Gebhard Mansion in about 1900. Click to enlarge.

William A. Lang

Note that this is an evolving research document
Copyright 2007

C. O. Brantigan

William Lang is recognized as one of Denver's best residential architects of all times. During a brief career in Denver, lasting less than a decade, he built hundreds of buildings, many of which are still standing. Most of them are recognized by the general public today as distinguished. He won an award for energy efficiency of his designs 83 years after his death. His physical appearance was striking, as shown by his only known photograph published during the height of his career . He was 5'8" tall, weighing 155 pounds with red hair, red whiskers and blue eyes which had a penetrating quality. His dental work was gold, and his gold capped incisor must have been striking. He dressed well and wore monogrammed shirts. With a well established reputation, he was recognized by the community and was a good friend of Mayor McMurtry. Unusual for architects of the time, he was listed in Mrs. Crawford Hill's Social Register of 1892. His rise to fame was meteoric as was the slide to personal disaster that ended his life.

William A. Lang was born in Chillicothe, Union Township, Ross County, Ohio on September 23, 1846. His parents, Abraham (born on 14 April 1822 in Boston, Erie County, New York, died on 21 Nov 83 age 61 y 7 mo 7d) and Elizabeth (Elizabeth S Elmore, born 15 December 1825 according to family Bible, died 13 December 1895), were married on 12 November 1844 in Columbus, Ohio by John Miley, minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church,. Abraham and Elizabeth had many children and tended to move from place to place, settling in rural western Illinois before the Civil War, and probably before 1858. The Lang family lived in rural Illinois from about 1858 to 1876. In 1860 the Langs lived in Brookville, and, according the census, they owned property worth $2300. In the 1860s they moved into the next county, living in Oregon, Illinois. Their children included William, born in 1846, Sarah, born in 1848, Elizabeth, born in 1850, David Elmore, born on July 15, 1851 in Columbus, Ohio, Elmer, born in 1855 in Ohio, Mary, 1854 or 1857 in Ohio, John, 1863 or 1859, in Illinois, Frank, 1863 in Illinois, Fred, 25 December 1867, and Albert Leon, born 1 October 1869 in Illinois.


Abraham saw service twice during the Civil War. On 11 September 1861 he enlisted in Company I of the First Regiment of Illinois Light Artillery (Rogers Company) from Daysville, Ogle County, Illinois as a shoemaker. The company was mustered into Federal Service on 10 February 1862, and fought at Shiloh Church two months later. His discharge occupation was "artificer," or someone who prepares the ammunition. His service was short, as he was hospitalized for an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound to the left foot on 26 May 1862 during the Federal siege of Corinth, Mississippi. This accident occurred just three days before General Beauregard evacuated his 50 000 troops from the city before a hostile shot was fired. He was discharged on 25 August 1862 with chronic osteomyelitis. He enlisted again on 30 January 1864 from Dixon, Illinois, this time in Company G of the Second Illinois Light Artillery ("Lowell's Regiment") as a harnessmaker. Service was again brief, and he was reported absent sick on 2 July 1864. He spent much of July, September and October of that year in the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis had been occupied by the Union Army Under Gen Halleck in June 1862) and was discharged from the US General Hospital in Quincy, Illinois on 24 February 1865. He returned to Oregon, Illinois. The medical officer's report noted that he suffered from a gunshot wound to the left foot with fractured metatarsals, loss of teeth, hemorrhoids and debility from age [note age was 57] This information is in conflict with the Illinois Adjutant General's report which says Abraham enlisted on 13 Jan 1864, was mustered on 22 Feb 1864 and was discharged on 24 Feb 1865 with disability. He first applied for a pension in 1865. At that time he reported that he was living in Scott, Ogle County, Illinois and that his post office was in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois. He was noted to be 5'8" or 5'10" tall, fair complected with light hair and blue eyes.

William Lang, at the age of 18, enlisted one month after his father as a recruit in Battery G of the Second Regiment of the Illinois Light Infantry on February 22, 1864, at Oregon, Ill, serving as a saddler . Lowell's Regiment was quite active during William Lang's service, participating in many engagements, but sustaining only 2 battlefield related deaths and 25 deaths from disease and other non-battlefield related causes. Following the close of hostilities the company served garrison duty at a number of locations in Alabama. The company was returned to Montgomery Alabama on September 1, 1865 and was mustered out of Federal service there on September 4, 1865 and disbanded. William Lang was mustered out as a private. William Lang probably returned to Ogle County with his family at the close of the War. His father billed Ezra Light for his services in January 1866. He was certainly in Ogle County in February 1871, even though we have been unable to find him in the 1870 census, as a summons was successfully served on him on 17 February 1871 in a case involving his father. He filed his discharge papers with the county clerk there on March 23 1872. He and his father bought land from John and Harriet Westover on 24 February 1873 in Oregon. He was sued on 13 November 1874 for failure to pay a debt. The summons was served on 7 November and he quitclaimed his land to his father on 9 November 1874, waiving the homestead provision. The judgement was returned unsatisfied on March 16, 1875 when the sheriff could find no property owned by William Lang in Ogle County. Court documents pertaining to this suit were not located in Ogle County. This information is from summary documents sent to Shelby county. What David was doing during this time is unknown. He is listed in the 1860 census but not in the 1870 census when he would have been 19yo ?living with Wm? Presumably Sarah died sometime between the 1850 Census when she was 2 and the 1860 Census in which she was not listed.

Newspaper records in Oregon indicate that Abraham operated a sorghum mill, was a farmer, worked as a veterinarian, and installed simulated slate roofs. At one point he operated a business known as Lang and Son (1868)

Cane Growers and Sorghum Manufacturers Take Notice!

We are now ready to give entire satisfaction in the manufacture of syrup, or giving instruction in deterging the cane juice, on reasonable terms, and give you the worth of your money.

Cane juice in its original crude state, contains a large quantity of vegetable and earthy impurities.

A portion of these consists of fragments of earthy matter, most of which can be removed by filtration.

Another portion consisting of coloring matter and an albuminous substance is separated by heat and appears in the form of green scum. But another portion still remains, consisting of earthy salts, a gummy substance, which is not acted upon by any of the ordinar [sic] means of defecation [sic], and can only be removed by refining.

The new process which I have obtained at a vast expense, acts directly upon this last and worst class of impurities, separating them from solution in the form of a dense curdle or co-agulated substance which readily settles to the bottom, leaving a clear, transparent, and perfectly refined liquid, which may be immediately boiled down into syrup or sugar.

The agents employed in this process are comparatively inexpensive and are perfectly harmless.

The apparatus required in addition to the ordinary evaporating pans, consists mainly of wooden tanks or tubs, which can, in most cases, be made and arranged by the operator.

The operation of refining, by this process is extremely simple, and can be conducted by any person of ordinary intelligence. Full directions will be given to any one, that will call on the subscribers at any time, and materials furnished.

We have procured for this season the services of an experienced chemist, and we are determined to thoroughly understand the principle of clarifying and of making the best that be made, so that the cane grower will be well paid for his labor. Our operation this year will be complete in every respect. A.V. Lang & Son

(it is not clear which son, but considering the time it must have been William, age 22 instead of David age 17. Need to check.) At one point the family dog exhibited signs of hydrophobia and attacked Abraham. He dispatched it with an axe. The National Guard recommended that any such dog have its tail cut off just behind the ears. David Lang served as agent for Dr John B Ellis in selling his book The Sight and Secrets of the Great Capitol, a Work Descriptive of Washington DC. Court records indicate that Abraham and his family were in Oregon from 1864 until 1876. There was an ongoing relationship with Ezra Light, MD which degenerated into a lawsuit in 1870. Dr Light vaccinated Lang's children, cared for his hogs, filed disability certificates for him (not yet found) and took care of his wife, sick with heart disease. William caught the attention of the Oregon National Guard when he upset his rented carriage leaving him with his date at the side of the road. The editor noted that if you take a pretty girl for a horse and buggy ride you should watch the horse rather than the girl.

Ruined buggy

Wm. Lang is meditating over the ruins of a top buggy, and the unceremonious manner in which he and his "better half" got left beside the road. The buggy belonged to Cross & Swaria. Keep your eye on the horse when you have a pretty girl.

The family moved to Harlan, Iowa in about 1873 where Abraham lived for 4 years, operated a restaurant and raised hogs. Newspaper reports indicate that the Lang Family was well liked in spite of their legal troubles, which seemed substantial. Son David, for example gave a Declamation before the Young Folks Literary Society in 1874. Legal troubles revolved around foreclosures and unpaid IOU's. In early 1877 Abraham was planning to sell his restaurant and confectionery to son David in exchange for his team of 2 black horses, one a mare, a Bain lumber wagon and the harnesses. Fearing that Abraham was going to skip town and defraud his creditors, Thomas and Jackson obtained a Writ of Attachment against the team, presuming it belonged to Abraham. After legal proceedings were concluded it was determined that the team belonged to David. It became clear that the trade had never been completed. The team was confiscated while inventory of restaurant goods was being completed, and while arrangements were being made for assumption of the loan on the soda fountain. Some of Abraham's children remained in Harlan after he moved to Columbus, Nebraska, where he was in business in 1877. He moved to Boone County, Nebraska in 1878. During much of his adult life he made shoes for a living and was listed in the 1870 Census for Ogle County as a harnessmaker. In Boone County he was a farmer, and the description of his farm as being 4 or 5 miles south of Albion probably describes Boone, Nebraska. As in Harlan, he raised prize hogs. According to affidavits he continued to suffer the effects of chronic diarrhea and from his draining foot wound.

David was presumably in Oregon with his family in the early 1870's even though we can not find him in the historical record. He was not in the US Census in Ogle County or in Shelby County 1870 when he would have been 19 years old. He moved to Harlan with his family in about 1874. David E Lang married Ida S Reynolds on 14 February 1875 according to Shelby County Marriage Records. David had 2 children in Harlan with his first wife Ida in the 1870's, Clarence Elmer Lang and Charles Bertram Lang. These children eventually settled in Omaha. The whole family moved to Chicago and were both listed in the 1880 census. David was listed as a tinner and was listed in the 1880 Chicago Directory as a tinner living in a house at 1034 W Monroe. After returning to Harlan, Ida died in 1885 of puerperal fever and tuberculosis Ida appears to have delivered twins who both died and then she died shortly after from complications of childbirth. David married Bertha Williamson there on 14 October 1888 We never have found him in the 1890 Census, which doesn't exist, but assume he was in process of moving back to Chicago. Since his mother moved in with him in 1890 he was clearly back in Englewood by then. Wilbur Allen Lang was born in May 1890 ?in Illinois?? Howard Wells Lang was born in Illinois in 1894. David was sued in Shelby County in September 1891 as a non-resident of the state (see shelby.doc). (cant look for David or William in Chicago in 1870. No index.)

After he was sued for unpaid debts in 1874 William Lang moved to Harlan with the rest of his family. It is not clear what he was doing in Harlan. He was sued twice for unpaid bills for building materials. In fact, this was his first known building project, an addition to his brother David's store, and it ended in disaster. The building was foreclosed upon and sold at public auction on the court house steps. According to his deposition in the Thomas and Jackson case, he assisted with the inventory of his father's restaurant and was present for the negotiations for its sale. When his deposition was taken in September 1877, he was living in Washington, Kansas. There on December 21, 1877, he was married to eighteen year old Delia Prisbey by Reverend George Hageman of the Presbyterian Church. They were married in her mother's house and the couple returned to their home in Columbus, Nebraska. The marriage certificate reports that he was from Nebraska and she was from Kansas. She was living with her mother and her siblings. (Mary Pacey found no Prisbeys in the 1870 census) Affidavits report that the Langs kept in contact with Rev

Hageman (b 1847) after the wedding. According to the Washington Republican the happy couple left for Columbus, Nebraska where they were to live. They moved from there to Michigan, Kansas in 1878 or 1879. What they were doing in either place is unknown at present.

William and Delia moved to Albion, Nebraska from Michigan, Kansas during the first week of November 1879 according to the Argus. He quickly set up a grocery and was selling dressed turkeys within the month. His grocery was known as the "Red Front" for reasons as yet undetermined. It was located on the west side of Third Street between State Street and Church Street, and is undoubtedly the building with an awning in the earliest known photograph of Albion. The 1880 census notes that William Lang was a grocer in Albion Nebraska. The Langs were in Albion, Nebraska on 17 July 1881 [there is a competing date somewhere of 1880, and a baptismal record of 1883 (says Scott but I cant find) but there is also an affidavit that Mabel was under 16 years of age when Lang died] when his only daughter, Mabel Gertrude, was delivered by Dr. D.A. Lewis. The date, 17 July 1882, was noted on an affidavit by Dr DA Lewis in 1897. The Boone County Argus reported that "Mr. Wm. Lang, our popular grocer, is a parient [sic] and consequently happy. It's a girl, looks like its ma, and promises to be the flower of the family. That would make possible a birth on the 17th since the prior issue was July 15. Affidavits suggest that the Langs kept in contact with Dr Lewis after the birth of their child. Newspaper collections are incomplete, but Lang seemed to prefer the Boone County Argus to the Boone County News initially, and that paper spoke of him often. That was because Lang's brother in law, Ira Prisbey worked for the Argus. During later years when brother Frank was working for the News he was featured prominently in that sheet. There are multiple references to his grocery business in the Boone County Argus in the early 1880's.


