Peter Lane, a native of Brown county, Ohio, born on the 4th of October, 1842, is a son of Mordicai and Charity (Foster) Lane, who reared a family of eight children, of whom Peter is the eldest. Five of the family are dead. The names are as follows: Peter, Rachel, Christian, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Ruth A.    The two last named were twins. Mary is desceased (sic) and Ruth is now Mrs. B.F. Hale. Rachel, Christian, John and Joseph are also dead.

        The Lane family is descended from English ancestors and in America was first established in Maryland. His grandfather, Peter Lane, removed from Maryland to Ohio in the pioneer days. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

        The Foster family, as represented by the mother of Peter Lane, came from German stock, and the American branch was first established in Pennsylvania. They were among the early colonists in the Keystone state and the maternal grandfather, Christian Foster, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married Miss Fritz, who bore him eleven children, viz.: Henry, Valentine, John, Jonathan, David, Jacob, Isaac, Barbara, Mary Ann, Rachel, and one died unnamed in early infancy.

        Peter Lane was educated in the public schools of Brown county, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen became an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, but before the completion of the stipulated period of apprencticeship he left the forge and the peaceful pursuits of civil life and enlisted as a member of Company I, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This occurred on the 12th of August, 1862, and he was assigned to duty with the Army of the Potomac. He was a member of the garrison at Harper's Ferry which was surrendered in September, 1862. Mr. Lane's health failed and after eight weeks in hospital at Camp Douglas, Illinois, he received an honorable discharge from the service. After fully recovering his health Mr. Lane entered the employ of the United States government and worked at his trade at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, until the close of the war. The government shops were closed there on the 15th of April, 1865. During his abscence Mr. Lane's parents had moved to Grant county, Indiana, and he here found his paternal home on returning from his post. With the exception of four years, when he was in business at West Liberty, Howard county, he has been a resident of Grant county since 1865. For the most part he has followed his trade of blacksmithing. He erected the first shop in Point Isabel and operated the business there for some five years. He was also employed as a clerk in merchandising for about five years.

        In 1890 Mr. Lane purchased eighty acres of land in Green township and since that date he has been indentified with agricultural interests and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was married July 22, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Horine, a daughter of Jefferson N. and Mary (Dean) Horine, descendants of German ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have had twelve children born to them. They are: Mordecai, William W., Anda T., Mary O., Ella M., Mark, Lee and Dee, twins, Joseph B., Edgar A. and Edith, twins, and Guy W.   Of these Anda T., Mary O., Lee, Dee and Edith are deceased.

        Mr. Lane has been prominently identified with the I.O.O.F. for many years, holding membership in Point Isabel Lodge, No. 510, where he has passed all the principal official stations and represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state. He joined the G. A. R. post at Swayzee and maintained his standing there until the post disbanded by reason of the depletion of its ranks below the minimum number of members because of deaths, removals, lapses, etc.

        The Lane family is one of high standing in the neighborhood in which they have resided so many years. In the business and social affairs of the community they occupy a conspicuous and honored position, and the subject of this sketch possesses the confidence and esteem of all who know him. In business affairs he is always upright and honorable, while he wields a potent influence in the political and social affairs of Green township.