Max Lange b. 2 Oct 1899 Wentworth, Lake County, South Dakota d. 19 Jul 1990 Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

1899 - 1990 (90 years)

Name	Max Lange
Birth	2 Oct 1899	Wentworth, Lake County, South Dakota [2, 3]
Christening	5 Nov 1899	Wentworth, Lake County, South Dakota [4]
Gender	Male
BAPM	5 Nov 1899	Wentworth, Lake County, South Dakota [5]
Census	1900	Wentworth Township, Lake County, South Dakota [6]
	1900 U. S. Federal Census
	Age: Abt. 1
		Robert Lange, 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Lake County, Wentworth Township, South Dakota Robert Lange; his wife, Emilie; his children: daughter Ella; sons: Art, Otto, Paul Walter, Max
Census	1905	Cleveland Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin [7]
	Age: 5
	Agency: State of Wisconsin
		Robert Lange, 1905 Wisconsin State Census, Jackson County, Cleveland Township, Wisconsin [RL 12.] Robert M. Lange; his wife, Emelia (Amelia), and children: daughter, Ella, and sons Arthur, Otto, Paul, Walter, Max, and Armie
Census	1910	Cleveland Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin [8]
	1910 U. S. Federal Census
	Age: Abt. 11
		Robert M Lange, 1910 U. S. Federal Census, Jackson County, Cleveland Township, Wisconsin [RL 09.] Robert M. Lange, his wife, Emelia, and their children; daughter, Ella L. Arthur H., Otto G., Paul W., Walter, Max, and Armie.
Confirmation	16 May 1915	St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), Fairchild, Wisconsin [9]
	Age: Abt. 16
		Lange, Max. Confirmation Picture, 16 May 1915. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fairchild, Wisconsin. Max Lange is the third person from the left on the bottom row.
World War I Draft Card	1918	Havana, Sargent County, North Dakota [10]
	Age: 18
		Max Lange, WWI Draft Registration Card
Census	1920	Fairchild, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin [11]
	1920 U. S. Federal Census
	Age: Abt. 21
		Lange, Robert M. household, 1920 U. S. Federal Census, Cleveland Township, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin [RL 05.] Robert M. Lange, Emilie Zech Lange, & sons Paul and Max Lange
Occupation: Barber	Between 1920 and 1970	Granite Falls, Minnesota [12]
Census	1930	Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota [13]
	1930 U. S. Federal Census
	Age: Abt 30
		Max Lange, 1930 U. S. Federal Census, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Max is a roomer in the Francis Mcgraw family. [ML 28.]
Wedding	4 Jul 1933	Breckenridge, Connelly Township, Wilkin County, Minnesota [14]
Census	1940	Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota [15]
	1940 U. S. Federal Census
	Age: Abt. 40
		Lange, Max. 1940 U. S. Federal Census, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Max Lange; his wife, Mildred Ruth Pierce Lange; their children: Dale Lowell and Merle Roger Lange.
Census	1950	Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota [16]
	1950 United State Federal Census
	Age: Abt. 49
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
Education	Fairchild, Wisconsin [17]
50th Wedding Anniversary	4 Jul 1983	Granite Falls, Minnesota [18]
Will	28 Mar 1986	Granite Falls, Minnesota [19]
Death	19 Jul 1990	Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota [20, 21, 22]
Funeral	20 Jul 1990	Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls, MN [23]
Burial	20 Jul 1990	Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, Hillcrest Cemetery; Memorial ID: 98345944. [20, 24]
Burial		Lange, Max and Mildred R. Pierce Lange Father and mother of Dale L. and Merle R. Lange
Person ID	I2	Lange Pierce
Last Modified	15 May 2022

