Kane, Thomas L. (Thomas Leiper), 1822-1883
Dates
- Existence: 1822 - 1883
biographical statement
Thomas L. Kane (1822-1883) was lawyer, abolitionist, Civil War soldier, frontiersman, and advocate for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Thomas Leiper Kane was born January 27, 1822 in Philadelphia to Judge John Kintzing Kane and Jane Duval Leiper. He attained the bar in 1846, after studying law with his father. He served as clerk in his father's court until 1850, at which point he resigned due to a moral conflict with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. He went on to become an active member of the Underground Railroad. Kane became interested in the migration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the West, and was crucial in securing government aid for the movement. His friendship with Brigham Young is credited with the non-violent resolution of the Utah War. At the advent of the Civil War Kane organized a volunteer Union Army regiment known as the "Bucktails" and served as lieutenant-colonel of that outfit. He later was brevetted the rank of major-general for his service at Gettysburg. After his military service he retired to found the town of Kane, Pennsylvania. In 1853 Kane married Elizabeth Dennistoun Wood, and together they had four children: Harriet Amelia Kane (1854-1896); Elisha Kent Kane (1856-1935); Evan O'Neill Kane (1861-1932); and Thomas Leiper Kane, Jr. (1863-1929). Kane died of pneumonia in Philadelphia on December 26, 1883.
Citation:
Dict. of American Biog. Vol. X, 1928: p. 258 (educated by his father, founded Civil War regiment called "The Bucktails, brevetted rank of Major General for service at Gettysburg, participated in Underground Railroad, peacefully negotiated the end of the Utah War, married Elizabeth Dennistoun Wood in 1853, died of pneumonia in 1883)Story of John Kane of Dutchess County, New York, 1921: p. 4-5 (children named Harriet Amelia Kane; Elisha Kent Kane; Evan O'Neill Kane; and Thomas Leiper Kane, Jr., founded Kane, Pennsylvania)
Ancestry.org, Jan. 29, 2013: (four children: Harriet Amelia Kane (1854-1896); Elisha Kent Kane (1856-1935); Evan O'Neill Kane (1861-1932); and Thomas Leiper Kane, Jr. (1863-1929))
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Brigham Young letters to Thomas L. Kane
Letters were handwritten by Brigham Young to Thomas L. Kane on October 30, 1854. In the letters Young asks Kane to serve as Utah's territorial delegate to Congress. The two letters are identical and were sent separately to ensure delivery. Collection also includes photocopies of the letters.