A closer look: Lane

The Pottawatomie Indians were moved from the lands around the Great Lakes to the Lane area in 1837 and established their settlement about a mile north of the Pottawatomie Creek bridge on the east side of the road.

In an 1846 treaty, the Pottawatomie were granted new lands in what now are the counties of Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Jackson and Pottawatomie. Their move opened land in the Lane area for settlement in about 1848.

Among the first settlers were Henry, William and Peter Sherman. The area became known as Shermanville after the Shermans, who established a store and homes at a crossing on Pottawatomie Creek.

The Dutch Henry cabin was known as a meeting place for pro-slavery men and border ruffians, and it was a focal point of the Pottawatomie Massacre, which occurred May 24, 1856.

On. Jan. 28, 1863, the name Shermanville was changed to Lane, at the suggestion of Mrs. John Hanway, in honor of Gen. and U.S. Sen. James H. Lane, who later committed suicide.

The city of Lane began with the building of the railroad from Paola to Leroy in 1879 and 1880.

Early businesses included a hotel, three general stores, a drug store, a boot and shoe store, two millinery stores, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, an agriculture implement depot and a marble shop.

Judge John S. Hanway received a patent on land southwest of Lane and opened at quarry where a type of granular limestone or statuary marble was found.

Information taken from “The History of Franklin County, Kansas,” compiled by the Franklin County Historical Society and Friends of the Ottawa Library.

Government

Just the facts: Lane

• Male — 50.8 percent

• Female — 49.2 percent

• Median age — 35

• Median household income — $41,500

• Families below poverty level — 11.4 percent

• Individuals below poverty level — 12 percent