Pat Lane dies suddenly Mr. Patrick Lane died very suddenly last Saturday morning (April 30) at the St. Bernard's hospital in Council Bluffs. A cold contracted while he was attending the funeral of his wife in this city about a month ago, coupled with the debility of old age, caused his death. His remains were interred in the Avoca cemetery Monday, while those of his daughter, Mrs. Simpson, were buried at Shelby the day before. Mr. Patrick was a noted character in these parts, and made himself very wealthy by early land speculations. He was a man of very genial disposition that made him many warm friends. He was chiefly a resident of Shelby county. The Avoca Tribune May 6, 1904 Retyped by Lyman Morrison, 1995 Patrick Lane The death of Patrick Lane, Sr., occurred at St. Joseph Hospital, Omaha, Saturday night, and interment was in the cemetery at Avoca Monday forenoon. Mrs. Simpson, the only daughter of the deceased was buried at Shelby Sunday and the death of the wife occurred about a month ago. Mr. Lane came to Shelby county in an early day and at once showed his faith in the future of this state by investing in its farm lands. It used to be a proud boast of his that his first wheat crop paid for his first farm of 160 acres. He continued to buy land at intervals and as fortune continually smiled on him he became one of the wealthiest men in the county. A few years before his death family differences arose which resulted in a divorce being granted his wife. He also became estranged from his children but a partial reconciliation took place beore his decease. He kept himself thoroughly informed on general topics, politics being one of his hobbies. Twenty-five years ago he was one of the most companionable men, and his visits to Shelby, his market town, were always marked by a jovial interchange of opinions, spiced with the wit for which Irishmen are famous. Until about two years ago he boarded at the City hotel in Harlan and was a noted character about the place. Harlan Tribune Wednesday, May 4, 1904 Retyped by Lyman Morrison, 1995 Note: Divorce is not recorded in Shelby County. LM Patrick Lane Patrick Lane, a pioneer citizen of western Iowa, died at the W. C. A. Hospital in Council Bluffs, Saturday morning last. He died while sitting in a chair talking to a nurse. The cause of death we have not learned, but presume it must have been heart failure. The funeral was held from the Catholic church at Avoca, Monday, and the body was buried beside that of his divorced wife, who died about a month previously. Mr. Lane's illness began at the time of his wife's funeral, which he attended. It was a chilly, raw day, and he took cold. The illness did not confine him to bed, however, and about a week ago he started from his boarding place in Council Bluffs to come to Harlan to consult his attorneys, Messrs. Byers & Lockwood. When he reached Avoca he was taken ill and spent a couple of days in bed. Getting up he returned to the Bluffs and to the hospital, where his death occurred. His illness appeared at no time severe. His daughter, a Mrs. Simpson of Avoca, died at about the time he did, and was buried the day before. Patrick Lane was a strong and peculiar character. He was born in Ireland more than eighty years ago. In his young manhood he came to America. He got work soon on a southern railroad, and was one of the laborers who drove a tunnel through the mountains in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap, in east Tennessee. Laborers were scarce, and those employed were allowed to work as many hours as they chose. Young Lane was strong and ambitious, and for considerably more than a year he labored an average of eighteen hours a day. When he quit the job. He had saved three thousand dollars. He then came to the then territory or young state of Iowa, and invested his savings in a farm in Clinton county. He worked on the farm like he worked in the tunnel, many hours a day and with all his might. He married, got a family, and made his family work as he did. In the late 60's or early 70's he moved to western Iowa, settling in Pottawattamie county, a couple of miles south of the town of Shelby in this county. He bought much cheap land, worked hard, compelled his family to work hard, and bought all the land he could. A quarter of a century of that sort of life made him a rich man. We don't know how many farms he did own. Some of them were located in Shelby county. By and by his wife and children, who were not built on the strenuous lines of himself, rebelled against the grasp and drive of the husband and father. The wife applied for a divorce and a division of the property, and got it. Her chief grievance, and that of her children, who held with her, was that the husband and father drove them beyond what ought to be required by a man in the circumstances of the husband. After the wife left him, and the children held with the wife, the husband and father was estranged from his family. He left the farm and spent his days in boarding houses. He must have lived in Harlan as much as three years, being first at McQuillen's hotel and afterward at the City hotel. While he was still a resident of Harlan his sons began an action in District Court asking that a guardian be appointed, alleging that he was of unsound mind and that it was his purpose to make away with his property, that it might not fall into the hands of those to whom it rightfully belonged. The original hearing was had at Council Bluffs, and he was not represented. A guardian was in fact appointed. When he heard of what had been done, he went into court and succeeded in getting a reversal of the order and a discharge of the guardian. The matter created not a little feeling and stir in Harlan. As matter of fact, as we hear from sources which are reliable, at the time the suit brought he made a will devising most of his estate to his children. Since then he had made another giving all his property to them. There are now but two sons left, Patrick and James, and a grandson, a twelve year old son of the daughter, Mrs. Simpson. These three will inherit the entire estate. It is estimated to be worth from $100,000 to $140,000. The estate of the wife is estimated at from $30,000 to $40,000. The career of this excellent man illustrates the peculiarities innate in human nature. He was a model citizen in most respects. He possessed a splendid physique, of which he was proud. He often spoke of how he had husbanded his health by avoiding intoxicants and narcotics. He didn't even use tea or coffee. He often said that he expected to live to be a hundred years old. He had a splendid intellect, enlived by a sparkling keen wit. He was strictly honest, outspoken, square, manly. His undoing came through his excessive industry and strict economy-qualities that are best in themselves, but also capable of being overworked. Had he not acquired the work and saving habits excess his life would have been a balanced one, and its close wouldn't of perhaps, have been clouded by separation from his family, whom, in spite of all that happened between them was shown by the closing acts of life and terms of his will, he -?- better than all else on earth. Shelby County Republican Thursday, May 5, 1904 Retyped by Lyman Morrison, 1995