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Joe Lane
Joseph Lane (2).jpg
United States Senator
from Oregon
In office
February 14, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by Himself (Shadow Senator)
Succeeded by James Nesmith
United States Shadow Senator
from the Oregon Territory
In office
July 5, 1858 – February 14, 1859
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Himself (U.S. Senator)
Governor of the Oregon Territory
In office
May 16, 1853 – May 19, 1853
Acting
Preceded by John P. Gaines
Succeeded by George Curry (Acting)
In office
March 3, 1849 – June 18, 1850
Appointed by James K. Polk
Preceded by George Abernethy
Succeeded by Kintzing Prichette
Delegate to the
U.S. House of Representatives
from the Oregon Territory's
at-large district
In office
March 4, 1851 – February 14, 1859
Preceded by Samuel Thurston
Succeeded by La Fayette Grover (Representative)
Personal details
Born (1801-12-14)December 14, 1801
Buncombe County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died April 19, 1881(1881-04-19) (aged 79)
Roseburg, Oregon, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse Polly Hart
Children 10, including Lafayette
Relatives Harry Lane (grandson)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Branch/service  United States Army
Years of service 1846–1848
Rank Brigadier General

Joseph "Joe" Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He served as a lawmaker in Evansville, Indiana, before becoming a general in the Mexican–American War. President James K. Polk later chose Lane to be the first Governor of the Oregon Territory. When Oregon became a state in 1859, Lane was elected as one of its first two U.S. Senators.

In the 1860 presidential election, Lane was nominated for vice president. He ran with John C. Breckinridge for the Southern part of the Democratic Party. Lane's support for slavery and his sympathy for the Southern states during the Civil War ended his political career in Oregon.

One of his sons later became a U.S. Representative, and a grandson became a U.S. Senator. This made Joseph Lane the head of an important political family in Oregon.

Early Life and Career

Joseph Lane was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, on December 14, 1801. His family had English roots and had lived in colonial Virginia. His father, John Lane, fought in the American Revolutionary War. When Joseph was young, his family moved to Kentucky.

Lane left home at age 15 and got married four years later. In 1820, he moved to Evansville, Indiana. Joseph and his wife, Polly Hart Lane, had 10 children.

Joseph Lane mostly taught himself by reading books at night. During the day, he worked and saved money. He later bought a flatboat to transport goods on the Ohio River, which helped him become successful.

Lane was a good public speaker. This skill helped him get elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1822 when he was just 21. He served several terms there and later in the Indiana State Senate. He was also chosen as a captain in his local militia.

Service in the Mexican-American War

The Mexican–American War began in 1846. Lane left his State Senate job and joined a group of Indiana volunteers. He was elected as a Colonel in June 1846. Less than a week later, he was made a brigadier general of volunteers.

Lane and his Indiana troops went to Mexico. He fought bravely and was shot twice, though not seriously. In 1847, he was promoted to major general. He led the Indiana Brigade at the Battle of Buena Vista, serving under General Zachary Taylor, who later became president.

Lane also led a group that ended the Siege of Puebla. He defeated Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of Huamantla.

Governor Lane and Marshal Meek enroute to Oregon
En route to Oregon with Joseph Meek, as shown in Frances Fuller Victor's 1877 book Eleven years in the Rocky Mountains and a life on the frontier.

Oregon Territory and Statehood

After Lane returned from Mexico, President Polk appointed him governor of the Oregon Territory. Lane received his official papers on August 18, 1848. He arrived in Oregon on March 3, 1849, after a difficult winter journey on the Oregon Trail.

When he reached Oregon City, Lane's first job was to count everyone living in the territory. This count showed 8,785 American citizens and 298 people from other countries. As Governor, Lane also served as the first leader for Native American affairs in Oregon.

One of Lane's early duties was to arrest five Cayuse Indians accused in the Whitman Massacre. The accused were brought to Oregon City for trial, found guilty, and hanged.

Lane resigned as territorial governor on June 18, 1850. On June 2, 1851, he was elected as Oregon Territory's Delegate to Congress. In May 1853, he briefly served as acting Territorial Governor for three days. Lane was re-elected as Delegate several times. When Oregon became a state in 1859, he was elected as one of its first two U.S. Senators.

Joseph Lane campaign button in 1860, from- Breckinridge-Lane Campaign Items, ca. 1860 (4359372913) (cropped)
Joseph Lane campaign button from 1860

Military Actions Against Native Americans

In 1853, after being re-elected as Delegate but before going to Washington, D.C., Lane was made a brigadier general. He commanded a group of volunteers to stop recent Native American attacks. Lane led his forces to southern Oregon to protect settlers and miners. He was wounded again in a fight at Table Rock, near today's cities of Medford and Central Point.

Lane also took part in the Rogue River Wars of 1855–1856. He was wounded in the shoulder during the Battle of Evans Creek.

Vice-Presidential Nomination and Political Decline

In 1860, the Democratic Party split over the issue of slavery. Democrats from the South left the national convention. They nominated their own candidates: John C. Breckinridge for president and Joseph Lane for vice president.

This "Southern Democrat" ticket lost the election. With this defeat and the start of the Civil War, Lane's political career ended. His support for slavery had already caused arguments in Oregon. His support for states leaving the Union was completely unacceptable.

On his last day in the Senate, Lane had a famous argument with Andrew Johnson of Tennessee. Johnson had spoken strongly for the Union and against states leaving. Lane accused Johnson of "selling his birthright" as a Southerner. Johnson replied that Lane was a hypocrite for supporting a movement that was actively against the United States.

Later Years and Legacy

Mary Pierce "Polly" Hart Lane in 1884 art, from- Mrs. General Joseph Lane (cropped)
Portrait of Polly Hart Lane, Joseph Lane's wife

In 1851, Lane claimed a piece of land about 1 square mile (2.6 km2) north of Roseburg, Oregon. He later bought a 2,000-acre (810 ha) ranch about 11 miles (18 km) east of Roseburg, which he later sold to one of his sons. Lane also built a home overlooking the South Umpqua River. After his Senate term, he retired there in 1861. Even though he openly supported the Southern rebellion in the Civil War, he stayed home on his ranch. He did not fight in the war or return to politics. In 1867, Lane was baptized as a Roman Catholic, and his family was raised in that faith. However, he gave up that faith shortly before he died.

Death and Legacy

Joseph Lane died at his home on April 19, 1881. He was buried in the Roseburg Memorial Gardens.

General Lane's daughter's home in Roseburg, where he spent a lot of time, is now a museum. It is cared for by the Douglas County Historical Society. This house is known as the Floed–Lane House and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the Floed-Lane House was never his main home.

Lane County, Oregon, is named after Joseph Lane. Joseph Lane Middle School in Roseburg and Joseph Lane Middle School in Portland are also named for him.

Lane's son Lafayette Lane served as a U.S. Representative from 1875 to 1877. Another son, John Lane, fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Lane's grandson Harry Lane was the mayor of Portland, Oregon, and then a U.S. Senator from 1913 until his death in 1917.

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