HENRY LANGE born in the year 1826
Title: Old and new Westmoreland, Vol. 4
Authors: Boucher, John Newton., Hedley, Fenwick Y
Pg. 623
HENRY LANGE – LANGE is a name that has come to be highly honored in the neighborhood of the town of Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County, Pa., during the past two generations during which men who have born it have made their residence there.
The founder of the family in the United States was GEORGE LANGE, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was born in the year 1826, and where he passed the years of his childhood.At the age of sixteen years, however, he made his way into the neighboring country of Switzerland and there remained five years.On attaining his majority, MR. LANGE, SR., returned to his native land to accept his chance of being drafted into the military service, but was not drafted and immediately left home again, this time making his way to the United States of America.He came at once to Pennsylvania and settled in the western part of the State, near Pine Creek, a small community adjacent to the rapidly growing city of Pittsburgh.After a few years spent in this region, however, he moved to Westmoreland County and here located in the charming town of Belle Vernon.At Belle Vernon he secured employment in the establishment of Christian Amalong, a prominent man of the community at that (pg. 624) time, who was engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages.One year later he purchased his employer’s business and continued in this line with a high degree of success.In the year 1850 MR. LANGE abandoned his industrial enterprise and engaged in the livery business instead, a line in which he met with an even more marked success and in which he continued energetically up to the time of his death.GEORGE LANGE was a very religious man and was actively identified with the Evangelical Lutheran church.He married EMILY McCRORY, and they became the parents of six children, five of whom are now living, as follows: HENRY, of whom further; CLARA, who makes her home at Belle Vernon; REGINA, who became the wife of SAMUEL DUGAN, of Coraopolis, Pa.; JOSEPHINE, who resides at Belle Vernon; and WILSON, also of Belle Vernon.The death of GEORGE LANGE occurred Feb. 1, 1885.
Born March 8, 1850, at Belle Vernon, HENRY LANGE, eldest child of GEORGE and EMILY (McCRORY) LANGE, received his education in the public schools of his native town.He was always of an ambitious cast of mind, and upon reaching his twenty-first year decided to strike out for himself and win his way in the world.Accordingly he purchased a team of horses and contracted with the Merchants’ Glass Company to deliver their coal.As time went on he also formed connections with several other large concerns and for upwards of eight years hauled coal in the district for the important industrial concerns.In the year 1880, however, he disposed of his teaming business and entered into partnership with Dr. A. C. Streeter, and the two men conducted for several years a large and successful drug business.At the end of this period MR. LANGE purchased his partner’s interest in the business and turned the entire venture over to his son, W. H. LANGE, whom he thus established in business.It had been in MR. LANGE’S mind for some time past that a well-conducted, up-to-date hotel would fill a long felt want in the district, and accordingly, in the same year as that in which he gave up the drug business, he purchased the old Webster Hotel of the firm of Frost & Carnes, and completely overhauling the old building, which was one of the best known landmarks in the region, turned it into a modern well-equipped hotel.For twenty years he operated the hotel and met with the most gratifying success in his venture, becoming one of the best known hosts in Western Pennsylvania.Both he and his house enjoyed great popularity with the travelling public and there were few hotels of its size so well patronized in the entire region.But in spite of his success and his real enjoyment of his line of business, MR. LANGE had always a strong taste for the quiet retirement of rural life, a taste that grew stronger with his advancing years.Eventually, about the year 1909, MR. LANGE was able to gratify this taste, having at that time reached a point in the conduct of his business from which he felt retirement justifiable.He therefore purchased the old Osborn farm, which is situated in Rostraver Township, about two miles east of the town of Webster.Since that time MR. LANGE has devoted his entire attention to agricultural problems and the operation of his farm.His property consists of about one hundred acres of excellent fertile land this MR. LANGE consistently keeps in the highest state of cultivation and productivity.He makes his home in the old brick house which has stood on the place ever since the year 1812, when it was built, and which is regarded as one of the landmarks of the district.For many years the old building was used as a store, but since it is was renovated by MR. LANGE it makes a most artistic and comfortable dwelling, especially as it is in a remarkable state of preservation.
Besides the many business activities engaged in by MR. LANGE, he has always been a keenly interested participant in local affairs, and while in no sense a politician has become a recognized factor in the public life of the place.He is a Democrat in politics, but although he thus describes himself, he is nevertheless entirely unpartisan in his attitude and casts his ballot solely for the man or issue that he believes will best subserve the interests of the community at large.
HENRY LANGE was united in marriage, October 31, 1871, when but twenty-one years (pg. 625) of age, with FRANCES BILLITTER, of Portage County, Ohio, and a daughter of JAMES and SARAH (GWIN) BILLITTER, of Fayette County, Pa., where she was born.MRS. LANGE died on August 27, 1907.To MR. and MRS. LANGE twelve children were born, nine of whom grew to maturity, as follows: WOODA H., now engaged in the drug business at Belle Vernon, and a thirty-second degree Mason; GEORGE, who now conducts a hotel at Belle Vernon; BESSIE, which is now the widow of SAMUEL SPEARS; EDNA, who became the wife of BERT AMMOND, of Webster; FANNIE, who became the wife of MILTON AMMOND, of Donora, where he employed as a mill engineer; CATHERINE, who for a time taught school in Westmoreland County, and is now the wife of FRED HOUSEMAN, the proprietor of a store in Latrobe; GRACE, a graduate nurse, became the wife of HARRY FEEHAN, of Monessen; JESSIE, who became the wife of BENJAMIN DONALDSON, of Donora, where he is engaged in business as a milkman; FRANCES, became the wife of ARVIL WEST, of Elizabeth, tin plate worker.
Beyond doubt nature intended MR. LANGE to be a hotel proprietor.He is undoubtedly one of the most popular figures in Belle Vernon or the surrounding country today.