Bio: Lange, August & Emma
Contact: Stan

----Source: Written by Harold Hardrath & Transcribed by Crystal Wendt.

Surnames: Brandenberg, Collipp, Ewert, Lange, Mandel, Nelson, Schoeneman, Spect

 

Harold, Howard and Halbert "Bud" Hardrath Remember..................

 

~~Grandparents~~

 

August & Emma Lange

 

 

August Lange was born 11 January 1858 in Jankenwalde, Oustpreussen, Prussia to Friedrich Lange and Wilhelmine Spect. He immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1882.

 

Emma Mathilda Louise Kutz, daughter of Emilie Kutz, was born 30 September 1865 in Hinter Pommern, Prussia. She immigrated from Virchow, Prussia in 1886 to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 

They met in Milwaukee. During their short courtship they enjoyed dancing. On 7 April 1888 they married. The first son Friedrich William was born in Milwaukee, 19 December 1888. Twin sons, Karl Paul and Ernest George, were born in Longwood, Hixton Township, Clark County, Wisconsin 24 July 1890. The fourth child, daughter Elsa Marie was born on the farm in Green Grove, Clark County, Wis. 9 June 1892. August Lange and his family took occupancy of the farm sometime between the birth of the twin sons and the birth of daughter Elsa. The other eight children, Robert, Louise, Julius, Ida, Emma, Arthur, Auguste and Frieda were born on the farm.

 

According to oral history August bought the 40 acre farm from Carl Brandenberg for $450 with the improvements being a log house, log barn and 6-8 acres of clearing. The 1893 Plat Map of Green Grove lists the owner of the SW ¼ of the SW ¼ section 23 as being August Lange.  - - - In a warranty deed date 8 June 1899, Henry and Dorothea Schoeneman conveyed to August and Emma Lange 40 acres described as being the SW ¼ SW ¼ of Section 23 and including the farmstead for a sum of $450.

 

In 1900, an additional 40 acres was added to the farm for $200. In 1903 another 40 acres was added for $500. They now owned a 120 acre farm.

 

The picture of the August Lange farmstead made in about 1911, is a typical early settlers pioneer farm. The original 16 x 24 picture is in the possession of the Arthur Lange family.

 

August Lange Farmstead

 

 

The picture of the Lange farmstead, with the log house 24’ x 30’ and 88’ long log barn, was taken on a Sunday morning about 1911. They had just returned from taking milk to the Ernest Mandel Creamery. To get the Creamery from the farm you went east to Bahn’s corner (In the mid 1990’s known as Art Ewert’s corner.) and south ½ mile on what was called Meridian Road. The creamery was just south of the East Fork of the Popple River. On the original picture you can distinguish the stallion, Tom, tied to the fence. Tow was used to haul the milk to the creamery. Julius is standing in the barn door and Art is standing by the window of the house and behind the fence. The dog’s name is Rex.

 

The following is the floor plan of the log house and its furnishings. This was the home where Emma and August raised 10 children to adulthood. Two children died shortly after birth. Elsa was the first of the children to marry (26 March 1913). The wedding reception and dinner was held in the log house. The wedding dance was held in the granary. Jell-o, a new product on the store shelves were served at the wedding dinner. When Elsa and Herman Hardrath celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Clara Hardrath Nelson related that she had Jell-o for the first time at the wedding dinner.

 

Main floor and upstairs in the log house estimated to be 24’ wide and 30’ feet long.

 

 

L-R - Frieda- born 7 April 1908. Married Ralph Collipp 16 September 1933.

Emma Martha Marie- born 3 April 1903. Married Elmer Witt 15 June 1923.

Elsa Maria - born 9 June 1892. Married Herman Hardrath 26 March 1913.

Louise Sophie - born 28 October 1895. Married Albert Hardrath 29 June 1915.

Ida - born 29 March 1900. Married Walter Meyer 1915.

 

 

L to R  -- Julius, Louise, William, Elsa, Robert, Paul

Emma, Emma (Mother), Freida, August (Father), Arthur, Ida

 

August and Emma Lange Family -- Family picture was taken about 1912. Frieda born in 1908 appears to be about four years old. Paul was not at home at the time of the picture was taken. August and Emma had a picture of Paul and photographer added it to the family portrait.

 

August and Emma in about 1920

 

As you can see in the picture below --  the Lange Farmstead, with hard work and thrifty management they molded and built the pioneer settlers farm into a modern dairy farm.

 

 

The new brick house was built about 1915. It appears that when the picture was taken the basement barn was new and built later than the house. The lumber sheathing on the barn looks new.

 

August died 2 January 1932 in the brick house in his bed. Emma died 2 February 1941 Green Grove Township at the home of her daughter Elsa Hardrath. Two emigrants from Prussia who individually came to Milwaukee with nothing, met and married, had 12 fine children and raised them on their 120 acre farm in Green Grove Township, Clark County, Wis. How proud they must have been.

 

Emma and August are buried in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Colby Township, Clark County, Wisconsin.

 

Oral History: Places, events, dates and people as we remember them. Halbert "Bud" Hardrath July 2005.

 

 

 


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