Albion seems to have been a prosperous place in 1880 even though the first settlers came to Boone County only nine years before. Lang was not the only grocer, although he must have been reasonably prosperous as he is noted to have enlarged his store, built a sidewalk in front of it, made trips to Omaha to stock it, and installed a new awning in 1881. He installed a new iron and plate glass front, a new Holl safe and hired his brother to drive his new express wagon. He advertised that he would meet or beat his competitors price. He had at least one employee, Charles Abbott, in addition to his wife. He was involved in at least one shooting contest in which he finished dead last. The big fire in 1881 did not affect his business. It is interesting that even though published reports showed him as prosperous, his grocery was in receivership in 1882 and the sale was a forced one in 1883 for $1,716.81. Whether he continued as a grocer is unknown. The Argus reported that he moved into Oblinger's old store in September 1884 but did not report what he was doing there. Oblinger had joined Abbott in operating Lang's old store in July 1884.


Abraham Lang and some of his children preceded William and Delia's arrival in Boone County, Nebraska. They settled in Boone, Nebraska, not far from Albion in 1878 where Abraham farmed and served as justice of the peace. In spite of his disabilities he ran for sheriff of Boone County in 1883. Whether he was elected or not is not known and is not important because he died on 21 November 1883 in Boone after sustaining a stroke 4 days before. GH Cox served as sheriff in 1884. Note that his obituary, published in the News said he was wounded in the Battle of Corinth, a nice piece of historical revisionism. After his death, creditors meetings were held, one on December 13, 1883, and beginning in early 1884, Elizabeth began to liquidate the farm, selling off a span of work mares, two colts, two milch cows and farm machinery. Elizabeth applied for a widows pension on 4 February 1885 from Albion and again from Englewood, Illinois on 22 July 1890. It appears that she moved to Chicago in 1890, living with living with Mrs. Mary May and Jennie E May in May, June and July at 6150 School Street , and then moved in with her son David in 1890. She lived with him at his various addresses until she died at age 69 or 70 on 13 December 1895. She was buried in Chicago.

The Lang family was very involved in community affairs. Abraham, in addition to serving as justice of the peace and running for sheriff, was active in the Farmers Alliance, eventually resigning over the trial of one of its members. He brought thoroughbred pigs to the area and held exhibitions for the other farmers and operated a stud service, offering the use of his stallion for $1 a try. Frank Lang worked as a printer in Grand Island and in Albion and eventually opened his own job printing shop. He was a bit of a prankster as well. When Gunther advertised for poultry, Frank Lang took his delivery wagon and delivered two young ladies and called them ducks. As the News reported, "This is good weather for ducks." William Lang was involved in all aspects of small town life. In 1881 he was one of the leaders of a group which founded the Boone County Coal Company, an ill fated attempt to find coal based on reports by Professor Aughey, State Geologist and Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Nebraska. He was part of the organizing group for several of the extravagant Fourth of July celebrations held in Albion. He bought and sold groceries, making a market for farm produce exported to other communities. Candy making was practiced with such skill that he wholesaled it to other stores in Albion. On the side he operated an apiary. Mrs. Lang was active in the community as well, helping her husband in the grocery store and endorsing the "Little Test Washer," the most perfect washer yet invented. The family traveled widely, going to Omaha for supplies, Iowa to visit relatives and to the Worlds Exposition in New Orleans with their 2 year old daughter in 1884. (The New Orleans Worlds Exposition was held in 1884-5) Their trip to New Orleans was aborted when they got to St Louis and Delia took sick.

Sometime in 1883 or 1884 William Lang became an architect. There are no mentions of Lang in the existing newspaper reports between February 1883 and December 1883 when the news noted that he was making candy. The Boone County Commissioner's records note that he was selected to serve on the Grand Jury in March 1883. Delia's testimonials for the "Little Test Washer" continued to appear in March and April 1883. William and Delia were not mentioned in connection with the death of his father in November 1883, but neither were any of his siblings living in Boone County. Delia was in Albion in June 1883, as the News reported she was involved in a traffic accident--she lost control of a rein as she was driving her Phaeton in a parade, and it turned over, throwing her out. She was not seriously hurt. Presumably her husband was still in Albion at that time.

By early 1884, Albion was in a building boom, and William Lang was an established architect. Discussions started planning for a new school building. DeRoberts built a three story bank building, the Gunthers a combined store and Opera House, Johnson a barbershop and DeRoberts, the "house of seven gables." There are three known Lang commissions and one probable commission in Albion before he came to Denver. These buildings are of diverse style and suggest that he was experimenting. Glimpses of the restive eclectic style which characterized his work in Denver were reflected, particularly in the residential buildings. One could see signs of greatness in these early works.

Lang's first known commission was the Gunther Store and Opera House started in early 1884 and dedicated on the Fourth of July. It was located at Fourth and Main. The Gunthers were founding fathers of Albion and had a strong dedication to the cultural development of the Village. Their principal enterprise was a general merchandise store, and the opera house was added for the community. It truly became the social focus of the Village. Dances were held there as well as concerts, some of which featured the Albion Philharmonic Society with its orchestra of eight pieces. There were lectures by the eloquent Chinese orator Tan Ki who came complete with 5000 curiosities. Touring companies played there as well. The first such performance was by Phosa McAllister and troupe, confreres of Edwin Booth, who arrived in Albion by special train in December 1884. The Gunthers invested $20 000 in the store and its supplies. The building measured 66x100 feet and was designed so that their store would occupy 44x100 feet on the first floor and JC Mann would use the remaining 22x100 feet for a hardware store. The News believed it equaled only by one store in Lincoln and possibly two in Omaha. It was considered to be the best opera house west of Omaha. The building was in the traditional Second Empire style with its ornamental stone work or cast iron added to the outside and used to cap the long narrow windows. Its traditional lines and restrained use of ornamentation is in stark contrast to his only other known commercial building, the AM Ghost Building, built in 1889. The Gunther Store and Opera House served the community well until it was destroyed by fire sometime after 1919.

Figure 3 Lang designed school in Albion, Nebraska

Lang's rendering of District One's second school building in 1884, costing $8600, was designed to produce a durable functional building with little ornament. It was designed so that an addition, eventually added in 1888, could double its size without damaging the esthetic qualities of its design. It served well until demolished in 1952. It was designed in the Italianate style and measured 40x60 feet in size. The building was entered thru a large door which opened outward and led to a vestibule with two sets of stairs leading to the second story. There were two rooms on the first floor used for the primary and intermediate departments and two on the second floor, only one of which was used initially, the other being held for expansion. Furnishings reflected the commitment of the citizens of Albion to education, and the heating system involved stoves in the center of each room with fresh air intakes feeding the stoves thru ducting in the floor. The design of this building was a traditional in every respect except for its innovative heating system, and as far as is known, Lang never built a similar building during the rest of his career.

The Gates House is the first to demonstrate Lang's true architectural genius. It stands today on lots 1-6 block 11 on the corner of Third and Walnut. The building was certainly eclectic in its first incarnation, and the way that the different architectural styles worked together can be appreciated today, even though it was deemed too outrageous in the early 1900's. The building was such a prominent feature of Albion that it was pictured on a post card which was widely circulated. The Gates House as it is currently configured is a standard Queen Anne, stripped of anything departing from that style. It was always basically a Queen Anne but it had an Italianate Belvedere, a fenced observation turret, wrap around porches on the first and second floors, and columns, some two stories high which would make a southern plantation proud. There was a north portico that allowed visitors to alight from their carriages under cover of a roof. The Langs bought the land, built the house and sold it to the DJ Gates on 18 August, 1884. Who made the subsequent modifications or when they were made is unknown. They certainly change the character of the building, which, even with the modifications, was noted as significant in the Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey of 1988

The DeRoberts Residence was probably designed by Lang. Early pictures showing the extensively gabled Queen Anne building with added ornamentation of the front roof peak and carpenter style porch has the eclectic combination of styles which characterized Langs mature works. DeRoberts was on the school board at the time of the school contract and was involved in hiring Lang. The DeRoberts house was started in August 1884 and the school in September 1884.

The nature of his training as an architect is unknown. There is no evidence that he attended any of the major schools of the time . He did not attend the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The Richardsonian style that characterized his best known work in Denver did not arrive in Nebraska until after he left. His obituary points to his Chicago roots, but Richardson's major commissions in Chicago had not been built by the time he moved to Denver. The evidence that he was in Albion the year before he came to Denver is compelling. William Lang's last job in Albion was to draw a map of the Village which was accepted by the Village Council and paid for by warrant on 25 March 1885. We have been unable to find this map in the town archives.

He moved to Denver with brothers Fred and Frank who were listed at the same address in 1886. After arriving in Denver in 1885, he embarked on a frenetic burst of creative activity, building everything from chicken coops to cathedrals, as HH Richardson had advocated before him. He was listed in the Denver City Directory in 1886 as an architect and building superintendent. Commissions before 1889 are difficult to document due to absence of building permits before that time, but he designed a number of houses for the new Rosedale subdivision in the mid 1880’s.

Eads Real Estate and Trust advertized “Gilt Edge Real Estate” “Rosedale fronts Broadway, the finest Natural Bouilevbard in America, opposite Jewell Park, corners on Circle and D&RG Railroads. The finest addition ever laid out to Denver. A grand view of the Rocky Mountains for over 200 miles, Pike’s and Long’s peaks in the distance. All lots full size, nicely fenced and surrounded with trtees. Families supplied with abundance of Artesian Water Free..”Some of these were pictured in the newspapers as houses to be given away. One such winner was A.L. James of Argo, although which model house he received is not clear.

Figure 4 Lang designed house in Rosedale that was given away as a promotion

By 1888 He was well established with a suite of rooms in the Ghost Block, at Seventeenth and Champa, a building which he designed. In 1889 Lang took a partner, Marshall Pugh. No changes in style of the buildings designed resulted, and it must be concluded that the design work for the firm was done primarily by Lang. In 1892 Lang moved his offices into the California building (built that year by Edbrooke) at Seventeenth and California, terminating his association with A.M. Ghost (Ghost may have come from St Elmo. Ghost was a real estate developer in Nebraska before coming to Denver after a locust plague and may have worked with McBird in Lincoln.). In spite of the large volume of work that the firm was performing, there were few employees. The Denver Directory of 1890 liste Reinhard Schutze, draughtsman, Lang and Pugh, r Brinkhaus’ Sloans Lake Adn. The only employee listed in the 1893 Denver Directory was F Edger Frantz, a draughtsman living in a rooming house at 1953 Stout.

Lang's output during his years in Denver was truly prodigious. He designed over 250 buildings during his short career. They ranged in complexity from simple cottages to elaborate mansions. Like Frank Lloyd Wright after him, he was struck by the need to create low cost housing, and did it with a characteristically eclectic flair. Although the true number of these houses is not accurately reflected in Denver building records, their style is so distinctive that after the large number in the Berkeley and Broadway Terrace subdivisions in Denver is studied, the same design can be seen thruout the city. Lang's quintessential style, however, was the Richardson Romanesque with unusual embellishment. Considered individually, the embellishments would seem outrageous, but they all worked well together and added a restlessness and life to the buildings making them seem to squirm on their foundations and propel their owners on their next adventure. To the standard Richardsonian design was added turrets of carved stone, gargoyles, stone of various colors and textures, columns of various types with capitals which often varied in design within the same building. Porches, peepholes and hiding places for the children abounded. Most of the residences had a light open interior that we do not usually associate with the Victorian period. If there was a typical Lang building it was the WA Raymond Residence, featured in the Architects and Builders Edition of Scientific American of 1892 or his row houses, such as the Gargoyle House. Just as he planned his moderate income housing as coordinated groups, he also designed his larger structures in groups. The group of houses on Race Street forms a coordinated whole. Town houses were a special case and were always build in groups of four or five. No complete sets survive, a true tragedy, as they always proceeded from the simple to the complex. The last house in the row was always the maximum expression of Lang's design skills. Interestingly enough, his own residence was the penultimate in the Washington Street group. Lang's style was uniquely suited to Denver at the time, as the community spirit was ebullient, driven by miners and railroaders who thought that there was not anything that they could not accomplish in the mountains west of town. Lang's architecture propelled these tycoons and aspiring tycoons along their way.


Lang was clearly not a manager. He may have had an agent, Mattie Fox, but they had no formal contract. During the halcyon days of his early career almost any real estate venture in Denver would be successful. Drawings and records were rudimentary. Although they never declared bankruptcy, court records show that the Langs were in serious financial trouble by the start of 1893, well before the silver crash which occurred mid year. Their situation was complicated because Delia was a bedfast invalid at that time and could no longer give advice as well as she had in the past. Mattie Fox won a judgment against Lang for fees earned serving as his agent with Wimbush and Powell in building houses in the Berkeley suburb. Confiscated properties were sold at auction but there were no bidders and thus the judgment was unsatisfied. A thorough search of Bankruptcy Court records and property transfer records shows a large number of foreclosures, sheriffs sales, liens and the like against William and/or Delia beginning in early 1893. In February 1893 his horse, road wagon and harness, kept at the Metropole Stables was seized for nonpayment of a $250 feed bill. By the time of the crash the Langs could not even afford groceries and their furniture had been repossessed.

