Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 410

HENRY LANG, Sr., deceased, was one of the well-known settlers of Wilton Township of early days. He was a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1803, and was reared to the occupation of farming. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Beyrenther, and resided in his native land until 1848, when, believing that the opportunities for the advancement of his children would be superior in America to those of the older countries of Europe, he resolved to emigrate to the United States. On the 3d of April, 1848, with his family, he left his German home for Bremen, whence he sailed for Baltimore, Md., and was forty-two days on the ocean. His destination was Iowa, and at once he started westward with his family, making the journey with a team to Pittsburgh, thence down the Ohio River to its mouth, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis. In that city Mr. Lang met a German resident of Muscatine named Kiegle, and was induced by the favorable description that gentleman gave of this county to come hither, and started at once with his family, reaching Muscatine, then called Bloomington, in the latter part of July. The next thing to occupy his attention was the location, and he at length decided to make his home on section 25, Wilton Township, which then formed a part of Moscow Township. His first purchase consisted of eighty acres, upon which the only improvement was a small house, while twenty-eight acres had been broken. Immediately beginning the work of cultivation, as time passed the land was transformed into one of the finest farms in the community, and there Mr. Lang resided until his death, which occurred January 22, 1872. His wife still survives him, and, though she is now in her eighty-third year, has excellent health for one of her age, and frequently walks a mile to church on the Sabbath Day.

Our subject was a worthy and esteemed citizen. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, and in 1860 united with the Evangelical Association, which connection he continued until his death. With two others, John Braun and Jacob Valet, he furnished the means with which to build the house of worship in Wilton Township, and was ever a liberal supporter of that denomination.

Mr. and Mrs. Lang were the parents of seven children, and with the exception of one daughter, all are living : Eve, wife of Michael Fish, of Iowa County, Iowa ; Nicholas and Henry N., who are mentioned more fully later on ; Jacob C.; Christina, wife of George Dimmid, of Thomas County, Kan.; George J., and Mrs. Catherine Brenner, who is now deceased.

Nicholas Lang was born in Germany, July 22, 1836, and came to America with his parents when twelve years of age. He was reared to manhood on the homestead in Wilton Township, and wedded Miss Margaret Lieberknecht, daughter of Nicholas and Catherine Lieberknecht, who were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Her parents were married at the ages of twenty-three and twenty-four years respectively, and the day following started for America, and after landing in this country settled in Pennsylvania, where they made their home for eleven years. In the year 1854 they came to Iowa, locating in Grandview Township, Louisa County, where the death of the father occurred in 1872. His wife still survives him.

Mrs. Lang was born in Pennsylvania in 1842, and is one of a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, who are yet living. By her union eight children have been born, six sons and two daughters--Benjamin, Henry, George, William, Lewis, Albert, Thusnelda and Bertha. Mr. Lang is one of the successful farmers of Muscatine County, and is the owner of a pleasant home located on a fine farm of 380 acres. He is also the owner of 160 acres of land situated in Louisa County.

Henry Lang, who resides on section 24, Wilton Township, was born in Germany, May 12, 1840, and was eight years of age at the time of his arrival in America. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Ellen Wagner, who was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 8, 1846. Her death occurred Aug. 15, 1887, leaving nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely : Charles P., Niola, David, Ella, Henry, Newton, Anna, Ethel, and Joseph. His farm contains 217 acres of land, and is under a high state of cultivation.

George J. Lang, the youngest brother, was born on the old homestead in Wilton Township, Jan. 11, 1853, and is now the owner of that farmupon which his entire life has been spent. He led to the marriage altar Miss Nettie Maylone, a daughter of William H. Maylone, but on the 25th of September, 1885, she was called to her last rest. By their union four children were born : Christy B., L. May, Nora, and Hattie E., the eldest who died in infancy. The Lang brothers were numbered among the prominent and respected citizens of Wilton Township, with which the family has so long been identified, and in their political views are supporters of the Republican party.


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