Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881

Joseph Lane was born in North Carolina December 14, 1801, and moved to Kentucky when he was three years old. At age fourteen Lane moved away from his family to Indiana. At the age of twenty-one Lane married Mary Hart Polly. The couple had eight children. From 1822 to 1846, Lane served in the Indiana State Legislature. After serving in the war against Mexico, where he became a major-general in 1847, he accepted the position as Territorial Governor of Oregon. Lane was sworn in as Governor on March 3, 1849. Purchasing land along the Willamette River, near Oregon City, Lane built a home. In the 1850s, Lane operated an unsuccessful lumber mill and worked in the mines in Northern California. Lane became a delegate to Congress in 1851 as a Democrat, and became Oregon's first Senator, serving from 1859 to 1861. There were two initial pieces of legislation that Lane proposed while he was in Congress. He wanted to move Oregon's capital from Oregon City to Salem, which failed. Lane also proposed roads leading from Walla Walla, Washington to the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. While Lane served in Congress, a majority of his efforts were spent on the issue of slavery. Lane believed that the states, not federal government, should dictate slavery decisions in each state. Lane was re-elected to Congress in 1857 and continued to focus on state's rights. Lane also focused on Native American issues in Oregon. In 1857, Lane and other Oregon leaders pushed Native American tribes in the Umpqua Valley back onto reservations. Lane unsuccessfully tried to enact Congressional legislation that would use federal funds to enforce containing Native Americans to reservations. While the legislation did not pass, Lane continued to push for measures that would benefit the people represented by Oregon's pioneer government. Lane's role in Congress ended in March 1861, as his pro-slavery beliefs did not resonate with the public. While he did not contribute to Oregon politics after 1861, he did run for and lost his bid for a state senate seat in 1880, at the age of 79. In 1870, Lane's wife died, and Lane continued to live with much of his extended family near Roseburg, Oregon. He died on April 19, 1881. Lane County, Oregon is named for Joseph Lane.

From the description of Joseph Lane papers, 1872-1887. (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 53196871

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