WILLIAM STANGE.

Through almost three decades William Stange has resided upon the farm which is now his home, so that he is numbered among the pioneer farmers of Owl Creek township, Woodson County. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1830, and is a son of Christian Stange. The paternal grandfather was a teacher, but his son Christian became a carpenter and cabinet maker. Emigrating to the new world he spent his remaining days in the United States, his death occurring in 1859, his interment being in Cherry Creek cemetery in Woodson County. His wife bore the maiden name of Henrietta Meyer, and at her death was laid by the side of her husband. Their children were: Henry, deceased; William; Sophie, the wife of Paul Jaeger, of Cornwall, New York; John, deceased; Catherine, deceased wife of Fred Ostermeyer; Mary, the wife of Ernest Stockebrand; Caroline, deceased wife of Henry Dicks; Margaret, wife of William Lange, of Hay Creek, Minn., and Christian, of Woodson County.

In his youth William Stange learned the trade of carpentering and cabinet making under his father's direction, and was employed along those lines in Germany until 1852, when he came to the United States. He spent five years in the state of New York and was largely engaged in the manu-

facture of brick molds. In 1857 he left the Empire state with a capital of about five hundred dollars and started out, to seek a home in the west. He spent two months in Chicago and then seeing an advertisement in the paper which led him to come to Kansas, he made his way to Woodson County with his brother Henry, locating first on Cherry creek, where he secured a preemption claim. He has since remained a permanent resident of Woodson County, and in 1872 he took up his abode on section sixteen, township twenty-five, range sixteen, where he has since made his home. In his labors he has won prosperity and is now the owner of four hundrd[sic] acres of valuable land in a body, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved buildings, fences and well tilled fields are all unmistakable evidence of the enterprise and thrift of the owner, whose unflagging industry had enabled him to gain a place among the men of affluence in the county.

On the 12th of June, 1868, in Woodson County, Mr. Stange was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Pribbernow, a daughter of Christian Pribbernow, who settled in Owl Creek township in 1867, coming to this country from Prussia. His wife was in her maidenhood, Annie S. Busz, and like her husband she has passed away. In their family were seven children, six of whom are yet living. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Stange: William C. and Henry Carl, both of whom are residents of Woodson County.

Mr. Stange cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and remained a supporter of the party until 1900, when he left its ranks owing to the fact that he could not endorse the expansionist policy of the present administration. He and his family are members of the Evangelical church. His hope of bettering his financial condition in the west has been more than realized for here he has not only found a good home, but has gained a very desirable competence and has won many warm friends among the class of people who have regard for uprightness and honor.

Previous | Home | Next