What insights can we glean into Frank's life, the kind of man he was, and his relationship with Nellie, from his Civil War pension file?  Did he always behave like a mean-spirited son of a bitch?  Or was his most violent and abusive behavior limited to the immediate postwar years?  How did he treat his later wives?

1860 U.S. Census, Lagrange County, Indiana

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Frank Lang, age 19, b. Germany, farm laborer, Springfield Township, Lagrange Co, IN. 

[Note:  This farm was about 10 miles southeast of Burr Oak Village; Frank erroneously listed as "Frank Laug" in the Ancestry.com database]  

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Frank Lang, Examining Surgeon's Certificate, Hillsdale, MI

1 Aug 1865  

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Examining Surgeon's Certificate.  Hillsdale, Michigan, August 1, 1865.

I hereby certify that I have carefully examined Frank Lang, late a private in Co K, 16th Reg, V.R.C., in the service of the United States, who was discharged at Harrisburg, Pa on the 14th day of July 1865, and is an applicant for an invalid pension, by reason of alleged disability resulting from Hernia.

In my opinion the said Frank Lang is one-half (1/2) incapacitated for obtaining his subsistence from manual labor from the cause above stated.

Judging from his present condition, and from the evidence before me, it is my belief that the said disability was received in the service aforesaid in the line of duty.

The disability is permanent.

A more particular description of the applicant's condition is subjoined:

While at Deep Bottom, Va, about Aug 1864 was carrying the Hospital Knapsack [----] stept into a ditch in the dark felt a severe pain the right inguinal region, which soon developed into a complete hernia.

/s/  Johh W. Falley, Examining Surgeon

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Examining Surgeon's Certificate, Minneapolis MN

1 Nov 1868

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Scrotal hernia . . . one-third incapacitated . . . disability is permanent . . . The hernia is large and comes far down giving applicant much trouble about walking.

/s/  H H Kimball, MD 

[Note:  this is the same medical doctor who examined Bailey T. Baldwin during this same period and after; see bailey t. baldwin pension file]

US Census, Hastings, Dakota County, MN

27 July 1870

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Frank Lang, head, 28, cooper, b. Prussia

Nellie Lang, wife, 22, keeping house, b. NY

Nellie Lang, daughter, 2, b. Minnesota

Jennie Lang, daughter, 4, b. Michigan

Divorce from Nellie Kinsman Lang

2 Dec 1870 to 25 Jan 1871)

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see Nellie's Divorce Papers

 

Marriage License, Frank Lang and Minnie Tiner, Hastings, Dakota County, MN

2 Oct 1871

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In Hastings, Minnesota, Justice of the Peace, Frank Lang of the County of Dakota, Minnesota, and Minnie Tiner, of the County of Dakota . . .

Witnesses  /s/  Elza S. Abbett,   Nora C. Abbett

Signed      /s/  C. W. Crosby

 

Death Certificate, Minnie (Tiner) Lang, Hastings, Dakota County, MN

7 Oct 1879

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Died October 7, 1879, age 27, b. NY, died of consumption, father's John Tinar, b. Ireland, farmer, mother's name M. Tinar, b. Ireland.  Registered Oct. 21, 1879  [ copy from original from Hastings, Dakota Co. ]

Marriage License, Frank Lang and Clara Morris, Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN

18 Nov 1879

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Frank Lang, County of Goodhue, and Clara Morris, County of Goodhue, MN.  Hans Johnson, Clerk.  Seal.

Marriage Certificate, Frank Lang and Clara Morris, Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN

18 Nov 1879

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At Red Wing, County of Goodhue, MN, Justice of the Peace, Frank Lang of Goodhue County, Clara Morris of Goodhue County, witnesses John Burke and John Bohmback Jr., Christie Phillips, Justice of the Peace.