The court records seem to indicate that the Langs knew that they were living on the financial edge. They tried hard to protect a home for their family by dedicating Delia's money to their home. According to court records, Delia had about $1000 when they married. (seems unlikely considering what is known about the Prisbys). Lang then built a house in Nebraska, presumably the Gates house, and gave it to her. She sold it and considered the money to be hers and said that wherever they went she would use the money to build a house for the family. As a result, she had come to Denver with about $3000. Delia bought two lots on Stout Street between 28th and 30th several years after arrival for about $1700. The lots were purchased for her by her husband but with her money. These lots were subsequently sold and combined with money she had before she came to Denver to buy the home on Washington Ave from her husband after he built it. This transaction took place in about 1890. Lang subsequently quitclaimed 3 houses to her perhaps in late 1892, or just before the panic. He turned the houses over to her because he saw no way she could get her
money otherwise. This was a part of a group of 14 of which he sold 7 allowed 4 to go into foreclosure. One of these must have been the red stone house on Washington Ave. She borrowed additional money from Bennett and Myers on one of these houses, probably the red stone one on Washington Ave to give to her husband for his business. As best I can tell it was this building that was traded for the barren land in Ohio. He had built many houses and had so many at that time and had about $200,000 in loans on them. Some were mortgaged for more than they were worth, and he felt free to quit claim them to anyone who would assume the loans. He quitclaimed 1776 Williams to Clements at that time. To build their own home Lang borrowed $10 000. To this was added Delia's money. Furnishings cost an additional $3000-4000 and were bought by Delia. As times became tough she borrowed $1500 from Ike N Stevens on the furnishings and as a second on the house and it was this loan that led to loss of the house. The furniture was sold for $600. The first mortgage had changed hands a few times and when Ike Stevens foreclosed and sold the furniture he paid off the first held by Wilbur S Raymond. After foreclosing, Isaac Stevens, a lawyer, moved in.

The Lang's financial problems persisted long beyond their financial ruin and beyond the point that William and Delia's minds began to fail. Mattie Fox was still after the Langs for commissions in 1895 even though all that they still owned was the clothes on their backs and they could not afford a lawyer. Their legal mess was not entirely cleared until 1905?, well after William Lang's death. Pugh left the firm for Pennsylvania in 1893 or 1894. With the repeal of the Sherman Silver Act business in the state came to a grinding halt. Lang's career was in shambles. Although the annual report of the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for 1896 lists Lang as a "practicing, charter member," his commissions were almost nonexistent. Exuberant eclecticism was simply no longer marketable, even if money were available. His membership in the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects lapsed on 25 July 1896 for non-payment of dues.

William Lang continued to practice architecture after the Silver Crash, and from published reports he seems to have been successful. If some of the buildings described could be identified, they might provide some insight into how well he was functioning at the time. In 1894 Lang moved his office to 7-929 Seventeenth, an office shared with, Fred S Morris, a real estate agent. His office remained there in 1895 and 6. In 1895 Inland Architect reported that William Long designed a $5000 brick dwelling for Jeanette Harris. This building was probably located at 1400 Gilpin, where Harris, a schoolteacher, lived for a year. It had no distinguishing features. Note that the Rocky Mountain News on 1 January 1896 reported that it was on Lafayette between Twelfth and Thirteenth Avenues. Since there were no architects named William Long listed in the Denver Directories of the time, this was probably William Lang. The Rocky Mountain News reported on his work on 1 January 1896: "The residences planned by architect Lang are very stylish in design. The one built on High St near 14th for Mr. A Chanute cost $9500. It is a thirteen room modern dwelling. Not one nook in the home has been neglected in considering the comfort of the owner and his family. The exterior is of red stone in massive blocks from the foundation to the second storey. Above that the red brick is used with artistic effect. All the rooms are wainscoted with two inch hard wood. Hardwood has been abundantly used in finishing the interior....” The address was probably 1421 High St and in 1998 this was a parking lot for the First Divine Science church. A colonial style building for Clara Wheeler was described on Downing near 11th. This was probably 1314 Downing for the physician Eugene Wheeler. Another colonial residence for AJ Jarmouth [sic] was described on Franklin between 11th and 12th, but that would be in the middle of Cheeseman Park. Most inriguing was the Japanese style mansion for AR Gumaer, general agent for the Florence Oil & Refining Company, in Florence, Colorado, described as partially complete. Gumaer had lived in a Lang designed house previously, 1120 Grant, better known as the home of Maxy Tabor. Although the Anthony Funeral Home, once Gumaer’s residence, would be a candidate, it is clear it is not the same building. The author is unable to find any sign of a Lang designed Japanese style building. Unfortunately there is too little in the historical record to determine if these substantial buildings were real or represented self promotion.

If he was as successful in business as it seems, his personal finances and his personal life were in shambles. In 1894 he still lived in his opulent home at 1638 Washington. By 1895 he had lost his home, which he could have protected from creditors under the Homestead Act, and he lived in a humble row house that still stands at the corner of Sixteenth Avenue and Clarkson. He had separated from his wife, and Delia had moved to Chicago. Interestingly Delia testified in a deposition in 1895 that contrary to what some had said she was not estranged from her husband. In 1896 he was listed in half of a story-and-one-half duplex at 1327 Lafayette, and then he was gone. Delia lived at 1720 Washington in 1896.

Several months after membership in the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects lapsed, he suffered a complete collapse and was admitted to St Luke's Hospital. Although medical records not available, the affidavit from Dr WW Grant, who was the Lang's family doctor from 1892 until Delia died in 1913 poignantly described a man devastated by the panic of 1893 who sold all of his possessions, even his house, which he could have kept under the Homestead act, to pay his creditors. Grant first treated Lang for symptoms of nervous trouble, insomnia, loss of appetite, failing strength, impaired memory and mental weakness in 1895. The text of Lang’s deposition in the Mattie Fox case confirms that his mind was failing and that his dear wife Delia was taking the lead. Depression led to a progressive dementia beginning in late 1895 or early 1896. Since examinations by Grant and consulting neurologists failed to identify a physical cause, and since Grant knew this unfortunate architect and his circumstances so well, he attributed the resulting dementia to the stresses associated with the Crash After hospitalization he was discharged to the care of his brother in Englewood, Illinois, with a diagnosis of "nervous prostration and softening of the brain." Grant predicted a short life span, and, indeed, Lang died just before his military pension was approved.

In 1896 William Lang moved to Englewood to live in the care of his brother, since there was some thought at the time that moving to a lower altitude might be beneficial. He was listed in the 1897 Chicago directory as a carpenter living with his brother. The apartment 5850 Butler St was a busy place in 1896. David was presumably living there with his wife. At least one of his grown children, Charles Bertram was there according to the Directory, and Aunt Rilla Marshall was there as well according to pension records. David had just cared for his mother thru her terminal illness a year before. William Lang was a dreadful burden, having been unfit to care for himself for at least a year. On December 30, 1896 William Lang applied for pension # 1 184 392 with supporting affidavits from people in Chicago. He claimed disability due to "mitral weakness, arteriosclerosis, loss of memory and heart disease." A Physical examination by Dr HV Luse on 3 March 1897 showed no evidence of mitral disease, or for that matter, any other physical ailment. Lang was severely demented, not knowing his address, the name of the Denver Hospital where he had been confined or his own birthday. Clearly he could not have practiced architecture in Chicago as has been speculated by other researchers, as he could not even find his way home. An affidavit filed at that time by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A Reynolds, his sister-in-law's relatives, corroborated Dr Grant's impression when it stated that "he has borne a good character and has not been addicted to dissipated or intemperate habits. We therefore testify to the best of our knowledge and belief that his heart disease loss of memory and other disabilities were not caused by vicious habits."

On August 7, 1897 he disappeared from his brother’s home. Not knowing where he was of where he was going, he wandered as far as Morris, Illinois,where he was arrested as a tramp and vagrant and fined #3.00. Since hie did not have $3.00, he was remanded to the custody of the jailer. He was so filthy that the jailer would not allow him in the jail, and he was escorted to the edge of town and told not to come back.

Figure 7 Courthouse and jail in Morris, Illinois

At 6:30 A.M. on August 21,1897, William Lang was walking east from Marseilles along the southern of a double set of east-west railroad tracks. When he stumbled off of the tracks to avoid the westbound freight, he did not see the eastbound mail express on the north track (this sentence is probably Scott's poetic license, but the RMN reported that he was hit by a fast mail going east). He was killed instantly by the impact. He was fifty-one..

D.A. Nicholson, age 65, was the foreman of the Coroners Jury which held the inquest over his remains. He reported that Lang was killed by Engine 936, Train No 6 of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Ry Co about 2 miles west of Marseilles, Illinois on the morning of 21 August 1897 at about 6:30 am and was picked up dead by that train and taken to the next depot in Seneca. The jury believed the accident to have been unavoidable and that the engineer did all possible to avoid the accident. His only personal effects at the time of his death, aside from his clothing was one lead pencil.

The Rocky Mountain News reported his passing, and printed a telegram from his brother, "William Lang disappeared from here August 7. Next heard from him today was that he was killed on railroad at Marseilles, Ill., where he now lies in charge of coroner John L. Taylor. I know no more. Can't you raise a subscription to bury him? I am poor and the Grand Army will do nothing. The coroner awaits instructions from his wife. D.E. Lang." The Denver Post printed a similar obituary. Less attention was paid by the other papers.

No evidence has been found that Denver responded. The Grand Army of the Republic did, and William Lang was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Marseilles, Illinois, in a GAR plot and with a GAR stone on August 24, 1897. Delia Lang applied for a widows pension and many affidavits were filed by her attorney, WE Moses. The pension was granted for $12 per month. Affidavits filed after his death state that the Langs had no property of any sort and that Mrs. Lang had no source of income "except what she earns by her own labor."

Psychiatric analysis of Lang's career suggests that he was victim of a manic depressive psychosis. He appeared out of nowhere, and exploded with creativity. An external stimulus, the crash of 1893 touched off a severe depression, and he died of "softening of the brain." There is only one known photograph of Lang, the one that appeared in Western Architect and Building News. We know from the coroners report that at the time of his death he was light complected with blue eyes, red hair and whiskers and weighed about 155 lb. His dental work was gold--gold capped molars and a gold left upper incisor. His shirt had the initials "W L" on the front.


William Lang's presentation book now resides in the Western History Collection of the Denver Public Library. It is an invaluable collection of photographs and floor plans of some of Lang's finest and most typical work. It was found by serendipity by Stan Zamonski, who in the early 1980's was curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum on Lookout Mountain. He bought it from a second hand bookstore in the Market Street Loop of the Denver Tramway in 1943. Brian Congleton, a local architect who dismantled and saved the facade of the Ghost Building, identified the book and was instrumental in acquiring it for the library.

Delia Lang is listed intermittently in the Denver Directory after the death of her husband. On one occasion she is listed as a dealer in art goods. Mabel is not listed, and may have been in Chicago in 1901 Delia became sick during the summer of 1913, and sought medical care in August 1913. Physicians who cared for her during her final illness included Dr. WW Grant, 325 Mack Building, Dr RG Morrison, 1632 Meton St, and Dr John McNamara, 231 Mack Building. Her daughter, Mrs. OT Sheldon and Mrs. Maude Martin provided nursing care. She died at her home at 2724 W Lake Place on November 4, 1913 at 9 P.M.. The cause of death was chronic asthma and dilation of the heart according to her death certificate, signed by John McNamara, who attended her during her final illness from October 1, 1913 thru November 4, 1914 or from gastric hemorrhage according to Mabel and other medical reports. Her passing attracted little attention. There was a brief citation in the Rocky Mountain News and in the Denver Post only stating that she had died and not noting her connection with her husband. Her daughter, Mabel Gertrude Elliott took care of funeral arrangements at Olinger's Mortuary. Olinger's records are scanty but note that the funeral cost $205 and involved 2 carriages and a black hearse. It appears that the last $5 of the bill was written off several months later, although there is a "paid in full" receipt in the pension files. Rev John H Houghton presided at the funeral (for a charge of $5), and the Hoover Choir sang (also for $5). There are many confirmations that she was buried in a single grave in Crown Hill Cemetery, Block 26, Lot 165, Section 4. There is no headstone, even though she paid for a cement lined vault. On December 30, 1913 Mable G Elliott, aged 30 and a resident of the City of Denver, filed an application for reimbursement for last sickness and burial expenses listing her address as the Apollo Hotel, 1630 Glenarm, Denver. According to the application Mabel held life insurance policies on her mother in the amounts of $246, $40, $196, and $150 from the Prudential Life Insurance Co of Newark N.J. Mabel had paid all premiums.


During her lifetime, Mabel was married three times. With Mark Elliott she had Lucy Elizabeth Elliott Keene, who was born in 1909 and was interred on 7 December 1942 at Crown Hill in Denver (Block 55, Lot 33, section b3) Her son, John Keene was born in 1938 and was in Castle Rock in the 1950's, but so far has not been located. Her second marriage, to Everett Owens, produced Billie Margaret Davies in 1917. She died in 1991. According to her husband, Dr Stan Davies, who cared for Mabel during the last years of her life, she never told anyone in the family of the important role that her father, William, had played in the development of the City of Denver.

Figure 10 Author at Lang's grave, Marseilles, Illinois

Beginning in 1895 there was some connection between the Langs and St Marks Church, which he had designed some years before. Mabel was baptized there on 13 April 1895 by Rev John Houghton. Delia's burial is recorded there on 8 November 1913, but there is no record of Lang's burial. There is no record of their membership. Might check Episcopal archives.

