Lane, Mills Bee, 1860-1945.

Mills Bee Lane I (21 Nov. 1860-6 Aug. 1945) was the son of Remer Y. Lane (born 18 Nov. 1826) and Henrietta Brinson. Mills Lane attended Vanderbilt University until 1881 when he began working for R. Y. Lane Company, a private bank in Valdosta owned by his father where he worked his way up from errand boy to cashier. In 1888, Mills Lane and his father established the Merchant's Bank of Valdosta. Lane's intentions then turned towards Savannah. In 1890, he became vice-president at the Citizens Bank of Savannah and later, in 1901, he became president. Lane then bought stock in the largest bank in town, the Southern Bank of Savannah, which led to a merger in 1906 resulting in the Citizens and Southern Bank. During the years 1912-1926, the Citizens and Southern Bank opened branches in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Valdosta. In 1927, Citizens and Southern Bank became a national bank under the Federal Reserve System. In 1928, the Citizens and Southern Holding Company was formed to hold stock in affiliated banks which were established in Charleston (1928), Albany (1929), Dublin (1929), LaGrange (1929), Thomaston (1929), and East Point (1948). Mills Lane retired as president and became chairman of the board in 1928. Personal interests led Lane to various agrarian projects. With A. P. Brantley, he financed the first tobacco crop in South Georgia. He was among the first to advocate an increase in cattle and sheep farming, as well as dairy production in South and Middle Georgia. He also conducted crop experiments on his plantation (Lebanon) near Savannah, exploring viable crops for Georgia such as Satsuma oranges. Lane was involved in industry, community development, and education in Georgia. He worked to bring the Union Bag and Paper Corporation to Savannah and held leadership roles in corporations and committees including Savannah Sugar Refining Co., Ocean Steamship Co., Bibb Manufacturing Co., the Seaboard Air Line Railway Co. Bondholders' Protective Committee (1930-1944), and the Foreign Bondholders' Protective Council (1932-1937). Lane encouraged the paving of many of Savannah's streets and the construction of the Coastal Highway. He also contributed to higher education and benevolent organizations. Mills B. Lane was married to Mary E. Comer (1881-1966) in 1906. They had five children - four sons, Hugh Comer Lane, Remer Young Lane, Edward C. (Ned) Lane, and Mills Bee Lane, Jr. and a daughter, Mary Lane.

From the description of Mills Bee Lane I papers, 1857-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 46606248

Mills Bee Lane I (1860-1945) was the son of Remer Y. Lane (b. 1826) and Henrietta Brinson. Mills Lane attended Vanderbilt University until 1881 when he began working for R. Y. Lane Company, a private bank in Valdosta, Georgia owned by his father, where he worked his way up from errand boy to cashier. In 1888, Mills Lane and his father established the Merchant's Bank of Valdosta. Lane's intentions then turned towards Savannah, Georgia. In 1890, he became vice-president at the Citizens Bank of Savannah and later, in 1901, he became president. Lane then bought stock in the largest bank in town, the Southern Bank of Savannah, which led to a merger in 1906 resulting in the Citizens and Southern Bank. During the years 1912-1926, the Citizens and Southern Bank opened branches throughout Georgia in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Valdosta. In 1927, Citizens and Southern Bank became a national bank under the Federal Reserve System. In 1928, the Citizens and Southern Holding Company was formed to hold stock in affiliated banks. Mills Lane retired as president and became chairman of the board in 1928. Personal interests led Lane to various agrarian projects. With A. P. Brantley, he financed the first tobacco crop in south Georgia. He was among the first to advocate an increase in cattle and sheep farming, as well as dairy production in south and middle Georgia. He also conducted crop experiments on his plantation (Lebanon) near Savannah, exploring viable crops for Georgia such as Satsuma oranges. Lane was involved in industry, community development, and education in Georgia. He worked to bring the Union Bag and Paper Corporation to Savannah and held leadership roles in corporations and committees including Savannah Sugar Refining Co., Ocean Steamship Co., Bibb Manufacturing Co., the Seaboard Air Line Railway Co. Bondholders' Protective Committee (1930-1944), and the Foreign Bondholders' Protective Council (1932-1937). Lane encouraged the paving of many of Savannah's streets and the construction of the Coastal Highway. He also contributed to higher education and benevolent organizations. Mills B. Lane was married to Mary E. Comer (1881-1966) in 1906. They had five children - four sons, Hugh Comer Lane, Remer Young Lane, Edward C. (Ned) Lane, and Mills Bee Lane, Jr. and a daughter, Mary Lane.

From the description of Mills Bee Lane I letters, 1935. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 539117817