PETER LANGE.
No more substantial and moral citizens have ever come to this country from foreign lands than the sons of the little kingdom of Denmark. Wherever they have settled, they have become honored and respected citizens. As a race they are characterized by industry, patience, frugality and wise business management. They have a patience and perseverance which overcome all obstacles and insures success in whatever undertaking they choose to follow. Audubon county, Iowa, has been honored by the coming of several sons of Denmark and one of the prominent farmers of Hamlin township, who was born in Denmark is Peter Lange.
Peter Lange was born on December 2, i860, in Vensyssel, Jutland, Denmark. He is the son of Chris and Mary Marie Lange, both of whom were born at the same place as their son, Peter. Peter Lange's father died when he was six months old. There were two children at that time, Peter and Marie. His mother married again some years later and Peter made his home with her until he was eleven years old, when he was compelled to go out into the world and earn his own living. He worked out at farm work in his own country until he was twenty-seven years old and then, in April, 1888, came to the United States, landing in New York city. He came direct to Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa, where he had a half-brother. He worked out for neighboring farmers for about two years and then rented land east of Audubon for about seven years. After this period, he rented another farm in Melville township for five years and in the fall of 1901 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 29 of Hamlin township. He has built all of the buildings on this place and has one of the best-improved farms in Hamlin township.
On April 4, 1891, Mr. Lange was married in Kimballton, Iowa, to Johanne Andersen, who was born on September 18, 1864, in Veiling, Jutland, Denmark. She is the daughter of Anders and Matte Marie (Christensen) Anderson, both of whom were born in the same place as their daughter. Mrs. Lange came to the United States when twenty-six years old, coming direct to Audubon county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lange, six children have been born, Chris, who was born on July 4, 1893; Mary, August 29, 1895; Agnes, February 21, 1898; Lawrence, March 1, 1900; Martha, November 21, 1903, and William, September 16, 1905. All of these children live at home.
Peter Lange is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank at Hamlin and from the organization of this bank has been prominent and influential in its management. He is a successful farmer and has greatly profited in the breeding of live stock.
Mr. Lange is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director of his township, but this is the only office he has held. Otherwise, he has devoted his attention to his family, his home and his farm. Religiously, the family are members of the Danish Lutheran church.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 445-446.
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