Father	Robert M. Lange, b. 13 Apr 1865, Hoffmannsdorf, Kreis Wirsitz, Posen, West Prussia d. 4 May 1932, Luther Hospital, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (Age 67 years)
Relationship	Birth
Mother	Emilie Albertine Zech, b. 21 Jul 1861, Smirdowo, bei Krojanke, Kreis Flato, West Prussia d. 3 Jul 1939, Jackson County, Cleveland Township, Fairchild, Wisconsin (Age 77 years)
Relationship	Birth
Marriage	21 Dec 1890	Bridge Creek, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin [25, 26]
Marriage		Lange, Robert M. and Amelia Lange - Wedding Photo Taken in South Dakota, after their marriage in Wisconsin
Notes	By 1905, the Robert Lange family had moved from South Dakota to Wisconsin. It is my conjecture [DLL] that after marriage in Wisconsin, Emilie and Robert went to South Dakota to establish a homestead. When they had met homestead criteria, they probably sold the farm, moved back to Wisconsin, and bought a farm in Cleveland Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin. This conjecture will need proof.
Photos		Lange, Robert Family Robert Lange Family in Fairchild, Wisconsin in the early 1900s: 2nd R. Walter, Art, Ella, Otto, Paul; 1st R. Max, Robert, Emilie, Armin
Family ID	F5	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Mildred Ruth Pierce, b. 24 Jan 1907, Breckenridge, Connelly Township, Wilkin County, Minnesota d. 17 Jul 1990, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota (Age 83 years)

Marriage 4 Jul 1933 Breckenridge, MN [27]

50th Wedding Anniversary 4 Jul 1983 Celebrated at Home, Granite Falls, Minnesota [28]

Notes

The marriage of Max Lange and Mildred R. Pierce was a private affair with a minister, the bride, groom, and two witnesses, Glen and Hazel Pierce. The latter were the brother and sister-in-law of the bride. Max and Mildred were married in the home of Mildred's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank O. Pierce near Breckenridge, Minnesota. Their honeymoon was in northern Minnesota, Duluth, and in Fairchild, Wisconsin, where they visited relatives.

Children

+	1. Living
+	2. Merle Roger Lange, b. 13 Aug 1938, Granite Falls Hospital, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. d. 18 Feb 2024, Prairie Home Hospice, McLaughlin House, Marshall, Minnesota (Age 85 years) [Father: Birth]

Photos

Lange, Max and Mildred R. Pierce
Wedding Picture

Lange, Merle Roger
Son of Max Lange and Mildred R. Pierce; Brother of Dale L. Lange