 

US Census, Frank & Clara & Jennie Lang, Wadena, Wadena County, MN

1 June 1880

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Wadena County, Town of Wadena, June 1880

Frank Lang, 38, head, farmer, b. Prussia, father b. Prussia, mother b. Prussia

Clara Lang, 21, wife, keeping house, b. Penn, father b. Penn, mother b. Penn

Jennie Lang, 1, daughter, at home, b. Minn

[Note:  This Jennie Lang is Clara's daughter from another man]

Application for Increase in Pension

25 June 1890

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Claimant's post office address:  619 Ontario St. S.E., Minneapolis

Right scrotal hernia . . . receives pension of ten dollars per month . . . I was ruptured in Va in 1863 while marching during the night.  I stepped into a deep ditch with one foot.  I have not been able to do my usual work for many years.  

Pulse rate 70, respiration 17, temperature normal, height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 150 pounds, age 48 years.  A large right oblique inguinal hernia is found, which is reducible and retainable.  The muscles, joints and tendons are sound as are all organs. 

                                                            /s/  H H Kimball

Response to Pension Bureau Circular

4 July 1898

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[ Q1:  Are you married?  If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name. ]

[A1: ]  Yes, Henrietta Lang, Henrietta Eichendorf

[ Q2:  When, where, and by whom were you married? ]

[ A2: ]  June 17^th, 1884, Minneapolis, John Rodgers

[ Q3:  What record of marriage exists? ]

[ A3: ]  Certificate recorded in Clerk of Court's office, Hennepin

 [ Q4:  Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. ]

 [A4: ]  Yes.  Nellie Lang "nee" Nellie Kinsman

[ Q5:  Have you any children living?  If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. ]

[ A5: ]  Frank Lang, September 1883, Rudolph Lang, December 1^st 1887

                                                            /s/  Franz Lang

[Note:  both the latter dates are way off, besides which Rudolph was not Frank's son and his surname was not Lang.]

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US Census, Frank & Henrietta Lang, Southside, Wright Co, MN

1 June 1900 

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Wright Co, Southside, June 1900

Frank Lang, head, 56, b. Nov 1843, farmer, entered US 1860

Henrietta Lang, wife, 43, b. May 1857, wife, entered US 1881

Frank Lang, son, 16, b. Oct. 1883, farm laborer

Rudolph Lang, son, 15, b. Dec. 1884, in school

Laura Lang, daughter, 12, b. Jan 1888, in school

Deposition of John Alexander, Minneapolis, MN

3 April 1905

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John Alexander, age 40, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, address 621 Ontario St. S.E. 

. . . That I was intimately acquainted with Franz Lang from on or about 1890 until his death and from Franz Lang I learned the following in regard to his marriage relations.  That Franz Lang had been married to ----------, by whom he had one child – this wife died in Minneapolis, Minn, and then he was married to -----------, by whom he had two children and this wife obtained from him a divorce – and then he was married to Clara Lang by whom he had two children, and then Clara Lang Lang obtained a divorce from him, and then he married the claimant Henrietta Lang.  At the time I became acquainted with Franz Lang he was living with his wife Clara Lang.

 I know that after Clara Lang obtained a divorce from him that Franz Lang was not again married until his marriage to the claimant Henrietta Lang. 

            My acquaintance with Franz Lang was so intimate that I am satisfied that if he had been married more than the four times as herein stated, the fact would have in all reasonable probability been brought to my knowledge   

          /s/ John Alexander

[See also John Alexander's second deposition 13 years later, below.  Frank Lang enlisted in Burr Oak, Michigan in Company K of the Michigan 7th Regiment with a man named John Alexander.  It's entirely possible that this is the same individual and he's lying about how long he's known Frank; see roster of company k of the michigan 7th]

Report of Pension Bureau Special Examiner, Minneapolis, MN

7 Dec 1917

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Board of Review, Case No 1089937

Henrietta, widow of Franz Lang, Co K, 7^th Mich Inf

The Chief, Special Examination Division

Reference for special examination is made to determine the number of times the soldier had been previously married; how and when such marriages were dissolved, and whether the claimant has remarried since his death, March 19, 1904.

            These parties were ceremonially married in the State of Minnesota on June 17, 1892.  The claimant represents that each had one prior marriage, and in her pending claim she alleged that her former husband died in 1889.  The evidence in the case shows that the soldier secured a divorce from his former wife, Clara, on May 5, 1892.

