James M. Lane
Leather helmet of natural grain believed to have been worn by Fireman Charles Baldwin, Hook & Ladder Company 1, when the paid force was organized in 1869. Number 21 at bottom of frontpiece indicates member’s badge number. (Courtesy of the Camden County Historical Society Collection.)
JAMES MASON LANE was born around 1838 in Pennsylvania to James S. and Mary Lane. His father was a bookbinder. They moved to Camden shortly after his birth, and they were in town in time for the 1840 Census. When the census was taken in 1850 the Lane family included older siblings John, William, Charles and Ann, and younger brothers Theophilus and Barton Lane. James M. Lane appears in the 1860 Census living in Camden’s South Ward with his brother, Charles M. Lane, a carpenter.
James M. Lane enlisted as a corporal in the 4th New Jersey Infantry Militia Regiment (also known as the Twentieth New Jersey Infantry) on April 14, 1861, and was subsequently assigned to Company G. The Fourth Regiment Militia was commanded by Colonel Matthew Miller, Jr. This regiment was mustered into the U.S. service at Trenton, April 27, 1861, to serve for three months, and left the state for Washington, D.C., on May 3, with 37 commissioned officers and 743 non-commissioned officers and privates. On July 24, the term of service having expired, the 4th returned to New Jersey and was mustered out at Trenton, July 31, 1861.
James M. Lane became one of the original members of the Camden Fire Department, entering service on December 7, 1869 as an extra man of the Hook & Ladder Company. Prior to entering the fire department he had been working as a Superintendent with the Camden & Amboy Rail Road. He was assigned badge number 25. According to Fire Department records, he was Superintendent of Floats for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Camden in the 1870s.
James M. Lane was promoted to Foreman of Engine Company 2 on April 8, 1877. He served in that capacity for two years. With Republicans regaining control of the city in 1879, Samuel S. Elfreth was elected Chief of the Fire Department and James M. Lane was promoted to Assistant. He remained in this position until July of 1882. James M. Lane returned in 1884, when he took over as Foreman of Engine Company 1 from William H. Bassett. When the fire department was reorganized on July 7, 1885 James M. Lane appears to have left the Fire Department, but later served as a member of Camden’s Fire Commission.
Always politically active, he was elected City Councilman from the Third Ward in the mid-1880s and was still in that position when he passed away on February 23, 1892. James M. Lane’s nephew, Albion R. Lane, was well known in Camden in later years operating a butter and egg business.
James M. Lane was an active member of Wyoming Tribe No. 55, Improved Order of Red Men, as were fellow Camden Fire Department members Joseph H. Minnett and Charles G. Zimmerman.
Firemen Appointed
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Firemen Appointed — The new Fire Commissioners of Camden have reorganized the Paid Fire Department by appointing the following regular men: Engineer No 1, Rouben Tenner; No. 2, Wm. Davis; foreman of No. 1, Cornelius M., Brown; of No. 2, James S. Lane; stoker of No. 1, — Hunt; of No. 2, W. Gordon; truck driver of No. 1, Edmund Shaw; of No. 2, B. L. Kellum; tillerman, E. J. Dodamead; extra engineer, Henry Grosscup.
An Attempted Outrage
Camden Daily Courier —
In the second precinct of the Third ward, a disgraceful scene took place which will “blast” the democratic party in that precinct for a long time. A job was put up by the great “unterrified” to steal the ballot box, and it was “winked” at by officers who ought to protect the law-abiding citizens. A “rough” was engaged, and just before the polls closed it leaked out that the box was to be stolen and thrown into the street. Richard Shannon, William Shearman, William Thomas, James M. Lane, ex-Sheriff Daubman, David Baird, Harry Miller and others prevented the outrage, and the man was thrown ignominiously into the street, and to the credit of the republican party, it must be said they positively refused to have a row or altercation with their opponents.
Camden Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Republicans Appointed In Place of the Democratic Force
Republicans Appointed In Place of the Democratic Force.