Family ID F4 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 10 Apr 2016

Photos
Lange, Max
Father of Dale and Merle Lange

Pierce, Mildred R.
Mother of Dale L. and Merle R. Lange

Notes

       More stories will be told about Max in the family history, but these are some things in which people might be interested.
       Name: Although his baptismal certificate reads, Max Paul Lange, Max never used the middle name. When asked if he had a middle name, he would always answer, yes, REX, meaning King. Of course, this was teasing. I, Dale, want to honor his choice of using Max Lange instead of Max Paul Lange. It was his choice and there must have been a reason. Could it have been because he had an older brother whose first name was Paul? Was it because he did not like the name of Paul? We will never know because he is no longer here to ask. But whenever he is referred to, I would hope that his name is Max Lange. That is sufficient. Please honor the name he used.
       Education: While at least at the present time, there is no documentation, Max persisted in saying that he only had a fourth grade education. Others indicated that he quit school after the 8th grade.
       In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Max is living with his parents in Wentworth township, Lake County, South Dakota. He is only eight months old, having been born in October of 1899. He lives with his parents and five siblings: Ella, Art, Otto, Paul, and Walter. He is a white, single male. His parents were born in Germany of German parents. [RL 07.]
       In the 1905 Wisconsin State Census, Max Lange is a five year old, white, single male. He was born in South Dakota of parents who were both born in Germany. He lives with his parents, Robert and Emilie, one sister, Ella, and five brothers (Arthur, Otto, Paul, Walter, and Armin [Armie]) in Cleveland Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin. [RL 12.]
       In the 1910 U. S. Federal Census, Max Lange is a 10 year old, white, single male. He was born in South Dakota of parents who were born in Germany. He reads, writes, and speaks English and is still going to school. He lives with his parents, Robert and Emilie, in Cleveland Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin. [RL 09.]
       In 1917 or 1918, the World War I Draft Registration Card [ML 22] shows Max in Havana, North Dakota. The draft card is difficult to read so it is not clear what he is doing. Since the area of Havana, Sargent County, North Dakota is an area of few towns and since Max had grown up on a farm, it is logical to think that he is working in some kind of farm industry. Merle Lange, the brother of Dale, believes that Max went "out west" to earn money to go to Barber School. This evidence indicates that at least he went to North Dakota. Below is the information on the registration card:
REGISTRATION CARD
Name: Max Lange
Permanent Address: RFD1, Fairchild, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Age: 18
Date of Birth: October 02, 1899
Race: White
U. S. Citizen: Native Born
Occupation: Laborer on Threshing Machine
Employer's Name: J. P. Weber
Place of Employment: Havana Sargent County, North Dakota
Nearest Relative: Robert Lange
Address: RFD1, Fairchild, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Added Information: Receive mail at Havana, North Dakota, General Delivery
REGISTRAR'S REPORT
Description
Height: Medium
Build: Medium
Color of Hair: Brown [ML 23.]
       In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Max Lange is living with his parents and one brother. He is white, male, 20 years old, and single. He has not attended school since September 1, 1919, but that does not mean that he had attended school anytime recent to 1919. He speaks, reads, and writes English. He was born in South Dakota; his parents were born in West Prussia and speak German as well as English. He is a farm laborer and the W probably stands for wage worker.
       In the 1930 U. S. Federal Census, Max Lange is a 28 year old (? - born in 1899), white, single male. He was born in South Dakota of parents who were both born in Germany. He reads, writes, and speaks English. He is not in school. He is a barber who owns his own shop. He was at work at the time of the census. He is not a veteran of any U. S. Military expedition. Max is a roomer in the household of Francis McGraw. In this household are Dorothy McGraw, her son, ??? J. Melby, Ove Prestegaard, and N. Edward Nelson. [ML 24.]
       In the 1940 U. S. Federal Census, Max Lange is a forty year old, white, married male. He is married to Mildred Ruth Pierce. The census indicates that he was born in Wisconsin, but that is erroneous; he was born in South Dakota. He has not attended any school in 1940. He did attend eight years of school. He rents a home on Prentice Street in Granite Falls for $14 a month. He has lived in the same place, that is Granite Falls since 1935. He was at work to make profit from his own employment. He works approximately 60 hours a week, 52 weeks a year as proprietor of a barbershop. He does not receive wages, but receives incomes from money earned other than wages. He lives with his wife, Mildred, and two sons, Dale and Merle Roger, in Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. [ML 25.]
       In the 1950 U. S. Federal Census, Max Lange is a 49 year old, white, married male. He is married to Mildred Ruth Pierce. And they have two sons: Merle and Dale. The Lange family lives in a house at 1257 (Prentice Street). That house is not on a farm, but in a town, Granite Falls. Max is the proprietor of his own business, that of a Barber Shop. He is a barber, running his own private business, working about 57 hours a week. [ML 30.]
       Occupation: Max probably had more than one occupation. As a child, he most likely worked on the farm. But, sometime in the late 19-teens or early 1920s, most likely, Max went to Barber School in either Minneapolis or St. Paul. He once told his son, Dale, that he had worked in the stock yards in South St. Paul to earn money to go to barber school. Max was a barber in Granite Falls some time in the 1920s until the mid-1970s. In the late 1940s, he and Mildred purchased a house on Granite Street, not far from US 212 and built a store on the front of the house. After Mildred's father, Frank Pierce died in 1951, Max was offered the opportunity to buy the farm near Breckenridge, Minnesota. But, he knew that he was probably too old to take on such responsibility. In the mid-1970s, Max and Mildred sold the house and the store and retired.
       Death: Max died in the early hours of July 19, 1990, about 36 hours after Mildred; she died on July 17, 1990. He made arrangements for her funeral with Mary Lange (Merle's wife], talked with neighbors, and had dinner with his friends, the Able's. He died in his sleep most likely in the early morning. The death certificate indicates death at 7:30 a.m., but he probably died before that.
       Probate:The probate of the wills of Max and Mildred were handled extremely efficiently by Mary Lou (Nyberg) Lange, Merle's wife. Those papers are included in ML 14.
       Places of Residence: Max and Mildred lived on Prentice Street in the Oscar Anderson home on the second floor. They also lived in a duplex on Prentice, the Dolan Family living next door. And, they lived on a duplex Ninth St. as well. They purchased a home near the intersection of Granite Street and Highway 212, Lot Nine (9) of Block Forty-One (41) of Pillsbury's Second addition to the City of Granite Falls. [See Contract for Deed of ML 15.] A neighborhood grocery store was built on the front of the house. That lot has been purchased by a cooperative gas station, Cenex, and has gasoline pumps on it. The house was torn down. After they sold the store, they purchased a house on Eighth Ave., the house of Dale's high school English teacher, Anna Feley. That house was at 270 Eighth Avenue, Lot Fourteen (14) of Block Thirty-one (31) of the Original Plat of the City of Granite Falls. [See Quit Claim Deed of ML 16.] After the death of Max and Mildred, the house was rented out for a while and then sold. It is no longer in the hands of the Lange Family.
       There are no real records of the time that Max left home and where he lived and worked prior to his marriage to Mildred R. Pierce. However, in working through his papers, Dale found two insurance policies that give an indication that he lived in Minneapolis in 1924 and had moved on to Granite Falls by 1930. [See ML 17.] The Equitable Life Insurance Policy original application (beneficiary, Robert Lange) indicated that he lived at 18 Grove Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [See ML 18 for map; located on Hennepin Island.]

