Bio: Stange, August H. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

August H. Stange

August H. Stange, president and manager of the A. H. Stange Co., Merrill, and whose enterprise, energy and business tact and public-spiritedness have done so much toward the building up of that city of his adoption since he came to it, is by birth a German, having been born near the city of Berlin, October 10, 1853.

Charles F. Stange, his father, also a native of Germany, born in 1820, was married in the Fatherland to Miss Caroline Boetcher, of the same nativity, the date of her birth being February 6, 1826. In Germany three children-Caroline, August H. and Charles –were born to them, and in 1856 the family came to America, settling in Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis., were six more children were born-Ida, Augusta, Anna and Emma, living, and two that died in infancy. The father was called from earth in 1886, while a resident of Merrill, Lincoln Co., Wis., having been an invalid for eleven years; the mother is yet living.

The subject proper of these lines secured but a limited education, as on account of his father’s ill-health he had early to commence work in order to aid in the support of the family. To the astonishingly rapid development of lumber manufactures in Wisconsin during the past quarter of a century Mr. Stange has conspicuously and effectually contributed, and he entered the arena of business with a vigor and energy which has never flagged. At the age of thirteen we find him in a sash, door and blind factory, giving all his earnings to his parents, which, in fact, he did until he was married. When eighteen years old he went to Racine, Wis., to accept the position of foreman in a sash and door factory, where he remained eleven years, or until coming to Merrill in the spring of 1882, in company with H. W. Wright, working of him on salary until the organization of the H. W. Wright Lumber Co., of which he became a member. After two years, however, he sold his interest, and in partnership with Mr. Mihill, bought the present plant consisting of sawmill, sash, door and blind factory, which he has vastly increased and improved, employment being now given to an average of 350 hands. Within one year Mr. Stange bought out his partner’s interest, and the business was conducted in Mr. Stange’s own name until January, 1895, when it was organized into a stock company, know as the A. H. Stange Co., of which he is president, a part of the stock being distributed among his trusted employees, Mr. Stange owing the controlling interests. When he bought his present plant, it was far from new, and considerably run down; but his energy and business ability soon built it up to its present standard of efficiency, and to-day the concern stands at the head of all similar industries in Northern Wisconsin. Mr. Stange enjoys the unqualified esteem and respect of his employees, for reasons, chief among which, probably, is his thorough personal knowledge of the business in every detail, there not being a single machine in all the extensive plant that he can not operate himself-well-establishing his claim to be recognized as a master of every department of the industry.

In February, 1874, at Racine, Wis., Mr. Stange was married to Miss Emily Miller, a native of that city, and daughter of William and Hattie Miller, Germans by birth. Six children have been born to this union, named respectively: Hattie, Charles, Adaly, August, Emily, and Lydia. In religious faith the entire family are identified with the Lutheran Church, while, socially, they are held in the highest esteem by the community.

Mr. Stange’s business interests will not permit of his taking much, if any active part in politics; but his popularity is such that he has, even in a measure against his inclination, been placed in public offices of trust and honor. For six years – or in fact until he positively declined to act longer—he served the city of Merrill as alderman, and in the spring of 1895, although a Democrat he was offered the nomination for mayor of his adopted city by the best representatives of the Republican Party of Merrill. We have said he does not take active part in politics, but he is looked upon as such an able adviser that he is repeatedly waited on and consulted on political questions of moment. One of his business capacity, administrative ability and unblemished integrity is certain to be sought after to fill positions where experience and sound judgment are essential, and today Mr. Stange is vice president of the First National Bank, as well as one of the directors of the National Bank in Merrill. He takes great interest in the welfare and advancement of the city. Liberal in his views, and charitable almost to a fault, yet quiet and unostentatious, as becomes a man of modest mien, he has ever been a powerful supporter of any philanthropic or similar cause to which he could conscientiously give his sanction.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 126-127