Old Houses of the North Country
- N o 605
—Photo and Caption by David F. Lane
JOHN O'DONNELL H OUSE IN LOWVILLE
Two of Lowville's most prominent figures of the
husband and on March 25, 1926 conveyed it to Elmer P.
19th century owned this house in the last half of that
and Mary E. Miller, the present owners and occupants.
century. They were former State Senator John O'Donnell
While the house, of fine Georgian type with heavy
and former Supervisor Curtis Gould Lane, whose greatpilasters and cornices, still has some of the original
great-great-grandfather, William Lane of Boston, Mass.,
small-paned windows, it has also been considerably
married Mary Brewer, sister of Mrs. Thomas (Sarah
modernized.
Brewer) Webster, ancestors of Daniel Webster, great
Mr. O'Donnell, an uncompromising temperance adAmerican statesman.
vocate stumped the state. He was a keen politician also,
It was about 100 years ago that Mr. O'Donnell had
was elected a trustee of Lowville village in 1860, was one
the house built for his own occupancy on a lot now
of the founders of the Baptist society there June 19,
designated 71 Dayan street, Lowville, and contained in
1860, was assemblyman from Lewis county in 1864 and
the map made by Historian Nathaniel B. Sylvester for
slate senator 1866-9. He owned many parcels of Lewis
Charles Dayan in May, 1851. Mr. O'Donnell made the
county real estate after building this house and after the
house his own residence until June 14, 1869, when he
fire that burned the old Bostwick Hotel rebuilt the
and Lydia M. O'Donnell, his wife, sold it to Edward E.
business block north of it on Shady avenue in 1869. He
Brown. On Aug. 1, 1870, Edward E. and Olive E. Brown
was still operating a book store in Lowville in 1882.
disposed of it to Mr. Lane who, up to that time had ocBesides his other business activities he was a pubcupied the farm established by his father, Gad Lane, on
lisher. On July 4, 1876 he started The Lowville Times,
Lowvilles' West road in 1817.
soon afterward buying and merging The Farmers'
Born Sept. 4, 1806, son of Gad and Polly Gould
Journal, a Carthage Grange paper, with it and conductLane, Curtis Gould Lane first married Prexepta Allvn
ing it until 1882 when Warren R. Filch acquired it.
Nov. 1, 1'830. She died July 1, 1843, and Dec. 31, 1843,
About the same time that Mr. O'Donnell bought
he married Mary Brewer. Of their three sons, Daniel
The Farmers' Journal he bought The Watchword of llion
Webster Lane, survived beyond maturity to become a
and continued it about three years. In 1881 he started
prominent Minneapolis, Minn., attorney.
The Farmers' Workman's Journal, a monthly publicaBesides being a prominent Lowville farmer Mr.
tion made up mostly of editorials from The Lowville
Lane was an active politician, vigorous tariff advocate,
Times.
member of the Whig party later joining the Republican
party when it was formed. Few in Lewis county had
Mr. Lane, successor to Senator O'Donnell in ownserved on its board of supervisors as many times as he,
ership of this house, which stands in excellent state of
1843, 1845, 1846, 1848-1852, 1854-5, 1858-1861 and 1868preservation at the bend in Dayan street, was of old New
1870.
England ancestry. His father, Gad Lane, was born in
He died in this house Feb. 8, 1882, aged 76 willing
Suffield, Conn., Dec. 27, 1780, married Polly Gould, later
it to his widow, Eliza Brewer Lane and the rest of his
removed to Lowville and died there March 3, 1860. Gad
estate equally to her and their son, Daniel Webster Lane.
Lane was the son of Gad and Olive Tree Lane of SufThey continued to reside there for a time and refield. The latter Gad was the son of Samuel and Elizmoved to Minneapolis, from which place on Sept. 24,
abeth Adams Lane of Suffield, and Samuel was the son
1901, Mrs. Lane sold this house to George M. Hutchins
of Samuel and Sarah Foote Dickinson Lane of Hadley,
of Lowville. Mr. Hutchins kept the property until Oct.
Mass., and Suffield. The latter Samuel was the son of
27, 1919. when he and wife Ida R. Hutchins disposed of it
William Lane, native of England, who located in Boston
to Charles and Joanna Miller. Mrs. Miller survived her
in 1650.