Max wrote one poem in his life:

I believe that hope, faith and prayer is the
Spirit of love.
That's why you all love to read, write and
sing about love.
You can't change the sun, moon or the stars,
and you can't change love.
Your heart might break, times might change or
we might change
but love will still prevail.

Joseph loved Mary,
Dad loves Mom
and mom loves little Sue,
That's why love is so divine.
Love lasts from the cradle to eternity.
Love is like a beautiful dream come true
so let's not let our love grow cold.
To be sure life would get dull;
now let's all join in with the Spirit of
love and sing
"Love is wonderful, love is beautiful, love is
heavenly."
Yes, love leadeth us to that beautiful home in
heaven.
Isn't love just wonderful? [See ML 22.]

Sources

[S1] Birth Certificate.
The name Max Lange appears on his birth certificates.Max Lange, birth certificate, no. 11656 in book seven, p. 517 (2 October 1899; recorded, 13 December 1943), South Dakota, County of Lake. [Affidavit of birth subscribed and sworn to by Wilhilm Zech, Uncle, on December 10, 1943, before C. E. Fallett, a Notary Public in and for Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin. [See ML 02.] A second birth certificate has also been found: Max Lange, birth certificate (10 November 1943; signed, 15 September 1945), South Dakota Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Delayed Certificate of Birth. (ML 02.) However, on his baptismal certificate, the name Max Paul Lange exists.
[S1] Birth Certificate.
Birth Certificate, Max Lange, birth certificate, Record of Births 7, No. 11656, p. 517, December 13, 1943. State of South Dakota, County of Lake. [The birth certificate is attested to by Wilhelm Zech (Uncle) on December 10, 1943 in Eau Claire County, WI. A Second birth certificate of the South Dakota Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, "Delayed Certificate of Birth," is also available. It has no documentation on it. It is signed by Arthur Lange of Fairchild, WI (Brother)]. [ML 01 and ML 02.]
[S8561] Max Lange, (2003). Ancestry. com. South Dakota Birth Index, 1856-1915 [database online]. Provo, Ut: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; State File No. 648777. [ML 27.].
[S17] Taufungsersrinnerung, (November 5, 1899).
[S17] Taufungsersrinnerung, (November 5, 1899).
Taufungsersrinnerung, Max Paul Lange (November 5, 1899). "Max Paul Lange, Sohn von Robert Lange und Emilie, geboren Zech, ist geboren den 2ten October 1899 zu Wentworth, Lake Co., S.D., und ist am 5ten November 1899 im oeffentlichen Gottesdienst im Rahmen des Dreieinigen Gottes Getauft worden." [The pastor was Ferdinand Oberheu with August Meyer and Elizabeth Rosenthal, sponsors.] [ML 03.]
[S27] Robert Lange household, 1900 U.S. census, Lake County, South Dakota, Wentworth township, page 11A, dwelling 174, family 176; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 1551. [RL 07.].
[S7903] Robert Lange, 1905 Wisconsin State Census, Jackson County, Wisconsin, Cleveland Township, sheet 06, family 103, line 29; Wisconsin State Census, 1905, roll CSUSAWI1905_13. Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Census, 1905. Microfilm, 44 reels. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison Wisconsin. Ancestry.com. (2007). Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905 [database online]. Provo, UT: The Generation Network, Inc. [RL 12.].
[S28] Robert Lange [written Robert M. Lang] household, 1910 U. S. Census, Jackson County, Wisconsin, Cleveland Township, ED 76, SD 6, sheet 174A, dwelling 18, family 18; National Archives micropublication T624, Roll 1713. [RL 09.].
[S5] Confirmation.
Max Lange, confirmation certificate (May 1915). "Max Lange, geboren den 2ten Oktober 1899, confirmiert den 16ten Mai 1915 in der Ev. Luth. St. Paul's Kirche zu Fairchild, Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin." [Signed, F. J. Geske, Ev. Luth. Pastor.] [ML4.]
[S7801] Max Lange, Ancestry.com, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database online]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2002. National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Roll 1674736. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. [ML 22.].