Mabel research in San Diego June 1998. (based on the presumption that her marriage to Everett Owens was on or before 9 August 1915.
San Diego Union, no references to Mabel's marriage that we could find from 1 August to 10 August 1910.
San Diego Tribune, no references to Mabel's marriage that we could find from 1 August to 10 August 1910.
San Diego City Directory 1911-1915, no references to Everett Owen(s), Mabel or Mark Elliott, Mabel Lang, or Mr. and Mrs. James Padgett who are recorded as Mabel's Aunt and Uncle when she married Owens and was said to be living in San Diego. Need to check in genealogy chart and figure out who Pagett is.
San Diego City Directory, 1960 no Keene. 1965 John R (Eliz) Keene, tailor Sears, 1936 Mission Blvd. Need to follow this lead.
Plaintiff Index to Suits, San Diego Superior Court, Vol II (1905-1915), Vol III (1915-192?), no record of Mabel Elliott divorce.



Denver Business directory adds
1889 p1049
1890 p1319
1891 p1560
1892 p1122
1893 p1091
1894 p1091
1895 p1155 (one line only)
1896 p1151 (one line only)

Credits:
This biography begun by Scott Midgorden who was devoted to the project. Some of his files were preserved and some lost. It was completed by CO Brantigan with help from many people. I ask forgiveness from anyone I have left out. Brettell published the first biography of Lang. Rhett Adams, as far as I can tell, published the second. Leslie Schuster and Terry Fife of History Works, Inc, provided early Chicago information. An immense amount of work was done by Kathleen Hinckley of Denver. Lois May of the Three Forks Historical Society of Three Forks Montana helped me find Lang's son in law. Andre Hoeman searched records in Washington, Kansas. Jean Kaup and Joann Ward of the Albion News provided access to their records. June Bentley searched original records in Albion and introduced me to many other members of that community, all of whom were very helpful. Mae Petersen searched records in Harlan, Iowa

References:

