California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 JOSEPH PARKER LANE was born in North Carolina, a son of John Lane, a native of the same state, who 
removed to Tennessee when his son Joseph was but a few months old. His mother was a niece of 
Noah Macon, United States Senator from North Carolina. In Knoxville Joseph P. Lane was given the 
benefit of a good education, supplementing his public school learning by a thorough study of law, later 
being admitted to the bar of that state. At the age of twenty-two he removed to Texas, locating near 
the present city of San Antonio, and there he practiced law to some extent. In 1840 he came to 
California, the journey being made with a pack train through Sonora and Mazatlan to Los Angeles. 
From the latter city he went direct to Stockton and engaged in trading in the mines. In 1850 he located 
in Stockton and in partnership with Nathan Fairbanks, opened a wholesale liquor store after the big 
fire. 

In Stockton Mr. Lane was united in marriage with Ann Mary Barnett, who was born in Hayward county, 
Term., November 6, 1851, a daughter of Bird B. Barnett, a native of Carroll county, that state. Mr. 
Barnett was a large planter and tobacco grower. He married Martha Walker, who was born in 
Charleston, S. C. In 1848, with his family, Mr. Barnett located near St. Joseph, Mo., where the winter 
was spent. The following summer they continued on to Salt Lake, intending to reach the coast that 
year, but on arriving in the latter place it was too late in the fall to attempt the journey across the 
mountains, so they remained in that city until the following spring, when they continued their journey, 
reaching California in July, 1850. The first settlement was made on Weaver creek, where Mr. Barnett 
opened a hotel, which he conducted until the following year, when he removed to Stockton, shortly 
afterward buying a ranch three miles from that city. There in addition to farming and stock-raising he 
conducted a hotel, which was extensively patronized by the early settlers. Besides this property he 
also owned a large ranch on the Calaveras river. He died when over eighty years of age, at the home 
of a daughter, Mrs. C. D. Reynolds, in Calaveras county. His wife passed away in Stockton, where they 
had lived continuously for twenty years, after having spent about six years in Mariposa county. 

After his marriage Mr. Lane continued in business in Stockton until 1855, when he disposed of his 
interests and with his wife removed to Monterey county, where he purchased a farm adjoining the 
town of San Juan and engaged in the stock business for four years. While there he served as justice of 
the peace and took a prominent part in county affairs, also serving two terms as supervisor. 
Subsequently he removed to Mariposa county, locating on Little Mariposa creek, where he engaged in 
the cattle business until 1868. From that year until 1870 he was interested in the sheep business, but 
at the end of that time sold out and came to the San Joaquin valley, settling near what is now known 
as Lane's Bridge, ten miles east of the present site of Fresno. In this section he resumed the stock 
business and as the years passed accumulated about seven thousand acres of fine farming land. In all 
his business ventures he met with success, and at the time of his death was considered one of the 
most substantial men in this section of the state. He was accidentally killed December 15, 1879, his 
death causing deep regret among his many friends. Since his death Mrs. Lane has carried on the 
business. She became the mother of five children, namely : Joseph Adolphus, of Fresno; Mary, now 
Mrs. Liddell; Edward, who is engaged in farming near Fresno; William Henry, who resides in Santa Cruz 
county ; and Frank Mark, a graduate of the State Normal school at San Jose and now principal of the 
Hawthorne school in Fresno. Her children remained on the farm until they were all married, after 
which, in 1897, she moved into Fresno, where she has since resided. During her residence here she 
erected her home at No. 1652 N street, besides which she also owns several thousand acres of land on 
the San Joaquin river, which is rented. Mrs. Lane is an active member of St. James Episcopal church 
and is very popular with all her acquaintances, being one of the few pioneer ladies living in the city. 

In politics Mr. Lane was a Democrat, but he never had the time nor inclination to take an active part in 
public matters, though none had the interest of his county at heart more than did Mr. Lane. He was at 
all times ready to give of his time and means to further any movement that was calculated to be of 
material benefit to the county or state. His life was a success and in his history there is much that could 
be read with profit by the young men of the present day. He met and overcame all obstacles, and was 
ever willing to give credit to his wife, who was at all times a worthy helpmeet.