R. C. KANE

KANE

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 11:12:36

R. C. KANE, a farmer and stock-raiser of section 22, Mercer township, has been identified with the interests of Adams county since 1877. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Philadelphia in May, 1842, and is the third son of Allen and Mary Kane. At the age of ten years he came with his father's family to Dubuque, Iowa. His youth was spent in assisting on the farm and attending school, receiving a common-school education. In 1864 he, in company with about 100 others and twenty or thirty teams, crossed the plains to Montana. At his early date there was no trail, and the services of a guide were employed. They were four months in crossing the plains, arriving at Virginia City. Forth miles west of the Missouri they saw the last house prior to reaching their destination. During the journey quite a number of the party were slain by hostile Indians. After arriving at Virginia City, which was then a mining camp, Mr. Kane engaged in mining, continuing in this business for six years. The guide on this journey was the celebrated frontiersman, Bridges, and on the way they located Bozeman City. Mr. Kane may well be classed as a pioneer of Montana. The trip back was uneventful, as railroads and many other marks of civilization had taken the place of the dangers and hardships they had encountered on their trip west.

He returned to his former home in Dubuque county, and was there married July 1, 1874, to Mary Ann Daly, a native of Iowa, born in Dubuque county, a daughter of Dennis and Ellen (Moriarty) Daly. The former was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and the latter of New York. Mr. Daly came to America in 1832; was married in New York, and came to Iowa in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Kane are the parents of six children: Maggie, Allen, Robert, Alice, Bertha and Dora. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Kane settled in Adams county and purchased 240 acres of wild land, which he at once began the task of improving. Politically he is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. Mr. Kane is a self-made man, and by his own industry and exertions has accumulated a good property, which he uses to the best advantage in providing himself and family with all the necessaries and comforts of life.