Introduction
Albion R. Lane was born in Camden on November 15, 1865 in Philadelphia PA, one of at least seven children born to Catherine and Charles M. Lane. His father worked as a carpenter. His uncle, James M. Lane, was prominent in Camden politics, served for quite some time with Camden Fire Department.
When the Census was taken in 1879 the family was living in Camden’s Middle Ward. When the next census was taken, in 1880, the Lane family was living at 528 South 2nd Street, in Camden’s Third Ward.
The city directories show Albion Lane living at 337 Clinton Street in the years 1887 through 1890. He was working as a laborer in 1887, but by the time the 1888–1889 Directory was compiled he had secured a position as a “floatman” aboard the tugboat Jamesburg. Around this time newspaper accounts state that he founded a wholesale butter and egg business at South 3rd and Senate Streets in Camden. The 1900 Census shows Albion Lane and his wife, the former Nevada French, living at 514 South 3rd Street with their 7 year old son, Wilmer Russell Lane. Two other children, sadly, had passed by this time. The census shows that he was in the butter business. Another son, Forrest, came a few years later. The family was still at the South 3rd Street address through January of 1920. They moved to Collingswood during the 1920s.
Albion Lane operated this business until 1927 when he retired, turning over the operation to his sons Robert and Forrest.
Albion Lane lived in Collingswood for several years thereafter. Nevada Lane passed away in Collingswood on December 18, 1935. Albion Lane was staying with his son Forrest at 2776 Congress Road in the Yorkship Square section of Camden when he passed away on May 20, 1942. After services at the Joseph H. Murray Funeral Home at 408 Cooper Street, he was interred at Evergreen Cemetery.
Albion Lane’s grandson, Private Robert C. Lane, was killed in action in North Africa in April of 1943.
Forrest Lane and his sons were still in the butter and egg business as late as the fall of 1955, at 2766 North Congress Road in Fairview.
In the Political Whirl
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden in a Lively Congressional Contest.
ANTI-GRATZ WORKERS ENCOURAGED
Campaign Jottings of Interest Gathered at the City and State Committee Headquarters of Both Parties.
There was widespread interest in the Republican delegate election in Camden county last night. Delegates were chosen to the Congressional District Convention, which meets at Bridgeton on Thursday next. Hon. Thomas H. Dudley and Christopher Bergen were the rival candidates, and the latter’s friends claim to have carried every ward in the city.
During the voting at the Fourth ward polls Policeman Ikey Scheeve got into an altercation with two men named Richmond and Walters. It is alleged that he used a blackjack without provocation. The two men who were assaulted immediately engaged the services of a lawyer, who will cause Sheeve’s arrest to-day on the charge of assault and battery. Following are the delegates elected in Camden city and in the various townships:
First Ward—W. Baily, Isaac Githens, George Barrett, Frank Welch and Howland Croft.
Second Ward—J. Willard Somers, Frank C. Somers, John Wells, W. H. Day and Samuel Bakely.
Third Ward—Dilwyn Pettit, J. Milton Powell, David Freeman, Sr., George Denny and Albion Lane.
Fourth Ward—Everett Ackley, Samuel M. Gall, William Ireton, Joseph Brown and Howard Lee.
Fifth Ward—Christopher J. Mines, Jr., Frederick Parker, John H. Miller, David Rankin and Samuel Roach.
Sixth Ward—A. R. Dease, James Brown, Isaac Robinson, John Brother and James Hewitt.
Seventh Ward—John C. Edwards, M. D. Cornish, William K. Price, Reuben Gaskill and John W. Everman.
Eighth Ward—Samuel H. Mourey, William H. Smith, Herman Helmbold, E. Thompson and Thomas Watson.
Stockton township was carried by Dudley, and W. Harrison Livermore carried Woodbury. Centre, Delaware and Haddon townships of Camden county were carried by Bergen.
The Congressional district includes Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Cape May counties. The indications are that Congressman Hires will be renominated.
Camden At A Glance
Camden Courier-Post —
Albion W. Lane, who desired to run as an independent candidate for Council in the Third ward, was yesterday informed by County Clerk Patterson that his name could not appear on the ticket because he had failed to file the names of his campaign committee as required by law. The time expired Saturday.
Frank Ford Patterson Jr. – Albion Lane
Thieves Routed by Chickens Rob Second Place of Same Man
Camden Courier-Post —
Robbers believed to have been frightened away from a butter and egg storage house in Collingswood when chickens made an uproar, continued their search for provisions and looted a warehouse owned by the same man in Fairview.
A. R. Lane, 101 Ardmore Terrace, produce man, reported yesterday he was awakened last night by the noise of the chickens he had penned up near his storage house. Two ends of the pen were knocked down, Lane said, and he believes thieves fled when the chickens became frightened.
This morning Lane discovered that the storage house at 2766 Congress Road had been entered by thieves, and butter, cheese and eggs valued at more than $100 had been taken.
The Fairview plant, he said, was entered during the storm. The thieves trampled the municipal gardens of unemployed in Fairview to reach the storage house, where a window was removed. Neighbors reported a touring car was seen parked near the warehouse during the storm.
The thieves took two 50-pound cases of butter, one case containing four large cheeses, 400 small cheeses averaging about five pounds each, three cases of eggs, each containing 30 dozen, and one case of salad dressing in pint jars. Lane said the thieves were experienced in produce for they replaced eggs that had been removed from the cases. F. F. Lane is in charge of the Fairview storage house.
‘Butter and Egg Man’ Sought as Burglar
Camden Courier-Post —
Somewhere in Camden yesterday there was a “butter and egg man,” but he was not from the West and is not the kind that many young flappers like to meet.
This man attained his title by virtue of a robbery in the Fairview section in which two boxes of butter, two crates of eggs and one box of cheese were stolen.
Forrest Lane, the owner of the stolen commodities, told the police it was stolen from his garage at 2768 Congress road.
Albion R. Lane Dies, Retired Egg Dealer
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Albion R. Lane, 76, veteran butter and egg dealer of Camden and Collingswood, will be held Saturday at 1 p. m. at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and Son, 408 Cooper street. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. Mr. Lane died yesterday at the home of a son, Forrest F., 2776 Congress road.
Mr. Lane established his business at Third and Senate streets in 1888 and continued to conduct wholesale and retail service until 15 years ago when he retired and turned the business over to two sons, Forrest and Robert H. The latter continues to conduct the business at his father’s former home, 100 East Wayne terrace, Collingswood.
Mr. Lane was an independent candidate for Camden City Council in 1900. He was the nephew of the late James Lane, former president of council. Mrs. Lane, the former Nevada French, died several years ago.