James Lane, Illinois Newspaperman

James Lane (b. 1869) was sent to Illinois in 1882, but had moved far from Illinois in 1888. He was just 19, but had worked on two different newspapers, one in Dawson, Minnesota and another in Madison, Minnesota. He wrote to the Asylum in 1888, the same year the asylum managers were asking if the indenture period should be shorter or better paid. James' experience proved that the right boy could be successful working for wages. He had made $60 in seven weeks shucking corn and $200 working the other five months that work was available on farms. With his training on the newspapers, he was assured that he would be able to make $75 a month. His experience would suggest boys were much better off working for wages, rather than waiting for payment on their indenture -- $150.

In 1885 James appeared in the Minnesota state census with Charles and Caroline Vaupel, two Illinoisans in Minnesota. The Vaupels came from Lee County, a place where many orphan train riders have been documented. James also appeared in the 1880 census at the asylum, but no other children named Lane were there at the same time.

Could the "orphan" James A. Lane be the same James A Lane who died in Champaign County in 1926, who was noted to have been a printer?

James' letter referred to sisters who were sent to Illinois roughly the same time as he was.

Mary E. Lane, who was sent to Illinois in 1880 at the tender age of 5 and one half, lived in Livingston County with the Stephen Wooding family. The Wooding family was a blended family. Susannah Wooding brought to the family two children from a previous marriage and Mr. Wooding's sister lived with the family as well. Mary E. Lane never appears in the record again with any member of the Wooding family.

Grace Lane was sent to Illinois in 1878 at the age of eight. No detailed report of this girl was ever made, but she was placed in a home with another boy named Fred Hammen. In his letter to the asylum James refers to his oldest sister, Grace, as being almost of age in his letter of 1888.