John Y. Lane
John Y. Lane, a native of Tennessee, served in the War of 1812 under General Andrew Jackson. He first settled in Sangamon County, Illinois and later moved to Mason County. He and his family spent their first winter and summer in Salt Creek Township in a hut of poles, prairie grass and canvas. History of Menard and Mason Counties
On April 4, 1832, John Y. Lane volunteered for 60 days service in the Black Hawk War in Captain Abraham Lincoln's company. Lincoln's company moved 40 miles on horseback to Beardstown. Captain Lincoln, not owing a horse, was forced to borrow one. In Beardstown, on April 28, 1832, the company was mustered into the 4th Regiment. Lincoln related to Benjamin Perly Poore about his first experience of drilling his company of Tennesseans "I was marching in front of the men across a field when I desired to pass through a gate into the next enclosure. I could not for the life of me remember the proper word of command for getting my company end wise so it could get through the gate, so as we came near the gate I shouted 'This company is dismissed for two minutes, when it will fall in again on the other side of the gate.'" The Black Hawk War - Frank E. Stevens