LANE, Oscar F. - Putnam

Elder Oscar F. LANE. A gentleman who is too well known to the readers of this history to need formal introduction by the biographer is Elder Oscar F. LANE, son of Higgins and Angeline (Thompson) Lane, born in Sec 11, Monroe Township, Putnam County, Indiana, May 5, 1848. There he spent his early life on the home farm, attended the common schools of his township during the winter until he was 12 then entered the Bainbridge Academy where he spent two years and a part of a third. Then for one year he took private instruction in Latin, Greek and mathematics under Rev. E. C. Johnson of Bainbridge. During the spring of 1867 he entered freshman class of the Northwestern Christian University now known as Butler College, of Indianapolis. On account of a physical break down he was not in the univeristy during 1868; entering again in January 1869, he had completed the regular co urse as prescribed and two studies additional, not required in this course at the close of the fall term of 1870. He was graduated in June, 1871, receiveing the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater in 1874. He is a member of the Sigma Chi Greek Letter fraternity, being an alumnus of Rho Chapter. April 19, 18684, he united with the Christian Church at Bainbridge, under the ministrations of Elder O. P. Badger. He soon began to take part in the public workship and was given a class in the Sunday School, having been identified with this department of church work from early childhood. For a period of 22 years he served as a Sunday School teacher or superintendent and he has delivered many Sunday School addresses. When only 16 he began preaching, delivering his first discourse at Bainbridge, Jan 1, 1865. During the fall of the same year he was licensed by the Christian Church at Bainbridge to preach. In October 1869, he was ordained in the Central Christian Church at Indianapolis by Elders O. A. Burgess, W. K. Pendelton and Thomas Munnell, a regular minister of the gospel. He preached regularly from the time of his license for churches in Putnam County and adjoining counties until he entered college. During the time of his attendance at college he preached for churches within a short distance of Indianapolis. Jan 1, 1871, he was called to the pastorate of the Christian Church of Shelbyville, Illinois. This work he continued until failing health compelled him to resign. He had overworked himself while in college. As a sample of his work in college during his last two years, there, we mentioned the fact the he "carried" 7 studies, preached nearly every Sturday night and twice on Sunday, held on revival, read 4,000 pages of history, took part each week as a member of the college society and prepared and delivered four literary addresses. As a result he had a bad case of insomnia. During the Spring of 1872 he spetn 5 weeks in evangelistic work in Kansas and Missouri. Returning from this trip, he resumed his work at Shelbyville, Ill but in a few days was stricken with cerebro spinal meningitis, and he lingered between life and death for a period of 7 weeks; but as soon as he could stand in the pulpit by the aid of a cane, he renewed his work. In a short time the disease returned, which incapacitated him for work for 4 months - in fact, he has never fully recovered from its effects. After resigning at Shelbyville he received calls during the close of 1872 from Bloomington, Springfield and Mattoon, Illinois, and from Terre Haute, Indiana. But considering these calls involved more than his strength would allow, he declined them. Jan 1, 1873, he became pstor of the Christian Church at Greencastle, Indiana serving it for one year. Jan 1, 1874, he accepted a call from the Christian Church at Laporte, Indiana, which he served two years and three months, when failing health forced him to give up regular pastorial work. It was with a stuggle and much regret that he was thus forced to abandon the am bition of his lie at the age of 27. At the time he left Laporte he had flattering calls from four large churches. During the fall of 1876 he moved to the farm where he now lives and began work as a farmer. After one year of moderate outdoor exercise his health was generally improved but for 3 years he was able to endure but little mental work. At the close of 1879 he took work as a minister, preaching for two and three congregations. This he continued until 1903. He is now seldom seen in the pulpit with the exception he condusts a large number of funerals. To Jan 1, 1910 Elder Lane had preached 1,052 funerals, and he had declined to officiate at about as many. As a public speaker, Mr. Lane is dignified, earnest, argumentative, logical, sometimes very impetuous and touching and always inspires thought. Some of his best efforts have been entirely extemporaneous and impromptu, wholly inspired by the occasion. He never memorized a sermon for delivery and rarely ever uses notes in a public address. His nature is positive; what he believes he advocates with all his might. He holds that no man can be true and plead neutrality on moral issues or in regard to any subject involving the well being of humanity. He believes in doing good and being good; first, at home and then abroad. He believes that no man should endeavor to be more genial and polite to some other man's family than he is to his own. He had all his life been an earnest advocate of temperance and has done much both in pulpit addresses and by personal effort to bring about reform. He believes just as sincerely that God-fearing men and women should not rest until the social evil is eradicated, holding that card parties never result in good, and he has never given policy a place before principle and believes that popularity should not be sought at the expense of right doing; that nothing is worth doing that will not stand the test of infinite years. Elder Lane has never taught schoolbut has given private instructions in the languages and has 3 times d eclined the presidency of institutions of learning; however, he is a warm friend of education is glad to pay for the support of the public schools. He was one of 20 persons to start the Foreign Missionary Society of the Christian Church in 1875 by giving one hundred dollars, and is a life member of the society. During the Civil War, he twice offered his services to his county as a volunteer, being then 15 and at his last trial 16 years of age, but was not accepted on account of physical disability. Politically he is Republican. While he has had a constant interest in political issues, he never had much ambition for personal preferment or taste for office. He has 3 times declined nominations for office when he could have been twice elected. In 1908 he yielded to the urgent call of his party to stand for the state Legislature on the temperance issue and he succeeded in reducing the majority of his opponent 120 votes from his previous majority. Fraternally Mr. Lane is a memberof Bainbridge Lodge No. 75, Free & Accepted Masons, having been treasurer of the same for the past 5 years. In 1890 he assisted in the organization of the Farmers Insitute in Putnam Co. The first institute had an attendance of 50, held at Greencastle. The next 5 were held at Bainbridge. Mr. Lane was county chairman for 3 years and during his chairmanship the attendance reached 600. For a period of 14 years he was state lecturer for the insitute by appointment of Prof. WC Latta, state superintendent. During these years he visisted nearly every county in Indiana, lectureing in some of them 4 different times. Mr. Lane owns the farm on which he was born and is now successfully engaged in general farming on his well tilled and well improved place of 570 acres which lies in Sections 11, 13, and 14. Monroe Township, having added 410 acres, to his inheritance, proving that he is a good manager and well grounded in modern agriculture. Never robust in health, he has succeeded as a result of strong will power, which has enabled him to accomplish the work of two men, during much of his life. He has a beautiful home in which is to be found a well selected library of the world's best literature. Nov 21, 1872, Mr. Lane was married to Mary E. Wendling, a lady of culture and refinement, a native of Shelbyville, Illinois, daughter of Hon. George J. Wendling, a prominent and influential citizen of that place. Mrs. Lane was born April 1, 1852. Her father was born at Strassburg, Germany and her paternal grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon. Mrs. Lane received a liberal education and is a gifted musician, affable in manners, strong-minded and a favorite with a large circle of friends, having been, indeed, a true helpmate in every respect. This union has been graced with 8 children: Anna L; Carrie M; Frank W; Edward R; Oscar Bruce; Nellie Ruth; Elizabeth H and Ralph. Six of these are living, Carrie and Ralph having passed into the silent land. They have 7 grandchildren.