John A. Lane, junior member of the firm of Whitesides & Lane, proprietors of the Franklin Steam Laundry, was born in Madison, Jefferson Co., Ind., on September 17, 1857, and is the son of W. E. and A. L. (Reynolds) Lane, the former being a native of Baltimore, Md., and the latter of Madison, Ind. The father located in Franklin in 1873, and his family followed the next year. They are now residents of this city, the father being employed at the planing-mill of Robert Waggener. Our subject was reared in Madison, where he obtained a very good education, graduating from the public schools of that place. He learned the trade of machinist and for several years followed the same, and then for two years was employed as clerk in a grocery store, and then next engaged in the laundry business. He was married January 19, 1885, to Jessie F. Ritchey, daughter of Leon Ritchey. His wife died October 16, 1885, and on December 29, 1887, he was married to Bessie Kerling, of Franklin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lane are members of the Christian Church.