Adams, Rhett, From broken stones, Masters Thesis, University of Colorado, 1976.
Albion, Nebraska, Greater Albion Area Centennial 1872-1972. This is a large souvenir booklet giving little additional information.
Albion, Nebraska church records: (possibilities in 1881 according to Andraes. The current Catholic Church seems unrelated to the colony that existed in 1881) (June Bentley)
Congregational: Seems most likely since they buried Abraham. No record of Baptism
Baptists (?some connection with Hungate?) (out of town 18 July)
Methodists:
Albion, Nebraska, Minutes of the Board of Trustees. (reviewed from 1872-1886). A petition for incorporation was filed 27 February 1882 and Albion was formally incorporated on 19 April 1882 as a village. CA Oblinger and CF Diffenderfer were founders that I recognized. On March 18, 1885 "Bill of Wm Lang for drafting maps of the village for $20 approved and clerk ordered to draw warrant on general fund for the same. Warrants on the general fund were reviewed for the same period and the disbursement was found thereafter. No other useable information from the financial records.
Albion, Nebraska, District 1 School Board Records (provided by Dick Stevens) go back to 1898. The whereabouts of previous records is unknown.
Andraes, AT, History of the State of Nebraska, Western Historical Co, Chicago 1882. Gives a relatively detailed description of the settlement of Boone County and the early history of Albion.
Arapahoe District Court Direct Index
Book 6 890719-901006 #12874 William Lang 900620
Book 9B 921202-930724 #18468 William Lang 930206
#18906 William Lang 930426
#18908 William Lang 930426
note books 10,11,12 missing
Arapahoe District Court Judgment Book Index 920913-950911 no listing
Arapahoe District Court Records
900620. Case 12874. William Lang, Plaintiff vs Eli Achroyd and M Brindle, DBA E Ackroyd & Co. The defendants filed a mechanics lien on 30 April 1890 saying that they furnished 637 1/2 cubic feet of sandstone for use in construction of residence for JR Adams. Lang was apparently trying to release the lien. Lang claimed that on 13 February 1890 JE Adams was the owner of N 1/2 lot 11, Block 335, Clements Addition and that he thru an agent bought the stone. Stone used in construction 13-26 February 1890. Case dismissed at defendants costs.
930206 Case 18468. National Bank of Commerce vs William Lang. This resulted in a Writ of Attachment on 25 February for $639.75 on S 1/2 lot 13, all of lot 14 and N 1/2 of lot 15 Block 64 in HC Brown's Second Addition and taking into possession one mare, harness and road wagon kept at Metropole Stables for an unpaid feed bill of $225. Also there was a Writ of Attachment 6 February 1893 on Lots 33-35 Block 30 Wyman's Addition and lots 33-4 Block 285 Clements addition. (need to look up all of these properties)
930426 Cases 18906, 18908 These are complex cases which are intertwined and involve work and material furnished in and about the erection of two buildings between 1 October 1892 and 20 February 1893 on lots 7-10 Block 42 Wymans Addition.
Architects, Contractors and Materials Dealers of the State of Colorado, Commercial Publishing Co, Denver, Colorado, 1892, p47 Advertisement for Lang and Pugh, Architects, Ghost Block, 17th and Champa Streets, Tel 1122, Denver, Colorado.
Atlas of Nebraska 1885 no mention of Langs (searched by June R Bentley)
Avery Library of Columbia University reports no record of William Lang.
Baptism records St Marks Church reviewed by Robert I Woodward, Archivist of St John's Cathedral: "On April 13, 1985 is recorded the baptism of Mabel Lang. Her date of birth was July 17, 1883 at Albion Nebraska. Her parents were William and Delia (Prisbey) Lang. No sponsors were listed. The baptism was conducted by The Reverend John Houghton."
Barnickel, LA, We enlisted as patriots: the Civil War Records of Battery G, 2nd Illinois light artillery, Heritage Books, Inc, Bowie, Maryland 1998.
Bauer, WH, Ozment, JL, Willard, JH, Colorado Post Offices 1859-1989, Colorado Railroad Museum 1990.
Blackmar, FW, ed, Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history...Standard Publishing Co, Chicago 1912
Boone County property records see file "albprop.doc"
Boone County Argus on the microfilm begins Friday, December 7, 1877. The existing paper copies of the Argus were stored in the basement of the Carnegie Library in Albion and now reside in the Boone County Historical Society. There appears to be a pretty complete run of the paper and it is being indexed by June Bentley. See "bcnews.doc"
Boone County News, Albion, Nebraska. There is a complete run available in the Albion News Office in Albion. Access provided by Jean Kaup and Joann Ward. Newspapers surveyed by CO Brantigan and June Bentley. As of 20 July 1993 first half of 1885, all of 1884 all of 1883 first half of 1881 and first half of 1882 had been done. The run starts in 1879 and is not to be confused by a previous Boone County News which is unrelated. The holdings of the Nebraska Historical Society start on April 8, 1880 and are incomplete. See BCNEWS.DOC.
Boone County Historical Society, Boone County History 1871-1985, Curtis Media Corp, Dallas Texas, 1986. This book contains good enough descriptions of the Gates house and the school to use in a book.
Boone County Commissioners Records reviewed from 1872-1885. Boone County Commissioners were appointed on 28 July 1871. The county was organized on 26 August 1871, and the first meeting was held in October 1872. A bid for a court house was taken on 26 Mar 1884 and I think is was built by C DeRoberts. Might check who built the beautiful one. 23 April 1884 EL Lang selected for jury duty from Beaver Precinct. This is probably a different Lang since women weren't usually selected. 31 Mar 1883 Wm Lang selected for jury duty. It is not clear if this was petit jury of Grand jury--will be specified in newspaper, but we missed it if it is there.
Boone County Property Transfer Records (searched by June Bentley) only reveal transactions related to the Gates property. The records seem to indicate that either Delia did most of the business or had most of the money. Since she bought the lots for $300 in 1883 and sold it for $2500 in 1884 that the house was built sometime between April 11, 1883 and August 18, 1884. DJ Gates apparently made a $1300 down payment. Assignments of the mortgage were made to MB Thompson in May and October of 1885 Need to insert information identifying the location of the store.
Brettell, R.R., Historic Denver; The Architects and the Architecture 1858-1893, Historic Denver, 1973. First published biography of Lang.
Building Budget, an interesting rival of Inland Architect was published between 1885 and 1890 when it was absorbed by Northwestern Architect, published some Denver and Colorado Springs listings on a sporadic basis. I have surveyed the entire run for listings of Lang.
The Western Association of Architects was started in 1883, and voted to consolidate with the American Institute of Architects at their annual meeting in Chicago, November 21-3, 1888. The next meeting, held in October 1889 in Cincinnati was a combined meeting. Attendees at that meeting were listed in the November 1889 issue and did not include Lang or anyone else from Denver. The November 1887 issue included a membership list of the Western Association of Architects and did not include anyone from Denver.
June 1889, a two story brick dwelling costing $5 000 for Mrs. Mary C Dunlap is in the course of construction (Could this be a Lang as the only other listing is the Ghost Building?), Mr. AM Ghost will erect on the northwest corner of Glenarm and fifteenth Streets a new five story business block of the latest improvements. The exterior will be of Longmont stone costing $65 000.
Burnham index to the architectural literature, Garland Publishing Co, 1989. No references to Lang.
Brantigan, Martha, then of the University of Pennsylvania, checked at the Office of Records, Department of Architecture, and Lang was not found. She also checked the Athenaum in Philadelphia where no Lang was found.
Carswell, R, The early years of Osage County, Mennonite Press, Inc, North Newton, KS, 198.
Copple, OA, History of Osage City, Osage County (no publisher listed).
Census data for United States Census
F Edgar Frantz (7 December 1870-31 August 1956) See also biographical files on Frantz
According to the 1900 census he was living with his wife Lutie (Haynes) in his father-in-law's household with brother and sister in law, a boarder and a servant. Edgar was a government clerk and his wife a kindergartner.
In 1920 he was 48 years old and a draftsman at the surveyors office. She was a teacher. Living with them was his widowed mother in law. No children are listed in either census.
Abraham V Lang (born 1822)
1820 Erie County, New York, no reference (Hinckley)
1830 Erie County, New York, no reference (Hinckley)
1850 Union Twp, Ross county, Ohio
Lang, AV 28m shoemaker b NY
Elizabeth, 22f b Ohio
William A, 4m b Ohio
Sarah T, 2f b Ohio
1860 not in Ohio (Hinckley)
1860 not in Ogle County (History Works)
1860 not in Ogle County (Hinckley read entire roll)
1860 Bradford, Lee County Illinois
Laing, Abraham V, 38 m farmer, Real estate worth $1500, personal property worth $800 born in NY
Elizabeth, 28 f born in "O"
Wm, 18 m born in O attending school
Elizabeth 10f, born in O attending school
David, 8m born in O attending school
Mary, 6f born in O attending school
John, 1m born in Illinois
1870 no Lang family in Shelby County, Iowa
1870 Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois
Lang, Abraham, 48m harnessmaker b NY
Elizabeth, 44f keeping house b Ohio
Mary, 13f b Ohio
Elmer, 15m b Ohio
Frank, 7m b Illinois
Fred, 2m b Illinois
Leon, 1m b Illinois
1880 Census for Chicago (Hinckley)
Lang, William, 39m, grocer, 674 Clybourn av. He was born in Prussia. His wife was Lena, 38yo, also born in Prussia. They have 2 daughters, Lily 2yo and Johanna 7/12 yo born in Illinois. Clearly the wrong Lang.
1880 no Lang family in Shelby, County Iowa
1880 Census for Boone, Boone Co Nebraska lists
Lang, AV 57m head farmer
Elisabeth L 53f wife housekeeper
Frank C 16m son at home
Frederick C 14m son at home
Albert W 11m son at home
1885 Nebraska Census, Albion, Manchester Precinct, Boone County, Nebraska
Lang, Elizabeth 53f keeps home
, Albert 15m printer
, Frank 21m job printer
, Fred 19m Drug clerk
David Lang (born 1852)
1860 not in Ogle County
1860 found with father in Lee County, Illinois
1870 not in Shelby County, Iowa
1870 not in Ogle County, Illinois
1880 not in Shelby County, Iowa
1880 1034 W Monroe, Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois
Lang, David E 28yo Tinner born Ohio
Lang, Ida L 24yo born Iowa
Lang, Clarence E 4yo born Iowa
Lang, Bertram C 1yo born Iowa
1900 287 E 67th St, Hyde Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Lang, David E b July 51, 48m tinner
Sarah B b Aug 70, 29f married
Wilber A b May 90, 10m
Howard W b Dec 94, 5m
1910 6358 S Sangamon St, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Lang, David E 57m Salesman dept store
Sarah B 39f no occupation
Wilbur A 19m clerk steam railroad
Howard W 15m no occupation
1920 Federal Census not found using soundex
William Lang (born 1846)
1850 Union Twp, Ross county, Ohio
Lang, AV 28m shoemaker b NY
Elizabeth, 22f b Ohio
William A, 4m b Ohio
Sarah T, 2f b Ohio
1860 Hinckley couldn't find in Ohio
1860 not in Ogle County (Hinckley read entire roll)
1860 Bradford, Lee County Illinois
Laing, Abraham V, 38 m farmer, Real estate worth $1500, personal property worth $800 born in NY
Elizabeth, 28 f born in "O"
Wm, 18 m born in O attending school
Elizabeth 10f, born in O attending school
David, 8m born in O attending school
Mary, 6f born in O attending school
John, 1m born in Illinois
1870 not in Ogle County (Hinckley read entire roll and found only the previously identified reference to Abraham.
1870 not in Winnebago County, Illinois
1870 not in Potawattamie County, Iowa (Council Bluffs)
1870 not in Omaha
1870 not in Platte County, Nebraska (Columbus)
1870 not in parts of Lee County, Illinois containing Dixon, where Abraham enlisted the second time. entire county not read.
1870 not in Shelby County Iowa
1880 Federal Census Albion, Boone County, Nebraska
Lang, William 34 m Grocery Store b NY f NY m NY
, Delia 23f grocery store clerk b Wisc F CN m VT
1900 Federal Census, 800 w 12th Av, Denver, Colorado
Lang, Delia 39 wid b Mar 1861 (boarder)
, Mable 17f b July 82 (boarder)
enumerated with 2 Charles Padgets with different spellings and ages at same address
1910 Federal Census 2708 W Lake Pl, Denver, Colorado
Elliott, Mark F 31 m railroad engineer
, Mabel G 27f
, Lucy E 1f
Lang, Delia 50f widow
Prisbeys
1850 Trenton, Dodge County, Wisconsin
Prisbey, Miner 45 m farmer born CT
Elizabeth 43f born CT
Minerals 20m born CT
Ira A 18m farmer born CT
William A 16m farmer born CT
Mary L 13 f born CT
Abigail E 11f born CT
Lusally ? I 7f born CT
Joseph 3m born Mass
Lucy A 4/12f born Wisc
1875 Kansas Census
Prisbey, Ira 41 m blacksmith b [cant read] from Illinois
, Chloe 40 f b Vermont read] from Illinois
, Delia 17f b Wisconsin
, Lucy 11f b Illinois
, Ira 9m b Illinois
, Nellie 7f b Illinois
, Lillie 1f b Kansas
1880 Federal Census Washington, Kansas
Prisbey, Chloe 42f wife, housekeeper, divorced
, Lucy 17f daughter
, Ira 14m son
, Nelly 12f daughter
, Lilly 6f daughter
, xxxx 5f daughter
1880 Federal Census, Meriden, Steele County Minnesota
Prisbey, William A 41m farmer
, Elizabeth 39 wife keeps house
, William 8m son
, Alvin 4m son
Teisbel, Eugene 19m stepson
Prisbey, Ira 42m servant (in another household) laborer. ?brother of William?)
1890 Civil War Survivors Census, Blue Earth County, Minnesota: Prisbey, Ira
Marshall Pugh
1900 Federal Census, 6330 Morton St, Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Pugh, Marshall R, 36yo wm b December 1863, Civil Engineer born in Pennsylvania, married 10 years.
, Helen D, 37 yo wf b September 1862, wife born in Pennsylvania, married 10 years
, Edward J, 8 yo wm born July 1891 in Pennsylvania
, Henry J, 7 yo wm born in Mar 1893 in Pennsylvania
, Elizabeth, 5 yo wf born in Oct 1894 in Pennsylvania
1910 Federal Census, 230 Poplar Ave ("name of incorporated area" is blank) Radnor Township, Delaware county, Pa
Pugh, Marshall R, 46 m born in Pennsylvania, Civil engineer married 19 years.
, Helen D, 47 wf born in Pennsylvania, wife
, Edward J, 18 wm born in Colorado, son
, Henry D, 16 wm born in Colorado, son
, Elizabeth F, 15 wf, born in Colorado, daughter.
Census of Colorado for Arapahoe County 1885 lists many William Langs. Pertinent is William Lang 32 YO WM married and born in Ohio. Wife Delia 28 yo WF born in Illinois. Daughter Mabel 4 yo WF born in Nebraska.
Chewning, John Andrew, William Robert Ware and the Beginnings of Architectural Education in the United States, 1861-1881 PhD Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1986.
Chicago Daily News, Thursday September 30, 1971
LANG
Howard W Lang, beloved husband of Ann (nee Nomes), fond father of Marjie (Norman) LaMarre and David W (Barbara), grandfather of four, Member and past Master of Auburn Park Lodge No 222 AL and Society of Mayflower Descendants. Funeral Saturday 1pm at the Fern Chapel, Chapel Hill Gardens South in lieu of flowers memorials to Mariner? Valley Community Church.
Chicago Tribune about 11 February 1927 (copy provided by DW Lang)
LANG-David E Lang, Feb 11, 1927, beloved husband of Sarah B. father of Clarence E., Burtrum [sic], Wilbur A, and Howard W, brother of Albert L Lang. Services at residence 5349 S Michigan av, Tuesday, Feb 15, at 2 pm, Interment at Sleepy Hollow. (According to DW Lang Aunt May, further identity unclear, lived on Michigan ave. Later she rented out the back half of the house and cooked for herself in the butler's pantry. DE has been exhumed and transferred to another location.)
Colorado Chapter of American Institute of Architects Annual Report 1891, 1894, 1896. Information provided by Tony Wrenn, American Institute of Architects archivist, Washington, DC.
Council Bluffs City Directories. No mention of Langs.
1868-9
1869-70
1870-1
1873-4
1876
1879
Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, Alden Publishing Co, Chicago, 1912. Subscription biography with no mention of Lang
Congleton, Brian recounted the story of Lang's presentation book by phone 1 February 1984
Copple, OA, History of Osage City and Osage County, no publisher or copyright. Gives information about Michigan, Kansas
Crown Hill Cemetery has Delia Lang listed as "Adelia Long" even though the card clearly is spelled "Lang." Block 26, Lot 165, Section 4, a single grave with no headstone.
Death Certificate Adelia Lang
Death notice, Delia Lang see Rocky Mountain News 6 November 1913
Death Certificate, Howard Wells Lang. 29 September 1971
Death Notice, Oregonian 11 September 1928
Black, In this city, Sept 10, Amos R Black, aged 81 years, father of Perry Black of this city, ER Black of Eugene, Or: Ross Black of Bremerton, Wash, and Mrs. DA McKenzie of Seattle, Wash. The remains are at Finley's Mortuary, Montgomery at 5th. Notice of funeral later.
Delaire, E Les architectes eleves de l'ecole des Beaux-arts 1783-1907, Librairie de la construction moderne, Pairs, deuxieme edition 1907. no listing for Lang
Denver Evening Post 23 August 1897 p3 col4 Death of William Lang,
William Lang, Whom the authorities of Denver and Chicago have been trying to locate for the past three weeks, was found dead at Marseilles, Ill, last Friday. He had been struck by a Rock Island Train and was dead when picked up.
Lang was an architect and had offices in the California Building. He came here in 1885 and accumulated considerable wealth. The panic of 1893 left him penniless and he worried over this until his mind weakened and he was sent to St Luke's Hospital. He was then taken by his brother to a suburb of Chicago and on August 7 ran away from there and was wandering aimlessly around the country when he met his death. He was 51 years old and leaves a wife and daughter.
Denver Post, 5 November 1913 obituary: Lang, Adelia late of 2724? Lake Place. Funeral service will be held from Olinger's Mortuary Saturday at 2:30 p.m. interment Crown Hill. Same information in Rocky Mountain News 6 Nov 1913
Denver Republican, Saturday, August 28, 1897 p3c3.
William Lang's Funeral.
William Lang, the Denver architect, who was run over by a Rock Island train at Marseilles, IA [sic], last Saturday was buried at Marseilles last Tuesday at 2 o'clock. the funeral services were conducted by the G.A.R. post of that place.
Denver Times starting 27 August 1897 looking for obit not finished.
Findling, John F and Pelle, Kimberly D, Historical dictionary of world's fairs and expositions 1851-1888, Greenwood Press, New York.
Frantz, Edgar Probate documents 16 April 1956 Case 6388
Frantz, Francis Edgar, Last Will and Testament, 22 January 1954.
He may have died 3 December 1956. His "Last Will and Testament" notes that he was born in Ashland, Ohio on 7 December 1870 and came to Denver in May 1888 where he entered an architects office. He designed many private residences in Denver. He entered the Public Survey Office in January 1900 and for about 20 years was chief of Mineral Division of that office. He retired on 31 December 1940. He was survived by one sister and 2 brothers and many nephews. He gave directions for engraving his name on a stone at Fairmount, the same one containing Lydia A (1855-1930), presumably his mother and George S (1843-1898), presumably his father.
Grantor/Grantee Indexes Volumes 43-50 1893-October 1895 (Hinckley) Grantor only surveyed for volume 50. On 13 May 1890 Marshall Pugh received the property, lots 24, 25 block 8 Rohlfings Subdivision from Gustave C Bartels et al for $7500 under the condition that he build a residence costing more than $5000 within the next year. Helen D Pugh conveyed lot 3 block 8 in Sumners Addition to WS Bartel on 19 July 1894. The transfer noted that she lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which is how the family was traced to Pennsylvania. It might be of value to trace other properties to identify buildings designed by the firm.
Hallberg, MG There is a house at 1614 LaSalle near Moody Church and the Chicago Historical Society that looks like the Lang Gargoyle House. It is owned by the Phildon Co 951-5900, who apparently wants to tear it down (Joe O'Connor, Mgr). Jerry Ostri of the North American Chicago Corp, 787 7482, has offices on the second and third floors and has a ten year lease. There is a real estate co on the first floor which is moving. Ostri says that he has done some research and determined that the building was a brothel during Al Capone's time, but hasn't determined the builder. There are apparently similar buildings of limited life expectancy in the 1200 block Lake Shore Drive. He reports that the insides of the building are intact with the exception of termite damage and water damage. The interior is characterized by nooks and crannies and by ornate imported woodwork. The sandstone and wood may have been imported from Ireland for members of the Chicago Grain Exchange.
Cursory investigation from Scott LaFrance of the Architectural Department of the Historical Society (Clark St and North Ave, 60614, 642 4600), has no information. He suggests that the green limestone is from the East somewhere and isn't good building material so it is falling apart, He notes that there is a similar green church in Pullman, Ill, company town for Pullman Coach Co, (might look in American Heritage). He reports that there is an intact permits file at the Department of Inspection Services, Room 903 City Hall, 121 N LaSalle St, 744 3452. He suggests a researcher, Terry Fife, History Works, Inc, 303 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, Ill 60302, 312 383 4645. He also suggested the Landmark Commission.
Jan Curtis at the Landmark Commission 744 3200 had no information on Lang, but a researcher who happened to be there knew the building and said it was designed by Morris Gustave Hallberg, about whom the Commission had no information. 1992 investigations reveal that he concluded his career in Evanston practicing architecture with his son. No listing in phone book 1992.
Harlan Tribune, Harlan, Iowa (surveyed by K Hinckley 11 June 1879-June 1881 and 12 November 1884-7 January 1885) no references to the Langs except 2 brief notices regarding Dave Lang's employment with Trobridge & Graham. Oscar Reynolds also worked for Trobridge & Graham. November 12,1884-7 January 1885 no mention of William Lang visiting relatives on the way to the fair although there was mention of someone else going to fair.
Harlan Tribune 7 May 1884 front page. "Mr. Frank Lang, from Grand Island, Nebraska, a brother of David Lang, is visiting his relatives and friends in Harlan. Frank formerly lived in Harlan, and with his parents removed to Nebraska. We understand this is his first visit to his old home. His present address in Albion, Nebraska. (provided by Mae Petersen.)
Harlan Tribune Wednesday April 1, 1885.
Obituary. Lang- On Monday evening at 6:30, of puerperal fever, at her residence in this place, Ida, wife of David Lang, aged 29 years.
For some time Mrs. Lang has been afflicted with that dread disease, consumption, and this in addition to other troubles caused her death. The lady had spent her life almost from childhood among us, and leaves behind a numerous circle of sorrowing friends. The services were conducted at two o'clock this afternoon, by Rev Vedder, at the ME church, from which place the remains were borne to the cemetery, followed by many friends of the family. She leaves a husband and four children, as well as a large circle of relatives to mourn her loss.
Hill, AL, The Colorado blue book, 1892 p176, "Lang, Mr. Mrs. W 1638 Washington av. Call # c978.892 D436hi (1892).
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Ogle County
Illinois Adjutant General Report of 1867, v8 p618-621
Illinois Military Units in the Civil War
Inland Architect and Building News or News Record depending on the year contains discussions of interest to architects and builders. It carries with each issue a listing of commissions in various parts of the United States. Coverage is random and sporadic. Scott Midgorden searched the entire run till 1900 for Lang references. I have searched from Volume 1 Number 1, February 1883 thru May 1885 looking for listings for Lang in Nebraska and Iowa and found nothing.
Inland Architect and News Record XIX no III hotel Mesa Lithograph
Inland Architect and News Record April 1892 p39. Our Illustrations. Hotel Mesa, Pueblo, Colorado: Lang and Pugh, architects, Denver, Colorado.
Inland Architect and News Record XIX no 4 p54 May 1892. Denver, Colo. Architects Lang and Pugh: for Dr Ordway, a three story residence, size 45x50 feet, brick with stone trimmings; cost $15 000.
Inland Architect and News Record XIX no 2 p28 Mar 1892. Denver, Colo--Architects Lang & Pugh : For A. J. Jarmuth, three two-story residences; brick and stone trimmings; cost $55 000. Also for Reeves & Clemmes, three brick dwellings; to cost $15 000 each.
Inland Architect and News Record XX no 5 p 58 December 1892 Denver, Colo. Architects Lang & Pugh: for P.J. McNulty, a two-story terrace, brick with stone trimmings, size 26 by 60 feet; cost $5 000.
Inland Architect and News Record General listings:
V(5) 80 (1885
XI(4) 52 (1888)
XIX(2) 28 (1892)
XX(5) 58 (1892)
XXI(5) ??(1893)
XXIV(5) 54 (1895)
Johnson, Julee of the Cornell University College of Architecture working for Ian Stewart, Acting Dean, in 1984 reported that she had contacted Jay Chewning at Bennington College Vermont who has written a dissertation on emergence of architecture schools in America which includes complete lists of students who attended Columbia, MIT and Cornell and partial list of students at Penn and University of Illinois, and Lang is not included. She They suggested checking Washington University Polytechnic School in St Louis (architecture program from 1869 on), and University of Illinois (classes since 1868 program since 1873). There is no mention in Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (deceased) or Avery Obituary index of Architects and Artists. On 16 May 1984 I spoke to the registrars office at Washington University who checked class rosters between 1865 and 1900 and found no William Lang. Records were reported as spotty at best and there was no central register that goes back that far listing students or graduates. Martha Brantigan checked the Office of Records, Department of Architecture and the Archives at the University of Pennsylvania and found no Lang. The Registrars office at the University of Illinois in Urbana has no record and the Chicago campus of the University did not exist that early.
Kaup, JM, Reflections of the Past: A Visual History of Albion, Heritage House Publishing Co, Marceline, MO, 1992
Kay, J, Findlay, M, Nebraska historic buildings survey, Final report of Boone County, Nebraska, Nebraska State Historical Society, Historic Preservation Office, Lincoln, Nebraska 1988. Lists the Gates house as a possibility but doesn't have any information about its history.
Lang, David Elmore obituary (provided by his grandson)
David Elmore Lang was born July 15, 1851, at Columbus, Ohio. He spent his early youth there and later moved to Harlan, Iowa. On February 14, 1875 he was united in marriage to Ida Reynolds. Two sons born of this union survive. They are Clarence Elmer Lang of Omaha, Nebraska, and Charles Bertram Lang, also of Omaha.
On October 14th, 1888, he was united in marriage to Sarah Bertha Williamson at Harlan, Iowa. Later he moved to Chicago where he resided until his death, February 11, 1927. Of this last union two sons survive, Wilbur Allen Lang of Milwaukee, Wisc, and Howard Wells Lang of Chicago. He is also survived by a brother, Albert Leon Lang of Seattle, Wash, and his loving wife.
David Elmore Lang died at the age of seventy-five years, six months and twenty-seven days. He was a loving husband and kind father.
Lang, David Elmore. Photocopies of pages of family Bible provided by DW Lang. "On the 14th day of October 1888 at Harlan, Shelby Co, Iowa, DE Lang and Bertha S Williamson were duly joined in marriage by Rev WH Shipman in presence of OA Reynolds and FP Taylor.
On the 18th day of Aug 1928 at Chicago, Ill, Cook Co, Howard W Lang and Anna Katherine Nomes were duly joined in marriage by Rev Arnold Lutton in the presence of 2, Mr. and Mrs. Geo Rundquist.
There follows a list of births:
DE Lang July 15, 1851
Ida L Lang May 24, 1856
Clarence Elmer Lang Jan 31, 1876
Charley Bertram Lang April 7, 1879
Sarah Bertha Lang Aug 8, 1870
Allen V Lang March 10, 1885
Earl R Lang March 10, 1885
Wilber A Lang May 1, 1890
Howard Wells Lang Dec 8 1894
Abraham V Lang Apr 14, 1822
Elizabeth S Lang Dec 15, 1825
Anna Katherine Lang Sep 12, 1903
Lang, David Wells, Interview with David Wells Lang and Marge (Lang) Weaver. Their grandfather owned and lived above a grocery store. He wasn't responsible in running the store and tended to close the place, or leave it to his wife, while he went to the baseball games of gambled. They did not know about his occupation as a tinner. David E was only 3 when William died, so his photo album does not contain any pictures of William. They have identified the connection with the Marshalls and the Reynolds and provided a photo of David Lang and Sarah. They have provided documentation of two stays in Harlan and additional pension records on Abraham.
Lang, William, Denver design for house Denver Times Apr 30, 1887
Lang, William, Design by Rocky Mountain News June 12, 1887 p20
Larson, PC and Brown, SM, The Spirit of HH Richardson on the Midland Prairies, Iowa State University Press, Ames Iowa, 1988. On 9 October 1992 I spoke to Paul C. Larson He is currently Director of the Gardner Museum of Architecture in Quincy, Ill 217 224 6873. He thinks he has some information in his files on Lang although Denver architects were not the focus of his research. He will check. He suggests that his files probably will not lead to a teacher of Lang as Lang was practicing architecture too early. Richardsonionism didn't his the plains until the late 1880s and by then Lang was gone. He suggests checking for Lang listings in "Building Budget" a Chicago publication that was the competitor of the Inland Architect. There is a complete copy at the Chicago Art Institute. He also suggests checking with Dave Murphy of the Nebraska Historical Society as the person most likely to know about old Nebraska architects. He also suggests Tim Samuelson of the Chicago Historical Society. Listings might also be found in American Architect, the official organ of AIA which goes back that far. One might also check the rolls of the Western Architecture association which merged with the AIA in the 1880's. See building Budget.
LaSalle County Clerk, State of Illinois reported no record of Lang's death 1894-1900, but there was no requirement to report deaths.
LaSalle County Coroner reported that the only remaining record is in the Docket Books. The inquest was held at Marseilles adjunct meeting on the 21st day of August 1897. The train crew including the engineer, conductor and fireman were listed as witnesses. "We the jury find the body before us to be that of WA Lang late of Denver, Colorado and later of Chicago brother of DE Lang 5850 Wright St, that he was demented and was struck by engine No 936, Train No 6 on the Rock Island and Pacific RR, about 2 1/2-3 miles west of Marseilles at about 6:30 am Aug 21, 1897 and picked up dead by said train. We believe the accident to have been unavoidable and that the Engineer did all possible to avoid accident." He was 5'8", light complected with blue eyes and red hair and whiskers. He had gold capped molars, a gold left upper incisor and weighed about 155 pounds. His personal effects included only a lead pencil. "On seeing notice in the Interocean, thought the party there described to be the person dead. Telegraphed Chicago. Brother ???? hold the body. Was treated in Hospital in Denver for softening of brain, came to Chicago thinking lower altitude would be beneficial, was with Bro. Escaped 7 Aug. Had DE Lang on shirt collar, Denver firm name on shirt and 'W.L.' on front."
Lathrop, Gilbert A, Little Engines and Big Men, The Caxton Printers, Ltd, Caldwell, Idaho, 1954. This was said to contain mention of the Elliott family in conjunction with the Building of the Denver and South Park Railroad. I read it in October 1994 and found no mention. It is not indexed.
Lee County, Illinois property records. See Hinckley research report 27 May 1995.
Land Records Office: Grantor listings from 1855-1889 found only William Long who was a Long and was a resident there to at least 1898. No Grantee listings at all.
Circuit Clerks Office: Indexes go back to 1865-70 depending on the court books. Couldn't find any earlier original books in vault. No Lang.
Library: Name index for genealogical material--no Lang
Marriage Records, Shelby County Iowa 14 February 1875 David E Lang married Ida S Reynolds.
Marriage License, Washington County, State of Kansas. Washington, December 20, 1877. To any person authorized by law to perform the marriage ceremony, greeting: You are hereby authorized to join in Marriage WA Lang of Nebraska aged 26 years and Miss Delia Prisbey of Washington Co Kansas aged 18 years, and of this license you will make due return to my office within thirty days. B Hawes probate judge......I, George Hageman do hereby certify....joined in marriage Wm A Lang and Delia Prisbey on 21 December 1877.
Marriage Certificate. State of Iowa, Shelby County. This certifies that on the 14th day of October 1888 at Harlan in said County, according to law and by authority, I duly joined in marriage David E Lang and Bertha Williamson given under my hand the 14 day of October 1888, WH Shipman, Minister of the Gospel in presence of OA Reynolds, FP Taylor.
Marseilles Plain Dealer 27 August 1897 p 4. (cited by Rhett Adams) Also Possibly a citation on 21 August 1897. "William Lang, a tramp, was before Police magistrate C.D. Young this morning charged with being drunk and disorderly. He was fined $3.00 and costs, but owing to his filthy condition the jailer wouldn't receive him and the court gave him on hour to leave town." We have been unable to locate this.
McMurray, Thomas Stephenson, Mayor of Denver April 1895-April 1899. No references to Lang in personal papers in Colorado State Historical Society Library or in Western History Collection. Searched by Hinckley.
Morris Daily Herald 20 August 1897 p3. W.M. [sic] Lang, a tramp, was before Police Magistrate C.D. Young this morning charged with being drunk and disorderly. He was fined $3 and costs, but owing to his filthy condition, the jailer wouldn't receive him and the court gave him an hour to leave town.
Ochsner, JK, HH Richardson: complete architectural works, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA 1984.
O'Fallon Polytechnic. In October 1993 I spoke to Carol at the Washington University Archives. She searched the catalogs and other materials available in the archives on O'Fallon Polytechnic from 1864-1878, last available catalog listing students, and found no mention of Lang. Degrees were first given from this institution in 1866 and their non degree programs started in 1866. 314 935 5444. She promised a written statement but as of 16 Nov has not produced it.
Ogle County legal records see Oglerec.doc
Olinger's Mortuary (Jeannette) 455 3663 x 273 reported to me on 6 May 91 that there is a card (she sent copy) in their file on Delia Lang giving the date of 4 Nov 1913, noting that the funeral cost $205 and that the daughter's name was Mabel G Elliott who lived at 1320 Stout. (There are no Elliotts in the Denver Directories at 1320 Stout. Survey of the 1893 directory suggests that that address was a rooming house or hotel.) She will look for additional information from Crown Hill, who reports there is no record that she was ever buried there. Jeannette will also check Riverside because that is where the destitute were sometimes buried. No records found.
Omaha City Directories: no record of the Langs.
1866
1868
1870 (Beach)
1870 (Wolf)
1872-3
1876 (Brown)
1876 (Wolf)
1877 (Wolf)
1878-9
+ 3 unidentified
Oregon National Guard reviewed 1866-1874 see Oregonnzp.doc
Oregon County Historical Directory, 1878. Abraham, William and David are not listed.
Osage County Historical Society, Stories of Osage County and its families no date
Pension Records:
Widow's Pension for Delia Lang filed by WE Moses (17 Sep 1897 application 663223 certificate 465543 Hinkley Salt Lake research):
General Affidavit, Delia Lang 28 Sep 1897
General Affidavit, George Hageman 13 Sep 1897
General Affidavit, Charles N Hart and Mary Norris 24 Sep 1897
General Affidavit, DA Lewis, MD 15 Sep 1897
General Affidavit, DA Nicholson (foreman of coroners jury) no date
General Affidavit, David E Lang, EA Reynolds 17 Sep 1897
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions statement 5 Feb 1897
Pensioner Dropped Statement 28 Nov 1913. Last paid $12 on 4 Aug 1913, died 4 Nov 1913.
Declaration for Widows Pension 8 Sep 1897 filed from Denver.
Application for Reimbursement for funeral expenses 30 Dec 1913
Application for Reimbursement for funeral expenses rejected on 31 January 1914 because insurance paid for it.
Congressional Inquiry from Senator JF Shafroth.
Receipt for payment made to Dr John McNamara for services to Delia Lang August 1, 1913 to November 4, 1913
Certificate effective September 17, 1897 increasing pension an additional $2 per month to provide for Mabel
Application for widows pension 17 September 1897 of $8 per month with and additional $2 for Mabel
Bureau of Pensions, Office of Disbursing Clerk. Notice that pensioner had died. Date 12 November 1913
Statement of County Assessor of Arapahoe County, 13 September 1897. This is to certify that I have examined the records of the assessors office of Arapahoe County, Colorado and that I find no property either real or personal assessed in the name of William Lang or Delia Lang for the year 1896.
Receipt Olinger Undertaking Parlors noting that the funeral expenses, including a cement vault cost $205 and that this was paid in full by Mabel Elliott. Signed by George Olinger
Letter from The Prudential Insurance Co of 28 January 1914 noting that a claim on the life of Delia Lang was paid to Mabel Elliott of $387.64 and noting that the insured paid the premiums. This is in conflict with Mabel's statement that she paid them.
Receipt from Mrs. ME Martin for payment for 1 week of nursing services to 4 November 1913
Letter from Mabel Elliott, giving her address as the Apollo Hotel, 1630 Glenarm Place requesting reimbursement for burial expenses (source of her signature)
Receipt from Geo McL Bowman, pharmacist for supplies including 4 oz whiskey and an air cushion paid for by Mabel Elliot
Letter to JF Shafroth from Commissioner of Pensions noting that reimbursement of burial expenses not made because there was insurance to cover costs.
Letter to Mabel Elliott at the Apollo Hotel from the Commissioner of Pensions refusing reimbursement of burial expenses.
Letter from Prudential Insurance to Commissioner reporting insurance payment
Invalid Pension for William Lang (2 Jan 1897 application 663223, certificate 942471. Another number which runs thru the record is 1184392. The lawyer of record was Ada Sweet, 214-6 Clark St, Chicago) Hinkley Salt Lake research):
Medical Evidence from Dr WW Grant in answer to commissioner's call of June 14, 1897
Surgeon's Certificate, HV Luce, 3 March 1897. 5'8" 132# This is a complete physical exam noting that he had no heart murmurs and therefore there was no rating for mitral disease. "Nervous system. No history or evidence of injury to the cranial structures or spinal column. No vertigo or spasms. No arcus senilis. No hemiplegia or paraplegia or local or general paresis. No evidence of epilepsy. No aphasia. Pupils of equal size respond to light and shade. No ?voices in head? or loss of hearing. Condition of mind. Is slow to respond to simple questions. Could not remember the No of St in which he lives until he looked at an address on a letter. Cannot remember the name of hospital in which he was ill or the name of the Dr who treated him. Cannot remember the month or day of month on which he was born. Claims that his mind has never in any way been affected except for a couple of days before entering the hospital one year ago. Evident loss of memory. Rating ten eighteenths.
Bureau of Pensions certificate 24 March 1897
Bureau of Pensions request for deposition from William W Grant MD, 24 July 1897
Deposition of WW Grant, 24 July 1897. "Am 50 years old, physical and address as shown above. Graduate of Jefferson College, Pa. Have known client since 1892 and have been his family physician more or less since that date. I first treated claimant personally about two years ago. Treated him for nervous trouble. Insomnia, loss of appetite and failing strength and flesh resulting in impaired memory and mental weakness. No, I did not observe anything wrong with client physically or mentally prior to two years ago. I personally know that client has been unfit for manual labor for the past two years because of his condition as described. For the last year at least he has been unfit to take care of himself on account of his mental condition. He has a form of dementia that I believe will result in his death at no distant day. I never discovered anything in the case to cause me to suspect that client ever had syphilis or that his condition is in anyway due to vicious habits. I know him to be a man of good character and habits. In consultation with neurologist we found no evidence or history of specific disease. The exciting cause of his present trouble in my opinion, was business trouble, caused by the panic of 1893. I know the claimant is a thoroughly honest, honorable man. I personally know that when the financial crash came he gave up all his property to pay his creditors, even his home, which he might have kept......
Approval of Invalid Pension 27 May 1897
Approval of Invalid Pension 13 September 1897. Issued on 18 September 1897. Approved at $12/month starting on 2 January 1897
Restoration and Reissue of Invalid Pension. It appears that this compensates for the certificate issued after his death and reissues it to his wife. Other records indicate that the certificate was mailed to Delia on 19 March 1898
Robbins Drug Co prescription
Declaration for Invalid Pension 30 Dec 1896 filed from Illinois
General Affidavit, Louise A Reynolds, Edwin A Reynolds 19 April 1897
War department Record and Pension Division search for medical records (none found)
Widow's Pension for Elizabeth S Lang (certificate 280 631a)
Declaration for Original Pension of a Widow..., Boone County, Nebraska, 4 February 1885
Declaration for Widow's Pension, Chicago, Illinois, 22 July 1890
Marriage License Abraham Lang and Elizabeth Elmore 12 November 1844
US Pension Agency, Pensioner dropped 16 December 1895
Invalid Pension for Abraham V Lang (Certificate #18449)
Affidavit of Siras Welty, Ogle County, Illinois, 30 July 1879
Affidavit of Albany Matmiller, Ogle County, Illinois, 39 July 1879
Affidavit of Joseph W Russell and Ward I Hosac, Albion, Nebraska, 20 September 1880
Certificate of Disability for Discharge 22 August 1862 from St Louis.
Certificate of Disability for Discharge 28 July 1862. Born in NY 48 years old. 5'10" tall, light complexion, blue eyes. Enlisted as a shoemaker. Discharged from US General Hospital, Keokuk, Iowa from Rogers Company for fracture of metatarsal bone of great toe and extensive injury of left foot caused by gun shot. (also gives his occupation but I cant read it.)
Certificate of Disability for Discharge 7 February 1865 and 24 February 1865 (for gunshot wound of left foot with fracture of metatarsal bones, loss of teeth, hemorrhoids and general debility from age (57 years old). Discharged from John W Lowell's Company from US General Hospital, Quincy, Illinois.
Department of the Interior Pension Office inquiry of Adjutant General 1878, 1865, 1880
Declaration for Invalid Pension Winnebago County, Ill 22 June 1865
Marriage record, Franklin County Ohio, Abraham V Lang and Elizabeth Elmore 12 November 1844.
Statement of Service, Abraham V Lang 12 October 1880. Enlisted as a recruit September 11, 1861 at Daysville, Ill to serve 3 years. He shot himself in the foot on 26 May 1862 with a pistol and was sent to the hospital, etc.
Pension files for Ira Prisbey. This file includes many documents. Ira and Chloe were married in Dodge County Wisconsin in 1852 by rev Castle. At the time the pension request alleging rheumatism and disease of lungs was filed in 1898, he reported 6 living children: Emily, Ida, Lucy, Nellie, Ira and Lilian. Delia, obviously still living, was not listed. Physical examination revealed that he was in bad shape with spinal deformities, muscle wasting, weight loss and what sounds like end stage chronic obstructive lung disease. In 1890 he was living in New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota and had lived with Jane M Scott for 2 years. His date of death was 27 July 1901.
Piper, Kathy, the current publisher (1984) of the Social Register reports that records pertaining to listees in past editions was lost in the 1965 flood.
Platt Book of Boone County, Nebraska, Northwest Publishing Company 1899. good map of Albion in color.
Probate Records, Boone County, Nebraska, Estate of Abraham Lang 30 November, 1883
The petitioner was Elizabeth Lang. Abraham Lang died November 21, 1883 leaving property worth $2000 and no will. The petitioner showed the names, ages and residences of the heirs as:
William A. Lang, age 37, Albion, NE
David E Lang, age 32, Harlan, Shelby Co, Iowa
Mary B Starkey, age 29, Grand Island, Nebraska
Frank C Lang, age 20, Albion, Nebraska
Frederick I Lang, age 16, Albion, Nebraska
Albert D Lang, age 14, Albion, Nebraska
After the bills were paid the estate was valued at $1225. Elizabeth's selected household furniture was worth $114 and her personal property $194.
Property sold:
Bull $25
23 head hogs 139
1 cow 35
1 calf 8
2 horses & harness 280
15 acres corn 62.69
2 colts 75
1 cow 35
1 grain drill 20
1 corn cultivator 5
1 mower 20
1 sulky hayrake 5
1 sulky plow 20
1 cornplanter and chick rower 38
1 harvester & binder 161.68
1 wagon 15
1 harrow 10
Total 964.37
Rest of real estate 134.00
1098.37
Further proceedings brought estate to $1854.18
Final settlement July 7, 1886.
Proceedings, American Institute of Architects 26th Annual Convention, Chicago, October 20-22, 1892. Contains a report of the Colorado Chapter. Charter was received on 4 April 1892. Founding members listed.
Prisbey, IA, Obituary, Golden Transcript, February 15, 1934 p8c1
Ira Prisbey Dies in Denver Hospital.

