The Lange Family of Lee County, Iowa

The attractive and well cultivated farm owned and operated by Ernest Lange on section 16, Green Bay township, testifies to his skill and ability in his chosen occupation. Like many of the leading citizens of this locality, his early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 29th of September, 1845, a son of Herman and Christina (Bettelthon) Lange. The father was born near Gultz, in Wunschendorf, Germany, in 1820, and the mother's birth occurred on the 2d of February, 1821. Deciding to try their fortune in the new world, they crossed the ocean and arrived in Burlington, Iowa, on the 4th of August, 1851. From there they proceeded by wagon to Fort Madison, and took up their above upon a farm in Green Bay township, this county.

Throughout his active business life Herman Lange followed farming and became the owner of several hundred acres of very valuable and productive land. In connection with its cultivation he engaged in the buying and selling of cattle for a time and the success that he achieved was due entirely to his own unaided efforts, for he came to this country empty-handed. He died at the age of seventy-two years, but the mother of our subject still survives at the advanced age of ninety-three. He was a democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. Their family numbered eight children as follows: Paulina, who is living with her mother; Ernest, of this review; Ernestina; Augusta, the wife of August Schubert, of Washington township; Robert, of Green Bay township; Anna, the wife of John Fletcher, of Dover, Iowa; Alice, the wife of John Meisel of Green Bay township; and Herman E., also a resident of that township.

Since coming to this locality, in 1851, Ernest Lange has made his home in Green Bay township. He was only six years of age at the time of his arrival here and his education has therefore been acquired in the public schools of the county. Under the able direction of his father he soon became familiar with agricultural pursuits and since attaining manhood has followed farming with good success. He and his wife at one time owned one hundred and twenty-two acres, but have since disposed of a part of this to the Fower Company and now have ninety-five acres on section 16, Green Bay township, which he has placed under excellent cultivation.

In 1876 Mr. Lange married Miss Allie Craig, who was born in Indiana in 1856 and came here with her parents when about six years old. Seven children were born of this union, namely: Clara, the wife of Charles Hunger of Burlington; Charles, a resident of Green Bay township; Robert, who died at the age of six years; Lydia, the wife of Samuel Tucker of Green Bay township; Hulda and Ernest, both at home; and Golda, now in Burlington.

The democratic party finds in Mr. Lange a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has efficiently filled both school and road offices. He and his family hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church of Fort Madison, and he is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

One of the most prosperous agriculturists of Green Bay township is Robert Lange, whose elegant home is located on section 8. He was born in the township where he still resides on the 4th of October, 1854, and is a son of Herman and Christina (Bettelthon) Lange, who emigrated to the new world in 1851. At that time the family were in very limited circumstances and the father afterward remarked that he hardly knew where his first meal in America was to come from. Success attended his well directed efforts, and he eventually became the owner of several hundred acres of very valuable and productive land in Green Bay township. In connection with its cultivation he also bought and sold cattle to some extent. He held membership in the German Lutheran church and by his ballot supported the men and measures of the democratic party. He served as township trustee for two terms and was honored and respected by all who knew him. He was born December 18, 1820, and passed away more than two decades ago, but his widow, who was born on the 2d of February, 1821, is still living and continues to make her home in this county. Their children were: Paulina, who makes her home with her mother; Ernest, a farmer of Green Bay township; Ernestina; Augusta, the wife of August Schubert; Robert, of this review; Anna, the wife of John Fletcher, of Dover, Iowa; Alice, the wife of John Meisel; and Herman E., whose sketch appears upon another page of this volume.

Reared upon the homestead farm, Robert Lange early gained an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, to which he has devoted his life.* In connection with general farming, however, he has engaged in the threshing business, in baling hay and straw and in feeding cattle for the market. He is today the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and sixty-nine acres near Wever and upon the place has recently completed a fine home at a cost of eight thousand dollars. It is an eight-room residence, supplied with all modern conveniences, including electric lights, for which purpose he has his own electric light and power plant. This plant also pumps the water for his stock and supplies power for the washing machine, cream separator and churn. Upon the place is a barn forty by sixty-two feet, with twenty-foot posts, and it is forty feet from the ground to the able. In this barn twenty head of horses can be accommodated and there is room for one hundred tons of hay, and there are two carriers which can handle two loads of hay at the same time. Mr. Lange keeps on hand twenty-five head of horses and mules, about thirty head of cattle and fifty head of hogs. He and his three sons do all the work upon the farm, and he has run as high as three gang plows and six cultivators at one time. He has upon the place three sets of buildings, two of which he rents.

On the 25th of September, 1887, Mr. Lange was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Mueller, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, November 3, 1863, of German parentage. Her father died while on a visit to the old country, but her mother is still living here. In the Lange family were ten children, of whom Alpha, the seventh in order of birth, died in infancy. The others are: Carl A., Harry F., Caroline, Robert, Herbert, Edna, Nelson, Arthur and Mabel. The two eldest sons are operating a farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which the family lived until 1913, when Mr. Lange sold the place to the Water Power Company and bought his present farm. He is regarded as one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of his community and is a man highly esteemed by all who know him.

He has filled all of the chairs in Wever Lodge, No. 552, L O.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HERMAN E. LANGE.

With the farming and stock-raising interests of Green Bay township Herman E. Lange has been prominently identified since reaching manhood, and he now makes his home on section 10. He was born in that township on the 28th of February, 1862, and is the youngest of the eight children born to Herman and Christina (Bettelthon) Lange, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of Robert Lange on another page of this volume.

During his boyhood our subject attended the common schools of the neighborhood and aided in the work of the home farm. On leaving the parental roof he engaged in farming upon rented land for three years and at the end of that time purchased eighty acres, which he operated until about 1903. He then sold out and bought Big Island, consisting of four hundred and ninety-five acres on the Mississippi river, belonging to Green Bay township. In the purchase of this property he was in partnership with H. D. McCahn, and to its cultivation and management he devoted his attention for three years. He then disposed of that property to the Water Power Company and has since operated a farm of three hundred acres belonging to his mother-in-law. He had previously cultivated this place, however, in connection with the Island and has always engaged in farming on quite an extensive scale. He has also given considerable attention to the raising of stock and now has twenty-five head of horses, the same number of cattle and about one hundred and fifty hogs upon his place. He raises over eight thousand bushels of corn annually. He now owns two hundred acres of land and three acres inside the city limits at Milburn, Oklahoma, which property is among the Chickasaw Indians, and he expects to locate thereon in

In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lange and Miss Etta May Tucker, who was born in Green Bay township, May 21, 1872, a daughter of G. W. and Clara (Minard) Tucker, early settlers of this locality, having located here in the spring of 18; i. Her father prospered as an agriculturist and became the owner of five hundred acres of very valuable land, which is now owned by his widow. He was also prominent in public affairs and served as sheriff of Lee county for several years. He is now deceased, but Mrs. Tucker is still living, making her home in Fort Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Lange have one son, George W., at home.

Mr. Lange is one of the leading members of Wever Lodge, No. 552, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled a number of offices, and he also belongs to the Rebekahs and the Grange. He was reared in the Lutheran church and has always affiliated with the democratic party, taking a commendable interest in public affairs and serving as trustee of his township. He is a worthy representative of an old and honored family of this county and well deserves mention in this volume.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.