Michael Kane

Michael Kane was born on July 15, 1845, in Frankville, Ontario, Canada, the son of Patrick and Agnes.

Michael’s parents were born in Ireland, and the family immigrated to Canada by the mid-1840s and on to the United States, settling in Lansing, Ingham County, in 1853.

He stood 5’8” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 17-year-old laborer possibly living in Lansing when he enlisted in Company G on August 8, 1862, at either Detroit or Lansing for 3 years, crediting Meridian, Ingham County, and was mustered the same day at Detroit. He joined the Regiment on September 8 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia and was sick in the hospital in November of 1862 through at least the end of the year. In May of 1864 he was reported absent sick or wounded in the hospital, although according to his obituary he was wounded in the left shoulder by a shell fragment during action at Cold Harbor, Virginia -- which would imply he wasn’t wounded until at least June 1. In any case, was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He was discharged, probably for disability or illness, on June 3, 1865, near Washington, DC.

After his discharge from the army Michael returned to Michigan. He was married to Harriet Cornelia Joy (1848-1926), on December 3, 1865, in Oakland County, Michigan, and they possibly had at least five children: Franklin E. (1868-1920), John M. (1870-1945), Mary Agnes (1875-1960, Mrs. Orlo Wood), Alexander (1877-1951) and Curtis C. (1883-1904).

By 1880 Michael was working as a laborer and living with his wife and children in Meridian, Ingham County. He was living in Lansing in June of 1885 and working as a section boss on the Grand Trunk railroad when he was mustered into the Grand Army of the Republic Charles Foster Post No. 42 in Lansing (and was probably living in Lansing as early as 1882); he was quite possibly a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association.

Michael was a member of Protection Lodge I.O.O.F. No. 321 and Capital Canton No. 2, both presumably in Lansing. He was still residing in Lansing in 1890, but may have resided for a time in Hillsdale County, although it appears that he lived in Lansing for most if not all of his life.

In 1886 he applied for and received a pension (no. 489051).

In any case, Michael of acute uremia died at his home at 512 North Cedar Street in Lansing, at about 11:40 p.m. on June 13, 1910, and the funeral services were held at the Universalist church under the auspices of the Spiritualist church. He was buried in Mt. Hope cemetery in Lansing.

In late June of 1910 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 710035), drawing $30 per month by 1926.