Lane moved to Hampstead, New Hampshire, when he was about fourteen years of age and was apprenticed to a manufacturer and tanner, working as a clerk in a country store after that.

[1] Lane took an early interest in political matters, was often elected to the town offices and in 1841 and 1842 represented Hampstead in the popular branch of the state legislature.

In 1832, he received from President Martin Van Buren the appointment of deputy United States marshal and took the census of thirteen towns in Rockingham county.

[1] In 1842, he moved to Manchester and engaged in the West India goods trade, but in 1845, he was appointed postmaster by President James K. Polk and served four years.

Before he was appointed special justice of the police court his reputation was such that he was made, by consent of the parties interested, what would now be called a referee or final arbitrator, in numerous cases.