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***World War I Veteran*** PFC U.S. Army
The following biography was written by James' daughter Thelma Silsby. (Pages 164-166 of her family history)
JAMES ARTHUR LANE
My father was born May 18, 1875, on a farm in Monona County, Iowa. He was the oldest of seven children and worked on the farm as all boys did in those days. He received a "common school" education which usually consisted of only the winter months, as the boys were needed at home for planting and harvesting seasons. He always had...
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***World War I Veteran*** PFC U.S. Army
The following biography was written by James' daughter Thelma Silsby. (Pages 164-166 of her family history)
JAMES ARTHUR LANE
My father was born May 18, 1875, on a farm in Monona County, Iowa. He was the oldest of seven children and worked on the farm as all boys did in those days. He received a "common school" education which usually consisted of only the winter months, as the boys were needed at home for planting and harvesting seasons. He always had a desire for more education, but it was impossible for him to continue until he was of age. In the meantime he worked wherever he could find employment, saving his money and making plans.
In those days it was the custom for parents to give their sons a "start" in farming, and my grandfather chose to give his sons either a team of horses or a riding horse and saddle. My father chose the latter as he did not choose to be a farmer. His brothers were farmers, his sisters married farmers, but he had no such desire. He immediately sold his horse and saddle and made plans to attend Graceland College at Lamoni, Iowa. The whole family thought he was "out of his mind"--"a crazy idea"--"no one needs more than a 'common' school education." But these comments did not influence him and he came to Graceland College in 1897, to study business. He was the first student in over one-hundred students who have come from the little Pisgah branch to Graceland College.
He needed to work and found a place to stay and work for his board and room, the Ferguson home. Its location was the first house north and east of Lamoni Sale Barn where Mrs. N. R. Sandage now lives. The Widow Ferguson kept fine horses and my father cared for them, did other chores, and also was her driver with the high-stepping horses and the surrey with the fringe on top. He completed his two years of college work, but not before he met a Lamoni girl by the name of Clara May Bell who was also enrolled in business education. Their romance flourished and they soon became engaged.
After college, my father was hired by the B. D. Fleet Mercantile store. It was a large store on Main Street which now includes Hacke's Store, The Savings and Loan, and Paterno's Hardware. He worked in the dry goods section. After college, my mother worked at the Herald Publishing House for several years. They were married on September 17, 1902, and my father made his first trip home in four years, to "show-off" his lovely bride.
They established their home in Lamoni and on September 24, 1903, I was born and on May 30, 1908, daughter Grace was born. In 1909, we moved to Pisgah in Harrison County, Iowa. It was a small town and ripe for new business. My father and a partner bought a general store and business was very good. The thriving branch of the church and the excellent school were the center of our life. And there were such wonderful people living in the community. In reflection, the twelve years we spent in Pisgah seemed like a life time. It was such a formative period in our lives, as girls growing up, and we had so much fun, made so many wonderful lifetime friends, had such fun with our many cousins and their families, such worth-while activities in the school and community, looking back, it does seem like a lifetime. On August 10, 1910, another daughter, Alice, joined the family circle.
Our home was one of love, discipline, and lots of fun. My father was quite a "joker" and any time he would say "Come on girls, let's play a joke on your mother," we knew we were going to have some fun. When very young I remember several times on Christmas Eve we would unwrap the traditional new game, and while mother was busy in the kitchen we would quietly play, rewrap the game for morning, thinking mother was none the wiser. This is just an example of his many innocent jokes.
My parents were very active in the work of the church, my mother in the "Ladies Aid Society" and the Music Department, and my father as Sunday School Superintendent and Branch President. He held the office of priest and later was ordained an elder. Naturally, religion played a very important part in our home training. I feel so fortunate having had parents who had an optimistic outlook on life and an affirmative faith in meeting life's problems. We were taught by word and example, and I shall be forever grateful. When church officials or missionaries came to Pisgah to hold meetings, etc., they usually stayed in our home. Since we had previously lived in Lamoni my parents were personally acquainted with many of them and we always looked forward to their coming. The best part was hearing them tell of their experiences in the [RLDS] Church, and their testimonies of the truthfulness of their belief.
Last but not least, was the influence of the little Pisgah branch on our lives. We had about 200 members, most of them active. Our Religion class on Sunday nights often had thirty-five young people in attendance. The class hour was only a part of our activities, and many from other denominations were active in our group too. We had all kinds of parties: skating, sleighing, birthday, holiday, weekend fishing and camping expeditions with proper chaperones, of course. Such fellowship, fun, and study had a great influence on us, as well as all reunion and branch activities. Again, in reflection, I could name many from our small Pisgah branch and community who have contributed much to the life of the church in general and to the communities in which they have lived.
About this time, 1921, a band of businessmen in Little Sioux District decided to work toward establishing a mercantile business in Lamoni. My father's business in Pisgah was sold and we lived for a short period of time in Mondamin and also Woodbine until stores in those locations were also sold. Eventually, all were "gathered" to Lamoni Stake in 1922, and the business was located west across the road from the Lamoni State Bank. For the next several years it was "business as usual" for my parents, school and later college for my sisters, and college and teaching school for me. In the late '20s, because several of the men involved in the business were becoming dissatisfied, the organization was dissolved. Some established stores in other localities near Lamoni, others went into other lines of work. The pre-depression years were not as financially rewarding as earlier years had been and finally, my father became the sole owner of the "General Supply Co.," and my mother became the bookkeeper.