Ira Austin Prisbey, 68, died at the Colorado General Hospital yesterday morning at 8:15 o'clock after a week's illness from a ruptured appendix. He was taken ill just a week ago and operated on last Thursday morning, but peritonitis had already set in which caused his death.
Mr. Prisbey was born on a ranch near Chicago, Ill, June 20, 1865. When a young boy he went to Washington, Kansas, where he learned the newspaper trade and in 1865 [sic] he came to Colorado where he engaged in newspaper word and laundry business in Denver, Cripple Creek, Las Animas and Golden.
He and Miss Mary E Gill were married December 1, 1901 at her parent's home near Las Animas. One child, a daughter, was born to them February 20, 1909, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Prisbey were engaged in newspaper work and laundry business in various towns in Wyoming before moving to Golden in the spring of 1913 where they operated the Golden laundry for ten years. After selling the laundry they bought the Mountain Park Service station in 1924, which they still own.
Mr. Prisbey was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Kansas. He was also a member of the Standard Life Association, which was formerly the old Fraternal Aid Union Lodge of Golden.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Prisbey , of Golden, a sister, Mrs. Charles Zahler of San Diego, Calif, and one niece, Mrs. Mabel Owens of Denver.
Funeral services will be held at the Woods mortuary Friday afternoon.
Riverview Cemetery Records, Marseilles, Illinois list of Civil War Veterans Buried there.
Rocky Mountain News 14 August 1881, p8c7, Property Transfers
Letta J Pugh to Mary Waldron lot 3 block 1 Gerspahc's addition
Frank Lang to Frederick William Hawker land in section 15 township 6 south range 64 west
Rocky Mountain News 30 April 1882 p2c4 New Buildings. The following building permits were issued yesterday.
John and Frank Lang, two-story brick dwelling 25x56 cost $3,500 (or $8,500). Holiaday [sic] street between Nineteenth and twentieth. Probably not relevant. Frank would have been 17 and John is probably dead as we haven't heard from him again after the 1860 census.
Rocky Mountain News, 22 August 1897 pp 1,2
Located by Death. End of the wanderings of a prominent Denver architect. William Lang killed by a train near a town in Illinois. Loss of money in the panic led to the loss of his reason. His brother asks that a subscription be raised to bury him. He is too poor to pay the expenses himself and the Grand Army will do nothing.
Englewood, Ill., August 21. William Lang disappeared from here August 7. Next heard from him to-day was that he was killed on railroad at Marseilles, Ill., where he now lies in charge of coroner John J Taylor.
I know no more. cant you raise subscription to bury him! I am poor and the Grand Army will do nothing. The coroner awaits instructions from his wife. D.E. Lang.
The foregoing telegram was received by The News from D.E. Lang of Englewood, a suburb of Chicago. In answer to a dispatch informing him of the death by accident of his brother William at Marseilles, Ill.
It appears that William Lang, once a prominent architect of Denver, who lost his mind as the result of business reverses, was killed by a train at Marseilles, Ill. at 8:30 yesterday morning. He was struck by the fast mail going East.
William Lang was a member of the architect firm of Lang & Pugh, which was one of the leading firms of Denver up to about two years ago. Mr. Lang made a specialty of designing residences, and Capitol hill is covered with monuments which testify to his ability. On Washington street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth, are several handsome stone buildings, all of which were designed by Mr. Lang. At one time he was one of the wealthy men of the city, but when the panic came, he went down with many more good men and found himself back at the foot of the ladder.
His severe struggles to escape ruin brought on nervous prostration and his brain became affected. He was compelled to abandon all business, and last December went to Englewood, Ill to visit his brother D. E., Lang, with the idea that perhaps the lower altitude might be of benefit. Two weeks ago yesterday, while temporarily deranged, he wandered away from his brother's home in Englewood, and nothing further was heard of him until a telegram was received by Mayor McMurray from D. E. Lang, which simply announced that his brother had been killed and asked for instructions as to the body.
Mayor McMurray and other friends of Mr. Lang had been interesting themselves regarding his disappearance, stirring up the police of Chicago and vicinity to make search for him, and it is probably for this reason that the mayor was notified.
Mr. Lang's wife and daughter, who are living on Washington street, have been nearly frantic over his disappearance during the past two weeks, but were not prepared to hear of his death. The news has completely prostrated them. Neither is physically or financially able to go to Illinois to view the remains, and they will probably be buried in Chicago by the side of the remains of his mother.
Mr. Lang was 51 years of age. He came to Denver from Chicago when the city was just commencing to grow. He and his wife made many warm friends in Denver. The wife and daughter have the warmest sympathy in their great affliction of all who know them. Mr. Lang was one of the most able and brilliant architects in Denver. The panic cost him all he had saved, his mind and finally his life.
Rocky Mountain News 6 November 1913
Lang--Adelia Lang, late of 2724 Lake place. Funeral services will be held from Olinger's mortuary Saturday at 2:30 pm. Interment Crown Hill
Rocky Mountain News 10 May 1980 p8H "Home Living"
Historic Denver salutes architects, owners; Awards for efficient energy use to be presented....
The early Denver architects being saluted are Frank E. Edbrooke, William Lang and Robert S. Roeschlaub. They are being honored for contributing to energy conservation by utilizing design features that created comfortable living environments without the use of energy-consuming devices.
Among the features utilized were recessed windows which provided cooling shade in the summer and allowed in the low warming rays of the winter sun, retractable awnings, porches which offered shade in the summer and served as a buffer from winds, vestibules which served as air locks, attic ventilators for summer cooling, sliding doors between rooms for heat control, transoms above windows and doors for air circulation and common walls that lessened heat loss....
Rocky Mountain News Index Lang, Fred, passenger, Denver to Central, Colorado 8 August 1867 p4c2, Lang, Fred, jailed for drunkenness, Denver, 14 May 1874 p4c1. Not related.
Rydjord, J, Kansas place names, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK 1972.
Scientific American Architects and Builders Edition Sept 1892 p33-5. Residence of W.S. Raymond, Esq., at Denver, Col, Includes picture.
On page 35 we illustrate the elegant residence of W.S. Raymond, Esq., Denver, Colo., which was designed by Lang and Pugh, Architects, of that city. It is built of lava stone, the main portion or body of the building being of a pink shade of lave, while the trimmings are of white lava. Porches of stone. The interior is of hardwood finish, mahogany, oak, etc. Walls frescoed throughout. It is a fine house. Cost about $30,000.
Our engraving was made direct from a photograph of the building, taken specially for the Scientific American.
Seneca Record, August 27, 1897.
DENVER ARCHITECT KILLED
By a Through Fast Train on C.R.I. & P. Track

