JAMES MASON LANE was born around 1838 in Pennsylvania to James S. and Mary Lane. His father was a bookbinder. The moved Camden shortly after his birth, and they were in town in time for the 1840 Census. When the census was taken in 1850 the Lane family included older siblings John, William, Charles and Ann, and younger brothers Theophilus and Barton Lane. James M. Lane appears in the 1860 Census living in Camden's South Ward with his brother, Charles M. Lane, a carpenter. It appears that James M. Lane had married, but as of the time of the Census there were no children. 

James M. Lane enlisted as a corporal in the 4th New Jersey Infantry Militia Regiment (Also known as the Twentieth New Jersey Infantry) on April 14,1861, and was subsequently assigned to Company G. The Fourth Regiment Militia was commanded by Colonel Matthew Miller, Jr.; his officers were Lieutenant Colonel Simpson R. Stroud and Major Robert C. Johnson. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Trenton, April 27, 1861, to serve for three months, and left the state for Washington, D. C., on May 3, with 37 commissioned officers and 743 non-commissioned officers and privates, a total of 777. On the evening of May 5 it reached the capital, and on the 9th it was ordered to go into camp at Meridian hill, where, within a few days the entire brigade was encamped, and where, on the 12th, it was honored by a visit from the president, who warmly complimented the appearance of the troops. On the evening of May 23 it joined the 2nd and 3d regiments and about midnight took up the line of march in silence for the bridge that spanned the Potomac. This bridge was crossed at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 24th, the 2nd was posted at Roach's spring, and the 3d and 4th about half a mile beyond on the Alexandria road. On July 16, a guard was detailed from the 4th for a section of the Orange & Alexandria railroad, which it was important to hold; one company from the regiment guarded the Long bridge; still another was on duty at Arlington mills; and the remainder of the regiment, together with the 2nd, was ordered to proceed to Alexandria. On July 24, the term of service having expired, the 4th returned to New Jersey and was mustered out at Trenton, July 31, 1861. The total strength of the regiment was 783, and it lost by discharge 6, by promotion 2, by death 2 and by desertion 7, mustered out, 766. James M. Lane was among those mustered out on July 31, 1861 at Trenton. 

Several men who served with Company G became members of the Camden Fire Department after it was founded in 1869, including Benjamin Cavanaugh, J. Kelly Brown, Henry F. Surault, Edward Mead, William Cox, William W. Mines, and William Gleason. Other Fourth Infantry men who served included Theodore A. Zimmerman, Charles G. Zimmerman, William C. Lee, George B. Anderson, Jesse Chew, William H.H. Clark, Cornelius M. Brown, John J. Brown, Benjamin Connelly, and G. Rudolph Tenner. Several other Fourth Infantry veterans played significant roles in Camden in the ensuing years.

Returning to Camden from the Army, James M. Lane became a father soon afterwards, when his son John was born in 1862.

It is likely that James M. Lane became active as a volunteer firefighter during the 1860s, as did a number of other men who returned from the Civil War.

James M. Lane became one of the original members of the Camden Fire Department, entering service on December 7, 1869 as as extra man of the Hook & Ladder Company, the original designation of what is now Ladder Company 1. Prior to entering the fire department he had been working as a Superintendent with the Camden & Amboy Rail Road. James M. Lane was living at 644 John Street when he joined the department in the fall of 1869. John Street was later renamed Locust Street.

On November 10, 1869 Camden's City Council purchased the Independence Firehouse, the three-story brick building at 409 Pine Street, for $4500. The building was designated to serve as quarters for Engine Company 1 and the 1st District. On October 29, 1869 City Council authorized construction of a two-story brick building on the northwest corner of Fifth & Arch Streets as quarters for the 2nd District. On November 25th the Fire Commissioners signed a contract with M.N. Dubois in the amount of $3100 to erect this structure. The 2nd District would share these quarters with Engine Company 2 and the Hook & Ladder Company and the facility would also serve as department headquarters for the new paid force. The original contract remains part of the Camden County Historical Society collection.   

Two Amoskeag second class, double pump, straight frame steam engines were purchased at a cost of $4250 each. Two Silsby two wheel hose carts, each of which carried 1000 feet of hose, were another $550 each and the hook & ladder, built by Schanz and Brother of Philadelphia was $900. Each engine company received a steam engine and hose cart. Amoskeag serial #318 went to Engine Company 1, and serial #319 to Engine Company 2. The Fire Commission also secured the services of the Weccacoe and Independence steamers in case of fire prior to delivery of the new apparatus. Alfred McCully of Camden made the harnesses for the horses. Camden's Twoes & Jones made the overcoats for the new firemen and a Mr. Morley, also of Camden, supplied the caps and belts which were manufactured by the Migeod Company of Philadelphia. The new members were also issued badges.

