Nicholas P. Lang Biography


	This biography appears on pages 301-302 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				NICHOLAS P. LANG.  

	Nicholas P. Lang, living at Belle Fourche, is filling the office 
of auditor of Butte county. He was born at Mankato, Minnesota, July 27, 
1876, and is the youngest in a family of eight children whose parents 
were Mathias and Hannah (Hanner) Lang, both of whom were born at 
Treves, in the Rhine province of Germany. The father's birth occurred 
May 22 1832, and the mother's natal year was 1838. She died January 14, 
1877, when her son Nicholas was but a few months old, thus terminating 
a married life which was begun in Germany in 1863. Mathias Lang had 
come to the new world with his father in 1847 settling in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, after which he engaged in farming in that state. In 1861, 
however, he returned to Germany and was there married in 1863. The 
following year he took his wife to Canada but after a year spent in 
that country came again to the United States settling at Madison, 
Wisconsin, among its early residents, being one of the first men to 
drive a team into that city. There he remained until the spring of 
1876, when he traveled overland to Mankato, Minnesota, by way of 
Prairie du Chien. He remained at Mankato until called to his final rest 
in 1904.  

	Nicholas P. Lang pursued his education in the schools of his 
native city and in a normal school, from which he was graduated with 
the class of l 897. When seventeen years of age he started out to make 
his own way in the world, working for others, and subsequently he 
resumed his interrupted education. Later he engaged in teaching school 
in Minnesota for a number of years, spending three years as a teacher 
at Walnut Grove, one year at Blakely, in Scott county and four years at 
Buhl, Minnesota. He afterward removed to Belle Fourche where he took up 
the profession of teaching, being chosen superintendent of the city 
schools, in which capacity he continued for eight years. All through 
this period he made continuous progress in connection with his school 
work, introducing various improvements in methods of study and 
instruction. He studied closely the opportunities for advancing the 
interests of the schools and his work was attended with excellent 
results. He resigned, however, in 1914, when he homesteaded a mile 
south of Newell and turned his attention to farming, which pursuit he 
followed until elected to his present office. In addition to owning 
farm lands in this state he likewise has city property in Belle Fourche 
but he devotes his entire time to the duties of his position as county 
auditor of Butte county and is making an excellent record by reason of 
his capability and fidelity.  

	Mr. Lang has been married twice. On the 27th of November, 1900, 
he wedded Miss Jennie Mosier, who was born at Janesville, Minnesota a 
daughter of William and Julia (Beers) Mosier. The father is still 
residing in Janesville but the mother passed away in 1900. The death of 
Mrs. Lang occurred at Buhl, Minnesota, December 14, 1905. She left two 
children: Robert, born January 23, 1902; and Dorothy, January 12, 1903. 
On the 23d of July, 1907, Mr. Lang was married to Miss Mabel De Vore, 
who was born near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Her parents became 
residents of Duluth, Minnesota, but never removed to South Dakota. The 
father, who was an attorney by profession, has passed away but the 
mother still makes her home in Duluth. To Mr. and Mrs. Lang has been 
born a son, James De Vore, whose natal day was June 28, 1912.  

	Mr. Lang belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of 
Pythias lodge, of which he is a past chancellor. He is president of the 
Belle Fourche fire department and a member of the board of directors of 
the Commercial Club. In a word, he is interested in all that pertains 
to the welfare and progress of his community and his cooperation has 
been an important element in advancing its interests along lines 
working for the permanent as well as the present good of the town.