Excitement ran high in our city Saturday morning over the accidental striking and killing of a man walking on the track about three miles West of town, by a through fast passenger. The train stopped, backed up, the body was picked up and brought to the depot here.
According to information brought out later the dead man was found to be Wm. Lang, for long a prominent resident and architect of Denver, where his wife is still living.
A brother, D.E. Lang, of Chicago, explained that the deceased had been under treatment at a hospital in Denver for softening of the brain. Thinking a change would benefit him he went to Chicago to make his home with his brother. In this he was mistaken. Aug 7th he wandered away and was unheard of again, although searched for until after the accident noted.
Brier & Smith prepared the remains for burial and on Tuesday the G.A.R. buried him, as he was an old soldier.
As giving a clue to his actions previous arrival here, the following from the Morris Herald tells its own regretful story:
"W. M. Lang, a tramp, was before Police Magistrate C. D. Young this morning charged with being drunk and disorderly. He was fined $3.00 and costs, but owing to his filthy condition the jailer wouldn't receive him and the court gave him an hour to leave town."
Sims, Gayle superintendent of schools 1947-1960 in Albion lives in Fremont. (402) 721 2527. No information on location of old school records.
Social Security Death Index lists Edward Pugh, born 10 July 1891, social Security Number 189 26 2749 who died in Feb 1982. Death residence localities noted as Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Nether Providence, and Wallingford in Delaware county Pennsylvania
Torres, L, Jose de Gracia Gonzales, A newly discovered New Mexico treasure, Tradicion Revista, April 8, 1997 p24 ff. It appears that he built the staircase of the Molly Brown House, at least according to family tradition. Needs marks on letters.
University of Illinois in Urbana has checked their records and do not find Lang. The Chicago campus did not exist that early.
University of Nebraska Archives, Lynn Poron Asst Archivist, (402 472 2531) reports that there is no listing in their records for Wm Lang. See McBird biography.
Valentine, John, Building Inspector for the City of Highlands. Letter of 2 March 1894 notes that there were 12 building permits issued in February 1894, thus confirming that such permits existed.
Walter, John F, Institute for Civil War Research, 79-13 67 Drive, Middle Village, NY 11379. Provides detailed regimental histories. Sources are not given but dates seem to match dates found from other sources.
Washington (Kansas) Post of 21 February 1889: Chloe died on 15 February 1889 aged 54 years 2 months and 28 days.
Washington (Kansas) Register of 22 February 1889: Chloe Prisbey had been sick for 10 days and that she died unexpectedly when believed out of danger. This left the children "double orphaned." Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church. [Clearly they were not doubly orphaned, as Ira was still alive in Minnesota].
Washington (Kansas) Republican 28 December 1877: "Married on Friday morning Dec 21st at the residence of the brides mother, by the Rev George Hageman, William S Lang, of Columbus, Neb to Miss Delia Prisbey of this city. Immediately after the ceremony the happy couple left by train for their new home at Columbus, Neb followed by the best wishes of a host of friends.
Washington University Registrars Records
I spoke to the registrars office (Lisa) and the Alumni Office (Ed Coursey) at the University of Washington, the successor of O'Fallon Polytechnic. They have checked class rosters between 1865 and 1900 and find no Lang. Records are spotty at best, and there is no centralized register of graduate students and other special students.
Western Architect and Building News, Vol I no 2 p 16-17 Apr 1889 (good photo).
Residence of Charles M. Kittredge (William Lang, architect)
The residence of Charles M Kittredge, in Wyman's addition to Denver, is build of lava rock face stone, slate roof. Plate glass windows with very rich bevel plate glass work in the dining room and reception hall windows, which are the richest and finest in the State. The reception room, hall, dining-room and staircase are finished in quarter sawed oak. The parlor and library are finished in cherry. Other rooms are finished in natural pine, oil finish. the floors throughout are of hardwood, oiled and waxed. the walls and ceilings are decorated with hand painted and response work, and VR Gauther, who had this part of the work, has made it very pleasing [note that Edgar Frantz lived with someone who worked for Gauthier in 1893], all the colors being harmonious and effective. The house has all the modern improvements and luxuries--porcelain bath, gas and electric light, direct hot water heat, electric bells and annunciators connecting all the rooms, commodious laundry in the basement with lavatory. Here also are the vegetable and wine cellars. The attic contains two chambers and a large billiard-room. There is a cozy smoking room on the second floor, connecting with the front balcony. No paint was used on the interior woodwork, which is all natural, in hand oil. All the trimmings on doors and windows are of real bronze. The building, when completed with architects fees cost $20 000.
Western Architect and Building News, Vol I no 2 p 26. Statement from Wm Lang.
The first number gives great promise. I think it equal to the architectural papers for which I pay eight and nine dollars per year.....William Lang, Architect, Denver
Western Architect and Building News, Vol I no 5 July 1889
William Lang reports thirty five buildings in Berkeley, cost $70,000: six story stone block for A.M. Ghost, Sixteenth and Glenarm streets; St Mark's Church, $75,000; residence for I.B. Porter, $50,000; residence for J.A. Tedford, $10,000; residence for W.S. Raymond, $18,000; residence for G.C. Bartels; residence for C.P. Hunn, $12,000; residence for J.S. Stahl, $8,000; double stone residence for Wm Lang and Jay E. Adams.
Western Architect and Building News, Vol I no XI p 170 Jan 1890
Residence for TW Bartells, Esq, Columbine St between 13th and 14th avs, select stock brick with red kenmuir sandstone trimmings. the main hall and dining room are finished and floored with quartered oak, parlor and library with cherry and the remainder of the house with Texas long leaf pine, all for oil finish. the plumbing, electrical wiring and all fittings of the best description., The windows are plate glass, leaded and bevel plate. contractors, PF McNulty and Co cost $9500. [lots 30-1 blk 8 Rohlfings]
Western Architect and Building News, Vol II No VI p86 Aug 1890. In preparation: Hotel Mesa, Pueblo, Colorado, first story granite, balance Kansas City Pressed brick and terra cotta; cost $300 000
Western Architect and Building News, xxxxxxxxxxxxx St Mark's Church, Denver, Lang and Pugh, Architects, see illustration,
St. Mark's Church, corner of 12th and Lincoln avenues, Lang and Pugh, Architects, is nearing completion and when finished will make one of the finest church edifices in the city. It covers 100 x 120 feet, and is of the early English Gothic Style of Architecture. Built of buff Longmont sandstone and finished throughout in black ash, everything is of the most solid and substantial description. Entering by the main entrance, in the tower, one goes first into a large vestibule, the walls of which are of the native stone and the ceiling of paneled oak. From this, folding doors open into the narthex and aisles, the walls of which are finished on the interior with dressed sandstone, without any plastering. Clustered columns of dark red Kenmuir sandstone, from which spring Gothic arches, support the open timbered roof of black ash. The choir is separated from the nave by wrought iron and brass rod screen at one side of which is a brass pulpit. The pews, choir stalls etc, are all of black ash and are all especially designed to correspond with the church. At the right of the choir is a large organ chamber, and as soon as it can be finished, a $10,000 organ, made by Hook and Hastings of Boston, will be placed in it. At the rear of the chancel is an alter of black ash, and behind it elaborately craved and paneled reredos, which, being placed about three feet in front of the east wall forms an ambulatory or passage from the vestry room to the chapel. To the north of the church is a chapel 22 x 35 feet, which has also an open timber roof of black ash. Beneath the chapel is a guild room. At the south side of the church are the vestry, men's and boy's robing rooms, and toilet rooms, while a spacious Sunday school room occupies the basement under the church. The furnace room, coal‑bins, etc are also in the basement. A spiral stair leads from the precentor's music room in the basement of the tower to the vestibule on the main floor, and then it is up to the rector's study, which is on the second floor of the tower. To the south of the church, and connected with it, is a commodious rectory, also of Longmont sandstone. Throughout both church and rectory everything has been done with a view to both beauty and convenience and when completed St. Mark's Parish will have a building of which it may well be proud.
Western Architect and Building News General listings of commissions:
I(1) 11 (1889)
I(3) 188 (1890)
I(5) 71 (1889)
I(7) 119 (1889)
I(8) 119 (1889)
I(9) 170 (1889)
I(11) 170 (1890)
I(12) 188 (1890)
II(1) 11 (1890)
II(3) 119 (1890)
II(5) 66-7 (1891)
II(6) 86 (1890)
II(8) 119 (1890)
III(5) 66-7 (1991)
White, Ed, Shelby County History, 1915 p 432. On June 20, 1874 the following was the program of the Young Folks' Literary Society of Harlan: "Declamation, "DE Lang, J Babcock, T Burr.
Withey, HF and Withey, E, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (deceased) Hennessey and Ingalls, Inc, Los Angeles 1970. No Lang
Woodward, Robert I, Archivist of St John's Cathedral in Denver reported on 24 May 1991 that the burial of Adelia Lang was recorded at St Marks on 8 November 1913. She was buried at Crown Hill by The Reverend John H Houghton. The baptism of Mabel Lang was recorded on 13 April 1895. Her birth date was listed as 17 July 1883 at Albion, Nebraska and her parents were listed as William and Delia (Prisbey) Lang. No sponsors were listed and the baptism was conducted by Reverend John H Houghton. William Lang is not listed in the "families" section of the St Marks records.