Last evening the Camden Fire Commissioners appointed the following new employees of the department, they being all the regular men: Extra Engineer for No. 2 Engine—William Morris. Engineer for No 1 Engine—George R. Tenner. Engineer for No. 2 Engine—William S. Davis. Driver for Steamer No. 1—William Deno. Driver for Steamer No. 2—Barney Harvey. Driver of hose carriage of No. 1 Engine House—George S Hunt. Driver of hose cart for No. 2 Engine House—William McKinley. Truck Driver—Benjamin L. Kellum. Tillerman—Jacob Kellum. Foreman of No 1 Engine—Samuel Buzine. Foreman of No 2 Engine—James M. Lane. The consideration of the appointment of extra firemen was laid over until the next meeting.
The Camden Primaries
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Stubbornly Contested Fight Among the Republicans Last Night.
One of the hardest fought political battles that has occurred in Camden for some time took place at the Republican primaries last night. There were fierce fights in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth wards. In the Second ward Frank H. Burdsall, the ex-President of the Young Republicans, made the nomination for City Councils after a hard fight.
At an early hour this morning the First ward had not completed counting off their votes. The indications pointed to this ticket:
Delegates to the City Treasurer’s Convention—Joseph Burt, William Baily, James Logan. Councilman-at-Large—Samuel Elfreth, Robert Stehr, John T. Levett. Excise Commissioner—Benjamin Hutchinson, Samuel Vanatta, Charles Holiker. City Council—Robert Smith. Board of Freeholders—William C. Hansell. Board of Education—Henry Winters.
The delegates to the City Treasurer will be unanimously for Frank F. Michellon, present incumbent. Dr. W. B. E. Miller will be nominated for Councilman-at-large by acclamation. The delegates elected to the various conventions and the ward nominees are as follows:
Second Ward—City Treasurer, W. T. Y. Young, George E. Wilson, Harry Callowing; Council-at-Large, George Cook, John Broom, Thomas Reed; Excise Commissioners, Harry Walker, L. Peak, James Stewart; Freeholder, Cooper B. Hatch; City Council, Frank H. Burdsall; Board of Education, Charles Woolverton.
Third ward—D. Lewis Ireton, H. L. Lawler, George Walls; Council at Large, Thomas Bareford, Harry Twoes, William Schimp; Excise Commissioner, James M. Lane, D. M. Freeman, Isaac C. McKinnely; Council, George F. Hammond; Freeholder, William D. Wilson; Board of Education, Harry C. Sharp.
Fourth Ward—City Treasurer, Heber C. Robinson, Joseph B. Fox, Caleb Williams; Council-at-large, Frank B. Sweeter [sic], Albert Barber, Harvey Flitcraft; Excise Commissioner, William D. Hart, William Schregler, John Baker; City Council, William S. Jones; Board of Freeholders, Richard C. Mason; Board of Education, Joseph B. Fox.
Fifth Ward—City Treasurer, John Mesham, Maurice A. Rogers, George W. Thompson; Council-at-large, John R. McCabe, Septimus Knight, Harry Mines; Excise Commissioner, John D. Leckner, M. D., J. Oscar Weaver, Harry Gibbs; City Council, Ben Lawton; Board of Freeholder, Harry Wolf; Board of Education, Homer Snyder.
Sixth Ward—City Treasurer, Samuel H. Stiles, Pierce Brown, Robert F. Stockton; Council at large, Reuben Gaskill, Jacob Thompson, Samuel Stillwill; Excise Commissioners, John Snitcher, James Brown, Miles Sage; City Council, Edward E. Jefferis; Board of Freeholders, Mark H. Mapes; Board of Education, J. Wesley Sell.
SEVENTH WARD.—City Treasurer, B. C. Lewis, Elijah Thompson, Frank A. Ward; Council-at-Large, Jacob T. Fish, Frank A. Ward; Excise Commissioner, W. K. Price, Edward Johnson, John Long; Board of Freehold, William Anderson; Board of Education, John Carmany.
Eighth Ward—City Treasurer, Gabriel Johnson, Horace J. West, Peter P. Custis; Council-at-Large, Jonas Mellor, Stephen Harvey, John Collins; Excise Commissioner, Charles H. Helmbold, Lawrence Rhoads, Gabriel Johnson; Freeholder, Henry Sparrow; Council, Samuel H. Mowery; Board of Education, James Ware, Jr.
Ninth Ward—City Treasurers, John N. Zanders, Martin Frank, Frank S. Heisler; Councilman-at-Large, L. B. Brown, G. W. Davis, Thomas Thornley; Excise Commissioners, D. B. Carriden, U. G. Lee, Edward Weston; City Council, P. W. Beale, M. D.; Board of Education, Frazier Baker.
