the sheep business for two years in that county. He sold out and settled at Lane's Bridge, ten miles north of the present site of Fresno and during his busy life accumulated some seven thousand acres of land. He was accidentally killed on December 16, 1878. Mrs. Lane carried on the business until 1897, when she removed to Fresno and lived until her death, on March 7, 1907. She had five children: Joseph A.; Mary, Mrs. Liddell; Edward; William H.; and Frank M. Politically, Joseph P. Lane was a Democrat and ready at all times to give his support towards the upbuilding of California, particularly Fresno County.

Frank M. Lane received his education by private instruction and at the San Jose State Normal, graduating from the latter institution in the class of May, 1888. He at once began his professional career as a teacher and has continued ever since. For twenty-six years he has been interested in advancing the Fresno schools and during that period he has taught in the principal schools in the city, at this writing he is principal of the Washington Grammar school. During the quarter of a century that Mr. Lane has been teaching in Fresno he has done much toward advancing the high moral standing of the schools.

Frank M. Lane was united in marriage in December, 1892, with Miss Mamie Balthis, born in Stockton; a lady of culture and refinement who died September 7, 1914, mourned by a wide circle of friends. Professor Lane's second marriage took place in Fresno, June 29, 1918, when he was wedded to Miss 'Mary L. Hines, a native of Tennessee, who came to Fresno with her parents in 1890. She graduated from the Fresno high school and at the time of her marriage she was a teacher in the Fresno city schools.

Professor Lane has ever taken an active interest in agriculture, especially in grain and alfalfa raising, in which he is an expert. He has been interested in developing lands in Fresno County ever since his graduation, and has improved several farms, among which may be mentioned the F. M. Lane ranch, near Lane's Bridge. It consists of ninety acres, seventy acres of which he has leveled and checked and has also installed a pumping plant, pumping water from the river to irrigate seventy acres of alfalfa. Mr. Lane was one of the first to install a pumping plant, for alfalfa. He raises six tons per acre per year, in six cuttings. He also owns a valuable grain farm of two hundred forty acres, one and one-fourth miles east of the ninety acre place which he operates under a system of dry-farming. Mr. Lane well remembers when there was not a house where the city of Fresno now stands, and rightly feels that he has materially aided in the development of one of the most important cities in the state. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for twenty-two years, and is a prominent member and an ex-president of Fresno Parlor, No. 24, Native Sons of the Golden West. He was one of the organizers and is now president of the Grammar School Principals of Central California. For the past two years he has served on the State Council of Education as a representative from Central California. Politically Mr. Lane is a Democrat and a stanch supporter of President Wilson in his conduct of the World War.