Denver Post 18 December 1896
One of the prettiest weddings this season was that of Miss Lutie E. Haynes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Haynes, and F. Edgar Frantz. The ceremony was performed at the Central Christian Church, the Rev. J.W. Ingram officiating. At precisely 7 o'clock Monday evening the strains of the "Lohengrin" wedding march announced the arrival of the bridal party, and, escorted by her father, the bride and her attendants, preceded by the ring bearer, little Robert Miles, in a full dress suit, made their way to the altar, where the groom stood waiting. During the ceremony Mrs. Lucian Brinker, the organist, softly played "O Promise Me," and in the presence of nearly 500 friends the impressive marriage service was performed. The bride looked very charming in a gown of heavy brocaded white satin made en train, and trimmed with pearl passementerie. The veil was fastened with orange blossoms and she carried bride's roses. The bride's sister, Mr. Jennie Haynes, was maid of honor. She was attired in yellow brocaded silk with chiffon garnishings and carried a bouquet of bush roses. The bridesmaids were Miss Lila Van and Miss Puckett, both in dainty gowns of pale blue silk with forget-me-nots in their hair. The bride's souvenirs to her maids were opal stickpins. Lucian Brinker was best man and Messrs. Herbert Emerson and Sam Morrison were the ushers. Immediately after the ceremony the bridal party and relatives made their way to the home of the bride's parents, 1824 Clarkson, where the wedding supper was served. The house had been prettily decorated with palms and bright flowers, the bridal table being all in red and white carnations with ferns, while the ice cream table, at which presided Mrs. Willis Norton Nye and Mrs. N.A. Barkalow, was decked with pink carnations and ___flax. Mrs. Miles and Mrs. Barrie also assisted in serving. One little event which was the source of considerable merriment was the throwing of the bridal bouquet, which was caught by Miss Lila Van, and so, if the saying be true, there will another wedding before another year comes round. Grandma Holland, a dear old lady of 78 years, baked the wedding cake and had good reason to be proud of her souvenir. The bride, who is kindergarten director at the Gilpin school, has many friends in Denver, being a graduate of the high school, class of '92. Mr. Frantz is one of the rising young men of the city, being a successful architect, and at present head draughtsman in the County Assessor's Office. Mr. and Mrs. Frantz left Monday night for Des Moines, where they will remain until January 1. They will be at home after February 1 at 1824 Clarkson Street, Friday afternoons and evenings.

References of interest to individual properties:

Swords, CL and Edwards, WC, Sketches and portraitures of the state officers and members of the ninth general assembly of Colorado, Carson, Jurst and Harper, Printers and Engravers, Denver, Co 1893 no page. Biography of Robert F Hunter (picture)
Baskin, OL and Millett, N, History of the City of Denver, Arapahoe County and Colorado, OL Baskin and Co Historical Publishers, Chicago 1880, p 449 biography of AM Ghost
Hall, F, History of the State of Colorado, Chicago, Blakely Printing Co, Chicago, 1891 vIII p214 Biography of IB Porter (has picture).
The Denver Eye 1 Jan 1890 p4 col 1-3, litho of BF Niesz res by Lang and Pugh, col 4 article on Niesz, col 6&7 EB Field res,
Rocky Mountain News 1 January 1896
The residences planned by Architect Lang are very stylish in design. The one built on High St near 14th for Mr. A Chanute cost $9500. It is a thirteen room modern dwelling. Not one nook in the home has been neglected in considering the comfort of the owner and his family. The exterior is of red stone in massive blocks from the foundation to the second storey. Above that the red brick is used with artistic effect. All the rooms are wainscoted with two inch hard wood. Hardwood has been abundantly used in finishing the interior. Sanitary p.... in nickel isxxx all over the house.
The same architect erected for Mrs. Clara Wheeler a residence on Downing avenue near 11th. It is in Colonial style, reminding one of the old Virginia mansions with stately halls and grand stairways. The front is built of red pressed brick with sand stone of the same color. The ten rooms of the house are finished in hardwood and have all the modern improvements. The house cons $5000.
AJ Jarmouth erected an $8000 residence on Franklin between 11th and 12th. Mr. Lang designed the house in Colonial style and the tall columns rising on the exterior produce good effect. The house is of red pressed brick with white stone trimmings and contains 11 rooms. Much money has been expended on the interior to make it beautiful and home-like. The wood carvers have succeeded n transforming the dining room into a polished hall of ash. Everything modern has been attached to the place to make it a splendid home.

 

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