The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-05-10
col. JOHN K. LANG.
,,..tcb Of and Tribute to a Brave Sol
der

- n
ON April Sth, was born in Wood
\ b., July 2, 1886. In 1s49,
w.. COL l.aing was 10 years of age,
"-' ,,,,-nts moved to Maine, and were
,r the first settlers on the upper
n..,t.cot. The family came from the
,l.ir Seotch.Irish stock which con-
' 'a.',-d largely toward the upbuilding
,.. towns in the lumber regions OF
,..,.. When Col. Laing was Is years
--.... he left school and began life as a
man. He continued in this line
I.lsiuess until the breaking out of
...,.l war. enlisting in October, 1861,
. 18th Maine regiment. He was
s.., 5 wears of age, and an excellent
.-.. physically and mentally, of the
,....e boys of the lumber regions OF
,,..,.. who did such valiant work in the
war. for it an historical fact that,
..t..-yer there was front, the guns
Name thundered, and her colors
~oi"
sam private in 81, to a Lieutenant
..l in 90 is a brief summary OF
ang's war record. Early sent
.. THE Department of the Gulf, the
..u Maine bore brilliant part in the
... lstory, and was called into the
.....fi campaign in "a and was with
la in his brilliant series of battles
.t autumn.
..alng bore an honorable part in
... 1attle participated in by the
INIT. After his first promotion,
anne in January 81, he dlllgent-
himself to work studying mill
.ttics, and fitted himself for the
.sltion he was afterwards to at
lie was no favorite of fortune
'.pntial friends back in Maine
r.rured him a commission, but
1naI bravery on the field, and a
Iberence to duty in its every
.. rought him the reward which
. many in easier ways. Col.
VAS commissioned I'd Lieut.. in
.. st Lieut.. in june 81, Cap
'.tt. 'G3, Major in February, "a,
eat. Colonel in March 90, and
..... laIged from service with that
.. august, 1868, at Darien, Ga.
arch. 1864, Major Laing was
his one furlongh during his
ars service. He went back to
and was married to Mary f.
ud of Passadumkeag. They
arried in Bangor by Rev. \. X,
~uall the good old Methodist
r. who is yet remembered by
u ot the old inhabitants.
..lr his discharge from the service,
-,.t.pd in Passadumkeag and be-
r Identified with the interests of
. .an and State, and was member
state Legislature during the
.. uf Thomas B. Reed, and other
. tlo have made Maine famous.
-os, he removed to Worcester.
N-- and lived there three years.
U.Ig his stay in that city, he was
n.a. .er Of George Meade Post, No. 10,
I.4 @. 4. r. In the winter of 10-Tl,
reded to try the climate of the
de coast, as his health, which had
realty undermined by the Loulsl-
. mpaign, continued very poor.
many another who has sought this
tll climate in search of health,
-... to him in full measure, and IN
+.. ..t November he was an excellent
the sturdy Y ew Highlander who
he so much toward the upbulld-
vast empire lying on the sun
pe of the Rockies. About that
yalvular disease of the heart
.a-d. and he constantly failed,
u. 9 much until the end came on a
April Sunday morn. He was
IN April 10Th, which was exactly
-4as from the day he landed in
Wand by boat from San Francisco.
.aing was extremely modest in
.a TO his war record, like all good
saying little about the service
L- cred his country in her hours OF
r. hut that he was true and brave
ler, is a we'll known fact.
IT. vas twice promoted on the field
-- for rescuing a wounded comrade
@tt lace of the enemy's fire, at the
Tss NJ his own life. In all the walks
ct lie he was true to every trust, AND
gained and held the esteem of all. He
had tHen member of the Portland
city eJuncil and was for many years
4-s f the school board in East Port
2lg lie built the house in which he
&sl Uhen he first came here, and dice
l-rr near his favOrite window, from
'-ly he could see the grand Portland
Ha- Is. and the foothills and noun
aH way to the west. Col. and Mrs.
-t raised six children, four of whom
ug in this vicinity. Mrs. Laln&
a-. wears ago, and he never re
-l When Col. Laing was youn9
l7 was good old-fashioned Demo
Ike his father before him. Al
~sidential election in 1860 oc
the first political split in thu
the elder Laing voting TO
as and Johnson, while John X.
H. vote for Breckenridge and Lane