James W. Bane

JAMES W. BANE

The family of which James W. Bane was a member was one of the earliest to locate in Johnson county, where it now has many worthy representatives. His parents were pioneers of two States — Illinois and Iowa — and were of old Virginia stock. They belonged to that noble band of men and women who have made present-day civilization and comforts possible. James W. Bane was born in Mercer county, Illinois, November 11, 1838, son of Robert and Sarah G. (Davidson) Bane, natives of Rockbridge county, Virginia. The father was born August 25, 1805, and died July 23, 1888, and the mother was born October 3, 1807, and died July 21, 1888, within thirty-six hours of the death of her husband, both passing away on the place where their son lives, in Penn township, Johnson county. The parents were married in their native State, and in 1836 came, with covered wagon and four horses, to Mercer county, Illinois, bringing their two children: John D., who was a member of the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteers and was killed at the battle of Winchester, Virginia; and Elizabeth G- who died in Johnson county, when twenty years old.

Two children were born to Robert Bane and wife in Mercer county: John W., whose name stands at the 1 and Mary Jane, who died at the age of nine In Octoher, L842, the parents, with th

I of this sketch, years, in Iowa. four children, came west into Iowa, bringing some cattle and horses with them, and transporting their household effects in a covered wagon, drawn by two horses. They landed at Iowa City when that place was a small village, and went on to the trading post, where they spent the first winter. They then moved to the Jacob Stover farm in Pleasant Valley Township, remaining there six years, and there their son Calvin was born. In 1848 they moved to the old Denton place east of Iowa City, which Mr. Bane had purchased, and he improved some of the land, then sold out to

James McCadden and lived a year and a half at IowTa City. Meanwhile, he had bought a claim which was jumped; 120 acres of land was entered on Section 17 of Penn township, and this he purchased at $4.50 per acre. Later he entered land, including the eighty acres where his son James W. now resides. He bought a Mexican War soldier's warrant, and the estimated cost of this per acre was thirty-six cents. In the fall of 1849 he erected a substantial two-story frame house, 20x28 feet, which is still standing. Two children were born in this home: Samuel R. and Narcissa V., the latter of whom died at the age of sixteen years.

Robert Bane made trips to Muscatine and hauled goods for John Powell, a pioneer merchant of Iowa City. At one time he sold 6,000 bushels of corn at twelve cents per bushel, loaded on a steamboat, within 150 yards of the river. About the same time, he sold dressed pork at $1.50 per hundred pounds. He was noted for his fine crops of corn, which were the best in the county from the same amount of land, and was also considered very successful in raising hogs. He was very fond of hunting and his son James remembers when the two men counted twenty-two deer in a herd on the home farm. There were also thousands of wild turkeys, pigeons and prairie chickens on the farm. The father was a fine marksman and by his skill added dainty fare to the family larger. He was proud of his fine orchard, which was the result of his care and hard work. He did most of the grafting himself. He had about fourteen acres of land in it and sold thousands of bushels of apples in Iowa City. His father, Robert Bane, Sr., was a soldier in the War of 1812. But two sons of Robert and Sarah Gr. Bane now survive: James W., the elder, and Samuel, a farmer of Penn Township. Mary Jane died in youth; Calvin H., a soldier, in the Civil War, died in Texas, March 17, 1911.

James W. Bane received his education in the district school in Penn township and in the public schools at Iowa City. He has lived on his present farm since 1849, with the exception of three years, during which he was defending his country's flag at the time of the Civil War. He enlisted August 5, 1862, in Company I, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain James Robertson, being mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, in July, 1865. His brother Calvin first enlisted in Company C, Sixth Iowa Infantry, in 1861, a short time later was discharged at St. Louis, on account of sickness, and in April, 1862, enlisted in Company A, of the same regiment where his brother served, and remained-with it for the full time. The principal battles in which James W. participated were: Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, assault on Vicksburg; Winchester, Va., in which, on September 19, 1864, his brother John D., of Company B, was killed; Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, siege of Vicksburg, and others. He was slightly wounded at the last named battle, being first hurt in the right shoulder, and later, when charging the enemy, fell in jumping n ditch and injured his back. He won an honorable record, as did his brothers, and has reason to be proud of the part he played in the struggle.

At the close of the war Mr. Bane returned to his father's farm, and in 1868 lie was united in marriage with Nancy J. Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, deceased, a sketch of whom appears in this publication. After marriage Mr. Bane lived on the home place three years, occupying the old house. In the fall of 1873 he erected the present substantial house, which has been their home ever since. Children as follows have blessed this union: Robert Davidson and Robert Donald, twin sons, who died young; Maud is the wife of E. Clark, of Sioux City, and they have two sons — Clifton B. and Marion Gail; Albert S., who farms the old place, owns all except forty acres of it (there being 163 acres altogether) and also operates two other farms; Earl G., of East Lucas township, married Miss Millie Mott, and they have four children — Tyril, Ivan, Newell and a baby daughter, Solna May; Claud J., who operates the William Hanke farm near Iowa City (in East Lucas township), married Alice Drovsky, and they have two sons — Robert L. and Harold Albert; Winifred, married Edward Zeithhamel, formerly taught school, resides in Cedar Rapids.

In 1907 Mr. Bane gave up active farm work and he and his wife now occupy the forty acres of land which is all they own of the home farm, and which is very dear to them, for on it they have passed many happy years and have reared a fine family of children, who are a credit to them and to the community. The orchard on this place is one of the finest in the country, being one of the largest and containing a large variety of apples. There are thousands of bushels of cherries picked there yearly; a good crop of green gage and other plums, and various other small fruit. Albert S. Bane may well be proud of his orchard, which is so productive and which yields so good an income.

Like his neighbors, Mr. Bane used the sickle, scythe, and cradle for harvesting his grain in his early operations in Pleasant Valley township, and was a typical pioneer. He has been one of the successful men of his region and lias been willing to advance any movement for the general progress and welfare, at the same time developing one of the best farms in his part of the county. In 1905 he erected a fine barn that is one of the best in the neighborhood, and the farm is well fenced and in a high state of cultivation. He has served in various local offices and has been a delegate to various democratic conventions. He has been trustee and road supervisor and for more than twenty-five years a member of the school board. He is highly respected for the part he has taken in local affairs and has a number of warm personal friends.

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.