Representative Bradford B. Lane View All Years

HON. BRADFORD B. LANE.

Bradford B. Lane, who represented the county of Polk in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies, died at his home in the township of Washington, Polk county, July 16, 1913.

Mr. Lane was a native of the province of Ontario, where he was born February 5, 1838. He was the youngest of the twelve children of Nathan and Mary (Moot) Lane. His father was of English descent, and his mother, who was a native of the state of New York, was of German origin. Beginning his school life in his native town, he afterwards attended a seminary in the county of Schoharie, in New York. Intermittently teaching and attending seminary, the next few years were spent. Following a brief experience in the state of Tennessee young Lane settled in the county of Hamilton, Illinois. There also he taught school. Later, he attended Oberlin College through the sophomore year.

Returning to his native country, he spent a few more years as a teacher. He then came to Iowa, settling at first in the county of Warren. In 1867 he was ordained to the gospel ministry in the Methodist Episcopal church, and two years later he was made an elder.

In 1872 he settled on a farm in the township of Washington, Polk county, where he connected his labors on the soil with those of the pulpit, until failing health compelled him to adhere to the farm.

In 1889 he was elected a member of the Twenty-third General Assembly. His career in that body began with a unique experience. It has been the custom of one of the members from the county of Polk to call the House to order at the beginning of the session. Mr. Lane essayed to attend to that duty, which he did, and then he occupied the chair for two weeks.

Day after day for all that time the Journal reads at the beginning, “Mr. Lane in the chair.” On January 27, 1890, a temporary speaker was chosen, and Mr. Lane got heartfelt thanks for the manner in which he discharged the duties thus temporarily and unexpectedly falling to him to perform. The experienced legislator, then as now, the editor of the Capital, said of Mr. Lane’s work in that capacity, “How well the duties thus . . . assumed were performed is a matter of common fame. The member from Polk county, as a presiding officer, was in fact an agreeable surprise. Few men, however well versed in parliamentary law, would have more happily presided over the House during so stormy a period. The Capital only voices the general sentiment of the community when it expressed the wish that the metropolitan county, and the capital city of the state may always be so well represented in the general assembly as they have been by Bradford B. Lane.”

Mr. Lane was very properly made chairman of the committee on rules, and a member of that on ways and means, as well as others.

In the session of 1892 he was chairman of the ways and means committee, and a member of several others.

After his retirement Mr. Lane was a frequent contributor to public journals on leading questions before the people, taking quite advanced positions in some instances. Sincerity and fairness were always marked characteristics of the man.

On October 20, 1863, Mr. Lane was united in marriage wtih Miss Nannie Brown, of Ohio, who with their younger son, Bismark, preceded the husband and father from life on earth. A son, Grapho Lane, and a daughter, Sappho, wife of Andrew McCauley, and a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Des Moines, live at Maxwell, Story county.

In memory of this worthy representative of the people, the House of Representatives directs that this memorial be entered upon its Journal, and a copy thereof be sent his family.

S. B. GARTON,

J. W. SULLIVAN,

G. E. BRAMMER,

Committee.

Adopted unanimously.