History of Centerville, (Appanoose County) Iowa United States of America

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Lane, Clark White Lane is one of Centerville's leading business men, and is a member of the firm of Drake & Lane. His father, John Walker Lane, was born in 1818 in Westmoreland county, Pa. He is a retired farmer, and is now living comfortably at Centerville. The mother of C. W. Lane was Sarah Welty, who was born in Ohio in 1825, and died at Centerville at the age of 42. C. W. Lane was born at Independence, Washington county, Pa., September 16, 1848. He received a common school education, and, as his father was for many years both merchant and farmer, he received early training in both these lines of business, which well fitted him for the affairs of later life. In 1864, at the age of 16, he came with his parents to Iowa, settling in Appanoose county, where for ten years he worked with his father. In 1874 he was given the management of Gen. F. M. Drake's mercantile establishment, and in 1875 he formed a partnership with General Drake and R. F. Lyman, and engaged in general merchandise under the firm name of Drake, Lane & Lyman, at Centerville. In 1878 he purchased Mr. Lyman's interest in the business, and the firm name was changed to Drake & Lane, though General Drake was succeeded in 1885 by his son, F. E. Drake. In July, 1898, C. W. Lane purchased the interest of F. E. Drake, and is now sole owner. Under Mr. Lane's exclusive management, this business has grown from a small beginning to be one of the strongest and largest establishments in southern Iowa. In addition to handling an extensive mercantile stock, he buys and ships large quantities of farm produce, including grain, hay and flour. Mr. Lane also has extensive interests in coal mining property, and probably controls more coal mining stock than any other man in the county. He has strong faith in the future greatness of the Appanoose coal fields, and regards his interest in them as a better investment than government bonds. He has built and now owns several very fine business buildings, one of which he occupies with his extensive stock of general merchandise.

Mr. Lane was married June 23, 1874, to Miss Kate Ella Drake, a daughter of Judge John A. and Harriet J. Drake, and a sister of Gov. F. M. Drake and of J. H. Drake, of Albia, Iowa. Mrs. Lane was a woman possessed of many admirable traits, and was very devoted to her family. She died October 20, 1890, leaving four children? John Clyde, born October 26, 1876; George Hamilton, born December 10, 1878; Clark White, Jr., born June 5, 1883; and Marion, born May 7, 1886. The oldest son, John, is studying law at Drake university; the second, George, is attending the Military academy at Culver City, Ind.; and the third, Clark, is in school at home. The youngest, Marion, died July 22, 1894.

In politics Mr. Lane is a democrat. He has served one term as city alderman, four years as member of the school board, and president one term. He is president of the Centerville Block company, a company with a quarter of a million capital stock. He is a member of the Christian church, and for five years has been superintendent of the Sunday school, which has a membership of over 200. Mr. Lane takes pride in the fact that he never bet on a horse race, never speculated on the board of trade, and never knew how to play a game of cards, pool or billiards.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Centerville, (Appanoose County) Iowa

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