Biography - John Lange
John LANGE, Superintendent Care and Machine Company, Litchfield, was born in Oldenburg six miles from Bremen, Germany, in August, 1832. In his fifteenth year, he left school and became a seaman on a merchant vessel; he shipped as boy, and, after sailing four years, became ship carpenter, in which capacity he served four years; he was on the sea from 1845 to 1853, and sailed on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Mediterranean, North and Baltic Seas in his travels; he rounded Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope, visited Australia, the Indies and South America; he made several trips between Europe and the United States. Leaving the sea, he came, via New Orleans, La., to Alton, Ill., in the fall of 1852, and there became car-builder for the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad; he remained at Alton until the shops were moved to Litchfield, in 1858, when he came also, and worked in the car department, where he rose to the position of Master Car-Builder; when the shops were removed to Mattoon, Mr. LANGE went there for six months to aid in starting them in operation. He became a charter member, and also a Director, of the Litchfield Car Manufacturing Company; at the opening of that company's shops, he became Superintendent of refitting shops for manufacturing purposes, and was the first Superintendent of the shops, which position he virtually has held ever since, at various times having been elected to other offices in the company. At the re-organization of the Litchfield Car and Machine Company, he became a stockholder and Director; he has been Superintendent and Vice President of the present company. Since 1858, he has been in the shops continually, except the six months at Mattoon. In Alton, Ill., on December 18, 1852, he married Miss Fanny BOHNENS, a native of Hanover, Germany. His father's name was Charles LANGE, a carpenter.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 152-153.
