In 1854, Hiram A. S. Kane, my father, came to Hopeville from Illinois with his parents, Samuel and Charlotte Kane. Grandfather built and operated a general store in Hopeville which supplied the needs of the community. Goods were brought by ox and horse wagon from Eddyville, the nearest supply. My father said he had hauled kegs of whiskey from the Clinton distillery located about two miles north of DeCalb on Long Creek in Decatur County. Liquor sold for 60c per gallon, the same price as molasses. There was no tax on liquor at that time, but during the Civil War the Government levied a tax of $1.10 per gallon and encouraged consumption for revenue. This was the worst curse we have ever had.

After the Civil War, father returned to Illinois and married an old schoolmate, Mary Elizabeth Burns. They farmed and mined coal a few years, then moved to Nebraska 101 years ago by wagon with 4 horses, 2 cows, a small girl, Eva, and a baby boy, Samuel. They camped at the old Mormon Camp west of Murray on the Carl Johnson farm. At that time grading was being done in the east part of the county and at Creston for the CB&Q Railroad.

My parents homesteaded in Nebraska, but starved out the first year and came to Clarke

County and located four miles east of Hopeville.

Ninety years later I was in Fremont, Nebraska, and asked the officials where that quarter section of land was located so I could visit my parent's homestead. I was told I was standing on it. Their land was now the center of Fremont, a city of 22,000 citizens.

At one time eleven Kane families lived in this community. Today I am the only one by the name left here.

Children of Hiram and Mary E. Kane were Eva (Mrs. William) Moran, parents of Pearl Moran, Long Beach, California, Lowell Moran, Murray, Iowa, and Harold Moran, Osceola, Iowa; Samuel P. Kane who married Loura Adams and whose only child is Audrey A. Kane, Des Moines, Iowa; Earl E. Kane, who married Lola Arnold and whose daughter is Carol (Mrs. L. G.) Stoll, El Cajon, California; Arby Kane who married Lizzie Jones and whose daughter is Velma (Mrs. Gerald N.) Johnson of Hopeville; and the writer Juddson J. Kane whose children are Cleo Garrison, Veda Smith and Wanda Craft.

It is my wish that this page be in memory of our ancestors and of my late wife. Leila C. Ford Kane.