Fred W. Lange Fred W. Lange is one of the native sons of Clayton county who continue to pay loyal allegiance to the county and to mark their appreciation of its splendid resources and manifold attractions. Of broad-minded progressiveness, Mr. Lange has demonstrated his vigorous and resourceful spirit through his active association with agricultural and live-stock industry, in his native county and he holds definite precedence as a grower of fine Jersey and Guernsey cattle. He takes much satisfaction in being the owner of the fine old homestead farm of his parents, both of whom are now deceased and the memories of both of whom are held in high honor in the county that long represented their home and was the stage of their earnest and fruitful endeavors. Fred W. Lange was born in Giard township, this county, on the 21st of September, 1868, and is a son of Adam and Anne (Froelich) Lange, both of whom were born in Hessen, Germany, and the latter of whom was a child at the time of her parents' immigration to America, the family having settled in Clayton county, Iowa, in the early pioneer days and its name being perpetuated in that of the village of Froelich. Adam Lange was reared and educated in his native land and as a young man he came to the United States and established his home in Giard township, Clayton county, Iowa. Here he was employed at farm work for several years, his services in this capacity having been given on the farm of Mr. Schneider and Henry Froelich, both influential pioneer farmers of the county. He finally purchased the farm of one hundred acres on which his son Fred W., of this review, now lives, and with augmented prosperity he added fifty acres to his landed estate, which he developed into one of the fine farms of the county. Here he passed the residue of his life, secure in the high regard of all who knew him and attended by the gracious prosperity that resulted from his own honest and effective efforts. His death occurred about the year 1911 and his wife preceded him to eternal rest, both having been devoted members of the Evangelical Church, in which he served most effectively as Sunday-school superintendent. He did well his part in connection with civic and industrial activities in Clayton county and while he had no ambition for political preferment he gave staunch support to the cause of the Republican party. Of the children the firstborn was John, who is deceased; August is a resident of Portland, Oregon; Henry maintains his residence at Rockford, Illinois; Carl is deceased; Fred W., of this sketch, was the fifth child; Julius resides at Rolfe, Pocahontas county, Iowa; Elizabeth is deceased; and Amelia is the wife of Harry B. Northcut, of Sterling, Colorado. Fred W. Lange received not only the advantages of the public schools of Giard township but also those of the Palmer Business College, in the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Thereafter he was employed for some time as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of Adam Schneider, at Monona, and finally he engaged in the general merchandise business in the village of Froelich, where he continued his operations until 1900, when he sold his stock and business and purchased the old home farm of his father. He has made various improvements on this fine domain of one hundred and fifty acres and thrift and prosperity are shown forth in such a way as to offer palpable evidence of his progressiveness and good management. Though he gives due attention to diversified agriculture, he is making a specialty of the raising of the best type of Jersey and Guernsey cattle and has recognized precedence in this line of enterprise in his native county. Mr. Lange is vitally interested in all things tending to advance the civic and material welfare of the community, is a Republican in his political allegiance, and both he and his wife hold membership in the German Methodist Episcopal church, their attractive home being a center of generous hospitality. In the year 1900 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lange to Miss Lena Albert, who was born and reared in Giard township, and who is a daughter of William Albert, a representative farmer of that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lange have three children; Carl L., Kenneth, and Wesley. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; page 240-241 |