Times became very hard when the '30s rolled around, and much could be written about the depression. Aside from the shortage of money, the closing of banks, foreclosing farmsteads, families were swapping outgrown clothing, making over old clothes, giving from and living out of the garden, and on, and on. Many honest people had to have credit at the stores to live. My father found it very difficult to refuse anyone and sorry to say, a few, not so honest, took advantage of him.
The R.L.D.S. Church found itself in debt at this time also and since it was the main sponsor of Graceland College, found it difficult to pay its faculty and staff. Also, many full-time appointee families and retired church personnel lived in Lamoni and they needed credit also. One day I heard a remark made that the church would never pull out of debt and never be able to pay wages of college and appointee people. I answered that I was more than sure that the church would honor every debt it owed and I wanted to add "Where is your faith?" In time the so-called "impossible" was accomplished and all back monies were repaid. While I do not know about the finances of other merchants in town, I do know that my father was paid every cent owed him by college and church appointee families living in Lamoni. I am very proud of this record.
In the late '40s the building housing the "General Supply Co.," was sold and my father relocated the grocery business where the Savings and Loan is now, and the dry goods were moved across the street where the Emporium is located.
We three girls were married during the '30s and in time, presented our parents with six grandchildren. They were, in order of their appearance, John Muceus, Junia Clare and Jim Silsby, Jim Kanawyer, Don Chesworth, and Margaret Silsby. As with all grandparents, their grandchildren were the sweetest, the smartest, the cutest, etc. So much could be written about our happy times together.
My parents continued their church work through the years in Lamoni, my father as a high priest for many years, and also serving on the Stake High Council. Several times he was asked to serve as pastor of some of the outlying branches. He always found satisfaction in these assignments. He gave a rich ministry in the many many times he was called to administer to the sick and testified of many blessings received by those in need. He was equally blessed as he brought ministry to the bereaved and preached the funeral sermons. I can remember playing for many of these services and always appreciated that even with limited time to prepare, he always brought an affirmative message of faith and hope for the future.
My mother served as organist (reed organ) for the Lamoni Oratorio Society for many years and for several summers she played for Sunday evening services held in Central Park. She always supported the Woman's group in whatever congregation my father was serving.
Even though our lives were very busy, there was always time for recreation. My parents loved all sports and games, and from the time I can remember they (and we) attended all school games and later in Lamoni that included all college sports. And at home, we played all kinds of games, week after week, and never tired of it.
My mother's health began to fail in 1951. Though very tired, and rapidly losing weight, she insisted on continuing her bookwork at the store until early September. Cancer was the diagnosis and she died January 5, 1952. Needless to say, Christmas of 1951, was a very sad one for us, with mother so very ill.
My father broke up his home almost immediately after Mother's death and made his home with my sister Alice or with our family.
The next year, both businesses were sold. Very soon after this, we realized that his health was failing and learned that he was suffering from arteriosclerosis. Then the annual trips to California to visit daughter Grace and family had to be given up. After a gradual decline, he became so ill that we could no longer care for him. It was another sad day in July 1956, when we took him to Resthaven in Independence, Missouri where he remained until his death on May 14, 1961.
I would not leave the reader with a feeling of sadness although we missed them both so much, but rather think of their long and happy life of service, their happy home life, their affirmative faith and deep commitment to their Creator, and the heritage of love and devotion they have left to their children and grandchildren. May we successfully carry the torch they have handed to us.
Author, Thelma (Lane) Silsby
MOTHER: Lewese Maria Scott
FATHER: Joseph Warren Lane
WIFE: Clara May Bell
m. 17 Sep 1902 - Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa
CHILDREN:
1. Thelma Bell Lane
m. James Burnham Silsby
2. Ethlyn Grace Lane
m. John Olson Merceus
m. Bruce Milton Kanawyer
3. Alice Kathryn Lane
m. Donald Osborn Chesworth
SOURCES:
1. Iowa, Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996
Name: James Arthur Lane
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Place: Monona Co., IA.
Marriage Date: 17 Sep 1902
Marriage Place: Decatur Co., IA.
Father: Joseph H. Lane
Mother: Louise Scott
Spouse: Clara May Bell
FHL Film Number: 1009360
Reference ID: 2:3L7HW26
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Iowa, Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
2. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: James Arthur Lane
City: Pisgah
County: Harrison
State: Iowa
Birth Date: 18 May 1875
Race: White
Age: 43
Occupation: merchant
Employer: self
Nearest Relative: (wife) Clara Lane
Height/Build: medium/medium
Color of Eyes/Hair: gray/dark
Signature:
Source Citation: Registration State: Iowa; Registration County: Harrison; Roll: 1643113
Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
3. The place of death is per his Death Certificate which can be seen at familytree.org |