Camden Republican Outlook
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The present outlook is that there will be perfect harmony throughout Camden in the Republican ranks, and the following candidates will be named: First ward, the present incumbent, J. Leyton Wescott; Second ward, Freeholder, Cooper B. Hatch will succeed John Campbell; James H. Lane will be renominated and re-elected in the Third; Maylon F. Ivins will be unopposed in the Fourth ward, Dr. John D. Leckner will have opposition in the Fifth ward, but he will be returned. Eugene B. Roberts will be renominated and re-elected in the Sixth ward, as will Joseph Starr and Charles H. Sharp in the Seventh and Ninth wards respectively. The present indications are that Excise Commissioner Fury will be the next Councilman from the Eighth ward.
Camden’s Warring Factions
Philadelphia Inquirer —
John Furey Now in Council, But Out of the Excise Commission
John Furey Now in Council, But Out of the Excise Commission.
There was more excitement at the meeting of Camden City Council last night than there has been since the days when the Republicans had only a small majority. The trouble was over the selection of a Councilman to fill the vacancy in the Eighth ward, caused by the resignation of Isaac Ferris.
The Republicans caucused previous to the meeting, Excise Commissioner Furey receiving the largest vote of his party. Some of the members, however, refused to make the choice unanimous and carried their refusal into the Council chamber. Mr. Furey was nominated by Chairman Lane, of the caucus. Frank Burdsall, of the Second ward, nominated ex-Councilman Charles Helmbold. The vote resulted as follows:
For Furey—Messrs. Barber, Beale, Bedell, Hatch, Hogate, Jefferis, Lane, Miller, Roberts, Ross, Sharp, Smith, Starr, Wescott, Leckner, Lee. Total, 16.
For Helmbold—Messrs. Burdsall, Donges, Githens, Hammond, Jones, Lawton, Lord, Rogers, Scheperkotter—9.
Messrs. Donges, Scheperkotter and Lord are Democrats. As soon as the decision was announced Donges and Scheperkotter created a sensation by handing in their resignations. Mr. Furey moved to accept them, but Councilman Rogers moved to lay them over. The latter motion prevailed.
Mr. Snyder then asked the City Solicitor if Mr. Furey could hold the position of excise commissioner and Councilman at the same time. The City Solicitor decided that he could not and his position as excise commissioner was declared vacant. Councilman Edward E. Jefferis, of the Sixth ward, nominated Charles Lederman, of the Seventh ward, for the vacancy in the Excise Commission, and Mr. Burdsall nominated George A. Frey, editor of the Courier. Five ballots were taken without a result. Both Messrs. Schepperkotter and Donges, after handing in their resignations, left the Council chamber.
Camden’s Happy Contingent
Philadelphia Inquirer —
I asked a gentleman from the big town across your Delaware river what that city was doing, and this was the answer he wrote: “Camden is one of Atlantic’s suburbs, and her politicians, like those of the Quaker City, find the salt air and the sad sea waves a great assistance in fixing up slates. It is not always these adjuncts are potent. Occasionally a hack and wine are necessary for a big position, while street cars and beer does for the general average.
To-day Camden showed up in great shape. Frank L. Vinton, Howard Pine, Richard Evans, Judges Alfred Huge and Thomas McDowell, Detective James S. Henry, William Sexton, John Smith, Jr., Charles Bosch, W. H. Fredericks, Councilmen James M. Lane, Robert F. Smith, John H. Furey and Arthur Bedell, Andrew Rabeau, Colonel D. B. Murphy, of General Sewell’s staff; F. F. Patterson, Sr., F. F. Patterson, Jr., of the Camden Sunday Review; John H. Fort, of the Camden Telegram; ex-Chief of Fire Department Daniel Carter, U. G. Styron, Wallace Armstrong, Joseph W. Cooper, C. C. Reeve “Lance,” Frank S. Heister and Fred Newton were among the visitors.
Death Notice: James M. Lane
Philadelphia Inquirer —
LANE — On the 23d inst., James M. Lane, aged 54 years.
The relatives and friends of the family, also the members of Camden City Council, the Third Ward Young Men’s Republican Club, Wyoming Tribe, No. 55, Impd. O. R. M., Harrison Union Vet. Legion, and the employes of Float Department Penna. R. R., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service, at his late residence, 534 South Second street, Camden, N. J., on Sunday, 25th inst., at 2 P. M. Interment at Camden Cemetery.
