Nearly Forgotten
Shanna Riley November 5th, 2008
I almost missed the grave of Katie Lane when I dropped in on Harelson Cemetery for an impromptu graving trip. It was against a fence; deep within a thick mess of underbrush. You had to fight your way in just to get to where she was buried - if that is even the original spot of her headstone.
Katie, barely nineteen years-old when she died in 1903, is one of those "forgotten" graves - and persons - that are so important to me in my hobby and research. It saddens me to think that she is not remembered, not looked for, and never commemorated. Flowers have probably not been put on her grave in close to a century; eyes have probably not been laid upon her headstone a dozen times in the last ten years.
No one thinks to remember young Katie; there is no one left to care that she lived or died.
The best that I can do for her is memorialize her here. All I could find, so far, was mention of her living with her family in the 1900 U.S. Census.
Katie L. Lane lived in what was then East Baton Rouge parish, Police Jury Ward 7, with her parents Joseph and Emma Lane. I believe this area is now considered part of Iberville parish.
Her father, sixty-two years of age at the time, was from New York and a carpenter. Her mother, whose surname I only know begins with a "G", was a Louisiana native and was fifty-one in 1900. Katie was fifteen at the time.
She lived with a bevy of siblings:
- Mary Bell, 27
- Maud D., 25
- Pearl E., 21
- Ethel, 18
- Carlile A., 11
- Leslie B., 7
From the 1920 Census, I see her parents still living and all of her siblings, even her older sisters now in their forties, single and living with them.
This is all I could find - so far - on poor, forgotten Katie L. Lane. It is my hope that she will be remembered or perhaps someone will stumble across this post and recognize her as an ancestor. Until then, rest in peace, Katie; you are not forgotten.
Hi,
I found your site after googling my family names doing ancestry research.
I am the grandson of Leslie Bullion Lane, mentioned above as the youngest brother of Katie Lane, a teen when she was buried in Harelson Cemetary in Baton Rouge. Joseph and Emma Gertrude Pate were my great-grandparents. I grew up with Pearl (during her 80-90's). My family is indeed from Baton Rouge, and all the Lanes mentioned above (except Carlyle) are buried in Baton Rouge, but in Roselawn Cemetary, not Harelson. Interestingly, there was indeed a sister by the name of Katey or Katie, that died young. I believe she was the oldest of the children. There is a grave stone for Katey in the family plot at Roselawn. Lanes have been part of Baton Rouge history since at least the 1860's. My father Donald Lane is buried not 100 yards from the Lane family plot, with my mother's family, the Boudreaux's.
I am intrigued by your story-I think the odds are long for two young women with the same name who lived and died at approximately the same time in Baton Rouge, especially when the population was so small at the beginning of the 20th century. My family owned a lot of land back then, some on what is now the Airline Highway and Highland Road area, not that far from Harelson Cemetary. It is not beyond imagination that Katie was buried in one place and memorialized at another.
I am curious to know if there are other Lanes buried in Harelson? Please let me know when you get a chance, if indeed you know. I live in Rhode Island, and visit my mother in BR frequently. I will try to visit her grave (even if ultimately we are not related) the next time I head down to LA.
Thanks!
Mark Lane
Hi,
I am related to Leslie B. Lane, listed above. Katie may or may not be a relative of Leslie's. I would be happy to share the story with you if you are interested.
Mark Lane
Hi,
I am a relative of Katie Lane, and found this website. Tried to leave a message earlier, but maybe it will work this time.
Mark Lane
Mark, I am so glad you found the site - and Katie! - and have attempted to contact me. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner but, since April, I have been dealing with a number of personal upheavals - including the deaths of both of my grandfathers (Apr 4 and Jun 5). I am absolutely interested in learning more about Katie and her family and any more information you might have about Harelson Cemetery, which I find intriguing.
I have yet to find other Lanes at Harelson, but a lot of the area is overgrown badly. I know that Katie's small headstone lies in the extremely overgrown, fenced-in area that houses the very large Quine family headstone. I will email you back today and hopefully we can strike up a conversation; I would love to be able to write a more concise story on dear Katie's short life.