Badges worn by the marshals, engineers, stokers and engine drivers bore the initial letter of their respective positions and their district number. The tillerman and his driver used the number "3" to accompany their initial letter. The extra men of the 1st District were assigned badges 1-10; 2nd District badges were numbered 11-20 and the extra men of the hook & ladder wore numbers 21-30.

Although the Fire Commission intended to begin operation of the paid department on November 20, 1869, the companies did not actually enter service until December 7th at 6 P.M. because the new apparatus and buildings were not ready. The new apparatus was not tried (tested) until December 9th.

The new members of the paid force were:   

The Board of Fire Commissioners consisted of Rudolphus Bingham, Chairman and Samuel C. Harbert, Richard Perks, Jonathon Kirkbride and Jacob Daubman.

Leather helmet of natural grain believed to have been worn by Fireman Charles Baldwin, Hook & Ladder Company 1 when paid force was organized in 1869. Number 21 at bottom of frontpiece indicates member's badge number. (Courtesy of the Camden County Historical Society Collection.)

Annual salaries for the members of the paid force were: Chief Marshal, $800; Assistant Marshal, $200; Engineer, $600; Driver, $450; Stoker, $450; Tillerman, $450; Extra Men, $50. All but Extra Men were paid monthly.

Many members of the newly organized paid department were former volunteers and had distinguished themselves as leaders through their dedication and hard work.

As an Extra Man, James Lane kept working at his regular job, which was at the Pennsylvania Railroad depot near the Market Street Ferry. According to Fire Department records, he was Superintendent of Floats for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Camden in the 1870s. James M. Lane and his family had moved to the Middle Ward by the time the 1870 Census was enumerated. By the time the 1878-1879 Camden City Directory was compiled, James M. Lane had moved to 534 South 2nd Street and was a foreman. His son John was also working for the railroad, as a clerk.

Leadership in the Fire Department at this time was not subject to Civil Service regulations. When the Democrats gained control of City Council in 1876, future mayor Claudius Bradshaw was elected Chief Engineer for the City of Camden, William H. Bassett was named as foreman of Engine Company 2, and James M. Lane was not reappointed to the Fire department. On April 8, 1877 James M. Lane was reappointed to the Camden Fire Department, as foreman of Engine Company 2. He served in that capacity for two years.

The 1878 and 1880 Census shows James M. Lane living with at 534 South 2nd Street his wife Anna and children John, Lilly, and Mary. In 1878 his occupation was listed as "foreman". The 1880 Census reveals he was then working as a railroad clerk. His neighbor, only two doors away at 532 South 2nd Street was Claudius Bradshaw, who was Chief of the Camden Fire Department from 1876 to 1879 and served as Mayor of the City of Camden from 1880 to 1886.

With Republicans regaining control of the city in 1879, Samuel S. Elfreth was elected Chief of the Fire Department and James M. Lane was promoted to Assistant. He remained in this position until July of 1882. James M. Lane did not serve again until 1884, when he took over as Foreman of Engine Company 1 from William H. Bassett. When the fire department was reorganized on July 7, 1885 James M. Lane appears to have left the Fire Department but later served a member of Camden's Fire Commission, which oversaw the Department.

Although on good terms with Democrat Claudius Bradshaw, James M. Lane apparently became a Republican by 1881 if not sooner. Always politically active, he was elected to City Councilman from the Third Ward in the mid 1880s and was still in that position when he passed away on February 23, 1892.

James M. Lane's nephew, Albion R. Lane, was well known in Camden in later years operating a butter and egg business. Albion Lane's grandson, Robert C. Lane, was killed in action in North Africa in 1943.

James M. Lane was an active member of Wyoming Tribe No. 55, Improved Order of Red Men, as were fellow Camden Fire Department members Joseph H. Minnett and Charles G. Zimmerman. George Reeser Prowell, in his History of Camden County, New Jersey, published in 1886, wrote the following about this organization:

WYOMING TRIBE, No. 55, was instituted July 8, 1880. The Great Chiefs present were Great Prophet, Wm. P. Hall; Great Sachem, James M. Smith; G.C. of R., John T. Davis. The first Chiefs of the tribe were Prophet, Joseph H. Minnett; Sachem, Alonzo Bicking; Senior Sagamore, Chas. G. Zimmerman; Junior Sagamore, Wm. F. Propert; C. of R., D.C. Vannote; K. of W., Jos. B. Fox. The present Chiefs - P., J.A. Dold; S., Henry C. Boddy; S.S., Wm. B. Bignell; J.S., Wm. J. Boddy; C. of R., D.C. Vannote; K. of W., J.B. Fox. The number of members is one hundred and fifty-eight. The lodge meets Wednesday evenings at Third and Market Streets.