Camden Politics
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Members of City Council and many prominent local politicians will attend the funeral of Councilman James M. Lane this afternoon.
Robert L. Barber will run as the Republican candidate for City Council in the Third ward in place of James M. Lane, deceased. It is claimed that as he qualified as a candidate under the ballot-reform law before Mr. Lane’s death he is eligible to fill the vacancy.
A Councilman’s Funeral
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Public Officials and Societies Do Honor to the Late James M. Lane
The body of the late Councilman James M. Lane, of Camden, was interred in the New Camden Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The funeral was one of the largest Camdenites have witnessed for some time. The Rev. Henry Cheeseman conducted the services at the house, 524 South Second street. The pall-bearers, representing the city government, Fire Department, veterans of the war, Red men and Pennsylvania Railroad steamboat and float men, were County Clerk Robert L. Barber; Harry Sharp, of the Board of Education; Colonel William H. Cooper, William Boddy, Wright Cox and Colonel Samuel Weaver.
The funeral procession was headed by the Third Ward Republican Club, 150 strong. Then came the Harrison Veteran Legion, members of the Fire Department, headed by Chief Elfreth; Wyoming Tribe, No. 55, Improved Order of Red Men; city councilmen and city and county officials in carriages, and the relatives and many friends.
As the cortege wended its way past the city hall the flag floated at half mast and the big clock bell was tolled.
When G.O.P. Battled G.O.P.
Camden Courier-Post —
Typical Convention Rumpus Stirred ‘Regular’ and ‘True’ Republicans as Gibbs and Morgan Were Nominated for Sheriff in ’81
Another in a series of articles on Camden affairs and personalities of yesteryear — By BEN COURTER
Rival factions in the political conventions of long ago were more bitter toward one another than toward the common foe. So-called “rump” conventions were by no means exceptions. By “rump” was meant merely those who refused to play with the regulars and who set up the nominations, as did the Bull Moose on the national scale in the historic scrap of 1912 which resulted in the three-cornered battle of Wilson, Roosevelt and Taft, giving the Princeton professor the start that was to make him a world figure.
That was the convention to nominate a sheriff called at Gloucester City Hall on Saturday, October 8, 1881, where we find the redoubtable Colonel James Matlack Scovel once more a moving factor, but this time in the ranks of the “regular Republicans” as opposed to the “rump” set up by a rival group. Christopher J. Mines, long Fifth ward leader and later sheriff, apparently had been selected as temporary chairman with William A. Husted as secretary. But when that part of the delegation marched up to city hall, like the famed king’s horses—they marched down again.
In the Third ward there was James M. Lane, Charles S. Cotting and George Martin among the 29 “true Republicans” who walked out and held their own convention, voting for Eli B. Morgan as their candidate for sheriff.
These “true Republicans” in a statement to the party rank and file, under the Algeresque title of “Now or Never,” scathingly said: “It becomes the duty of every Republican voter of Camden county, who has the future interest of the party at heart, to administer a severe and lasting rebuke to all candidates who employ the element and encourage the means that were used in controlling the Sheriff’s convention at City Hall, Gloucester City.”
The “Gibbs” mentioned was Theodore B. Gibbs who long lived in the white mansion on the banks of Clementon lake. Gibbs was nominated by the “regular” Convention and a mighty hot shrievalty campaign ended on November 10 with his election; in spite of the “now or never” demand of his opponents headed by Eli Morgan. In the shrievalty scrap of 1881, Gibbs received 5381 and Morgan, 1189. Angus Cameron, the Democratic candidate was given 4450 votes.
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.
Board of Education Visiting Committees, Grand Army of the Republic, Military Companies and Camden Fire Department
Chew’s Camden City Directory — 1872
Colored, Third District—Messrs. McDowell, Moore, Fewsmith.
Liberty, Fourth District—Messrs. Kennedy, De La Cour, McDowell.
Centreville, Fifth District--Litzenburg, England, Ridge.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF NEW JERSEY.