[S29] Robert Lange household, 1920 U. S. census, Jackson County, ED 48, page 6A, , family 102; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 1990, image 0167. [RL 04.].
[S19] There is no way that this fact can be documented. It is based on what the family knows.
[S30] Max Lange in Francis McGraw household, 1930 U. S. Census, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, city of Granite Falls, ED 9, SD 9, sheet 14A, dwelling 299, family 343; National Archives micropublication T626, roll 1135, image 904.0. [ML 24.].
[S25] Wedding Announcement.
Lange-Pierce undocumented newspaper wedding announcements. [ML 12.]
[S8329] Max Lange household, 1940 U. S. Census [Beta], Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, City of Granite Falls, ED 87-9, SD 7, Sheet 21B, Household 442; National Archives micropublication T627; Ancestry.com. (2012). 1940 United States Federal Census (Beta) [Database Online]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. [ML 25.].
[S10259] Max Lange. (2022). United States of America, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States. 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date; 1950; Home in 1950: Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota; Roll: 1005; Sheet Number 3; Enumeration District 87-14. [ML 30.].
[S18] See letter from Superintendent Kerry Jacobson, Osseo-Fairchild School District, August 30, 2002. [ML 12.].
[S24] 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Lange-Pierce, 50th Wedding Anniversary (July 04, 1983). Service folder, Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls, Minnesota, July 03, 1983. [ML 07.]
[S22] Will.
Max Lange, last will and testament (March 28, 1986), State of Minnesota, Yellow Medicine County, Granite Falls, Minnesota. [Thomas S. Kramer, Notary Public. Witnesses: Mildred R. Lange, Jane Aalderks, and MaryAnn L. Kramer.] [ML 10.]
[S7694] Max Lange, death certificate., 90-080 (July 19, 1990), Minnesota Department of Heath, Section of Vital Statistics, Minneapolis, MN. [Filed July 26, 1990; Yellow Medicine County, Granite Falls, Minnesota, Norman J. Opdahl, County Recorder.] [ML 06.].
[S8560] Max Lange. (2001). Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2002 [database online]. Provo, Ut: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. MN State File No.: 019777; Cert. No. 019777; Cert. Yr. 1990; Rec. No.: 2362023. [ML 26.].
[S8562] Max Lange. (2014). Ancestry.com U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database online]. Provo, Ut: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. [ML 28.].
[S21] Service Folder.
Max Lange, funeral service folder (July 20, 1990). Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls, Minnesota. [ML 09.]
[S9609] Max Lange, burial. (2012). Ancestry.com. Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database online]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. [ML 29.].
[S37] Marriage Certificate.
Lange-Zech Marriage, marriage certificate (December 21, 1890), Register of Deeds, Eau Claire County, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, filed January 2, 1891. [EAZ 03.]
[S8955] Emilie Albertine Zech - Robert Michael Lange marriage. (2000). Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1820-1907 [database online]. Volume 2, page 49. provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations. [EAZ 07.].
[S37] Marriage Certificate.
Lange-Pierce marriage, marriage certificate (July 4, 1933), Wilkin County, Minnesota Book of Marriage Licenses, Vol. H. p. 617. [Filed on July 07, 1933, but certificate was actually issued May 18, 1960 by K.W. Erdmann, Clerk of the District Court for the Eighth Judicial District, and County of Wilkin. Signed KW Erdmann, Clerk [my uncle] [ML 05 & MRP 07]. See also "Our Wedding Day" booklet [MRP 08]. [See also undocumented newspaper clippings, MRP 12.]
[S21] Service Folder.
Lange-Pierce Marriage, service folder (July 2-3, 1983), Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls, Minnesota. [See note: Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Max Lange and to Dr. and Mrs. Paul Schmidt who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries Sunday."]

Max Lange[1]

Max Lange^[1]