Peter Eugene Dane     1841 - 1880

 

  

From the Appleton Public Library, undated.

(Probably is wedding portrait in May or June of 1866.)

Born:   January 16, 1841 in Lockeport, Nova Scotia.  

Died:   August 9, 1880 in Appleton, Wisconsin

Place of burial:  Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, Block U, Lot 1.

 

 

 

Spouse:          Cornelia (Spaulding) Dane    married May 31, 1866

Children:         Effie (Dane) Holmes (*Note below)

                        Frances Spaulding (Dane) Colvin

 

                       

Occupation:   General Store

Stave Manufacturer at Dunn & Brewster, later Spaulding & Co.

 

Father’s name: Thomas Dane         Birth place: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Mother’s name: Elizabeth (Locke) Dane    Birth place: Lockeport, Nova Scotia

Siblings:         Frances “Fannie” Locke (Dane) Fletcher

                        Atilla Dane

                        James Locke Dane

                        Mary Maud Dane

                        Leona Suberville (Dane) Briggs

                        Frederick Tompkins Dane

Ina (Dane) Hawthorne

Zerviah (Dane) Benoit  

Oscar Thomas Dane

 

 

Fortunately, Peter’s sister Leona dictated quite a bit of information to her grand daughter Eunice Brooks (Daughter of Mary Elizabeth.) in 1913.  It is a wonderful read that includes stories about the settling of Nova Scotia, a monkey named Jock, and buried treasure!  Please read A Bit of Grandma’s Life. 

 

Peter Dane left Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1859, a year before his father and the rest of the family.  He came to Appleton, Wisconsin under the employ of James W. Hutchinson and they were involved in a general store.  Mr. Hutchinson was an excellent businessman and entrepreneur.  For example, he built a woolen mill in Appleton just in time to receive large contracts for uniforms for the union soldiers of the Civil War.  Hutchinson assisted Dunn & Brewster in building a stave factory and Peter was a benefactor becoming a manager there.  Peter now became involved with other noted Appleton businessmen, including G. W. Spaulding.  Spaulding bought out the stave factory and Spaulding’s daughter Cornelia eventually (1866) became Peter’s wife.  The success of these men in these pre-Civil War years helped Appleton grow by leaps and bounds and become a very prosperous city.  It was in this atmosphere, and with Peter’s urging, that his father followed.  (See Thomas Dane’s page for more information.)

 

 

This coupon (top) dated April, 1859, and 1857 Stereograph image (above)

and the people (shown below)

represent the store that Peter Dane left Nova Scotia to work for.

 

    

Left: 1891 photo of James. W. Hutchinson.

Right: and son W. W. Hutchinson, store owners.

(All images from Appleton Public Library, Appleton, WI)

 

According to the Appleton Public Library photo credits, Peter Dane lived at 719 Lawrence St. at the time of the photo at the top of page.  That is the address of the Spauldings, the family of his fiancé Cornelia.  Therefore the photo was taken after his return to Appleton from the Civil War in 1865.  (See next paragraph.)  If this is his wedding Portrait, then it was taken in May or June of 1866.

 

In the History of Outagamie County, Peter is noted as helping find volunteers to enlist in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War.  "The forces of the Confederate States have attacked Fort Sumter; they fired the first gun and are alone responsible for the civil war in which we are now engaged." -- (Motor, April 18, 1861.)   "To those wishing to volunteer. An opportunity will be given all who wish to volunteer by calling upon either T. R. Hudd, Peter Dane or S. Curtis Mower. Now is the time to enlist in the righteous work of defending your country. Fill up the ranks." -- (Motor, April 25, 1861.)  He also was amongst the first to volunteer and served with a group nicknamed The Appleton Guards.  He was a Private in Company D of the 21st Infantry.  Peter enlisted from Appleton on August 11, 1862.  On July 18, 1864 he transferred to U.S.V.V. Engineers serving as a Hospital Steward.  He was mustered out on June 30, 1865.

 

The 1860 Census places Peter with his parents and family who have newly arrived from Nova Scotia.  The 1870 Census places Peter, wife Cornelia and daughter Francis, as living in the home of Cornelia’s father, George W. Spaulding.

 

*Effie Dane was likely b. February of 1872, married unknown Holmes, and d. March 3, 1894. They had a son Frances born in 1893 who died young.

 

 

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