G. C., Richard H. Lee, Camden.
S. V. C., Samuel J. Hopkins, Morristown.
J. V. C., Ira W. Corey Trenton.
A. A. G., Joseph C. Lee, Camden.
A. Q. G., William M. Palmer, Camden.
A. S. G., G. W. Terriberry, M. D. Paterson,
Chaplain, R. W. Martin, Elizabeth.
Council of Administration, Jas F. Rusling, Trenton; Wm. Ward, Newark; Geo. M. Joy, Toms’ River; Chas. F. Hopkins, Boonton; R. B. Seymour, Jersey City.
Delegates to National Encampment, Wm. Ward, Newark; Jos. C. Nicholls, Camden.
Alternates, Wilson S. Smith, Elizabeth; Samuel Curtis, Manahawkin.
POST NO. 6.
P. C., John H. Austin, M. D.
S. V. C., Wm. T. Mead.
J. V. C., A. E. Lovell.
Surgeon, James A. Armstrong, M. D.
Officer of the Day, Benjamin Carlin.
Officer of the Guard, James V. Gibson.
Quartermaster, Edmund May.
Adjutant, Benjamin H. Connelly.
Chaplain, J. Louden.
Quartermaster Sargeant, Alexander Lynch.
Trustees, Thomas M. K. Lee, Jr., Joseph C Nicholls, Jos. B. Fox.
Delegates, Samuel M. Gaul, Edmund May, Wm. T. Mead.
FIELD OFFICERS, SIXTH REGIMENT NATIONAL GUARDS.
Colonel—James M. Scovel.
Lieut.-Colonel—William Hempsing.
Major—Richard H. Lee.
STAFF OFFICERS.
Acting Adjutant—Edward Furlong.
Quartermaster—William M. Palmer.
Paymaster—Richard Wilkins.
Surgeon—H. Genet Taylor.
Assistant Surgeon—J. B. Mulford.
Chaplain—Rev. W. H. Jeffreys.
MILITARY COMPANIES.
Company B, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Armory, Front and Market; open every evening.
Company C, Sixth Regiment, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Armory, Front and Market street, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Company D, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at West and Clinton street.
Company E, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Weccacoe Engine House; open every evening.
Battery B, National Guards, New Jersey State Militia, meets at Weccacoe Hose House, Benson street above Fifth.
CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The affairs of this Department are now controlled by a Board of Fire Commissioners, consisting of Thomas A. Wilson, President, John Read, Jehu Osler, Jonathan Kirkbride, Rudolphus Bingham.
Two second class Amoskeag Engines, two 2 wheel hose carts, one 4 wheel hose carriage and one hook and ladder truck constitutes the apparatus of the city.
No. 1 engine and hose cart is located at No. 409 Pine street, first fire district; No. 2, engine, cart and extra carriage and hook and ladder truck, located at Fifth and Plum street, in the second fire district. The apparatus and company in the first district is under the immediate charge of William J. Mines, Assistant Marshal; and those of the second district is under the immediate charge of William Shearman, Assistant Marshal, while the Chief Fire Marshal, Robert S. Bender, has a general supervisory care of the entire Department.
Members of the Department are as follows: engineer of No. 1, Reuben G. Turner; driver, George Libeck; stoker, Thomas McLaughlin. Extra men—No. 1, Benjamin Cavanaugh; No. 2, William Deiths; No. 3, George Hornuff; No. 4, Stephen Thomas; No. 5, Edward H. Mead; No. 6, Charles H. Hart; No. 7, George B. Hart; No. 8, Alexander Peacock; No. 9, Samuel S. Buzine; No. 10 William Cox.
Engineer of No. 2, William Osler; driver, Jacob W. Kellum; stoker, Henry Grosscup. Extra men—No. 11, Isaac Middleton; No. 12, Andrew Rabeau; No. 13 Edward Cline; No. 14, William Davis; No. 15, Joseph Neice; No. 16, J. Kelley Brown; No. 17, William Allcott; No. 18 Jacob App; No. 19, William H. Schwaab; No. 20, William Henry McKeen.
Tillerman of hook and ladder Company, Edward J. Dodamead; driver, ——. Extra men—No. 21 Charles M. Baldwin; No. 22, Edward Shaw; No. 23, Josiah Davis; No. 24, William C. Lee; No. 25, James M. Lane; No. 26, James Cassidy; No. 27, Edward T. James; No. 28, Thomas W. McCowan; No. 29, Charles Elfreth; No. 30, Theodore Verlander