            The testimony of John Alexander, filed April 11, 1905, indicates that the soldier had three prior marriages but as his acquaintance dated only from about 1890, he has no personal knowledge of the prior marital history; in fact, he states that he based his testimony upon what the soldier told him.  The claimant it appears has no personal knowledge of the soldier's early history and was in ignorance of the prior marriages.

            The soldier in his family circular of July 4, 1898, stated that his marriage to the claimant occurred June 17, 1884, at Minneapolis, Minn., and that he had been previously married to Nellie Krusman, but he failed to state how or when her marriage to her was dissolved.  He named two children, Frank and Rudolph, as having been born respectively, September 1883, and December 1, 1887.  If these children are living, they may be able to give information as to the marital history of their father.

            The soldier filed his original claim for pension in 1865, at which time his address was Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and it is shown in the 80s that his address was Wadena and Minneapolis, Minn., and it is at these places that information as to the number of times he had been previously married and how such marriages were dissolved will have to be sought.    

          /s/  E. W. Young, Chief Board of Review

[Note:  This is the same Special Examiner E. W. Young who in 1899 vigorously and fairly investigated allegations of fraud filed by Aiken Bleau against local white money-lenders in White Earth MN -- that is, 18 years before this report; see  solving the mystery of aiken bleau.]

Deposition of Henrietta Lang

10 April 1918

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Southside Township, Wright County, Minnesota

My address is South Haven, Wright Co., Minn, am keeping house here for myself and two sons, Fred and Rudolph Lang.  It is the same place where my husband and I lived and where he died.

            I was born in Alkinschau, Germany; I was aged about 27 years when I came from there to the United States.  I was born May 20, and will be aged 63 next May.  Do not know what year I was born . . . . [her father and mother's name, previous marriage, five children born in Germany brought to US, settled in Minneapolis, then husband Eichendorf died a year after their arrival; etc ]

            I continued living in Minneapolis until my marriage to Frank Lang, my second husband, and for about four years afterward.  And then came to about a mile from this farm and have resided there and here ever since.  I was never separated or divorced from my husband Lang.  He sometimes spelled his name F-r-a-n-k an sometimes F-r-a-n-z.  he was called Frank by those who knew him.

            There was never any probate proceedings in his estate.

            I got married to him in Minneapolis. . . .

            SOLDIER'S HISTORY:  I knew him from January till June, same year, when we got married.  A man named Budd made us acquainted.  Do not know his given name.  He is dead.

             He had been married before.  He told me the name of his former wife was Clara, her last name I do not know.  I did not know her.  She was the mother of his son Frank.  I know Frank.  He lived with us a couple of years after we got married.  He is now in Milwaukee.  Do not know his address.  He is a traveling-man, do not know what he sells or for whom he travels.  He has had so many jobs.

            Husband did not have a son named Rudolph.  Rudolph took out citizenship papers under the name Eichendorf, in Buffalo, Minn.  Husband Eichendorf was not a citizen of this country.  So I was not a citizen of this country until my marriage to Lang. . . .

            Franz Lang, my late husband, came from Germany to the United States when a little fellow, with his two older brothers, names I do not know.  I did not know them.  I do not know where they came first to the United States.  He was a citizen of the United States. . . .

            Before he died, husband Lang told me his brothers were in Colorado.  Did not send them notice of his death.  He did not know himself where they lived there.  He had no sister in this country and only these two brothers.  Do not know what became of Clara or if married.

            I know of his living at Wadena, Minn., before he married me.  I do not know how long he resided there.  Do not know the name of anyone who knew him there.  I do not know of any other place he was except in Michigan, where he joined the army.  Do not know where he lived in that state. . . .

            I never heard of any wife he had except Clara, until I heard it after his death.  Yes, he was coming to see me before he was divorced from Clara.  He came to Budd's place, by arrangement with Budd; and I went over there to see him.  This is in January.  Yes, he was coming to see me from then on or may be a little later. . . .

            I do not know who or where any other wife of his ever was.  I think Clara was the mother of Frank Lang, son of my late husband.  I do not know of any other child he ever had.  I bore none to him.

            No, I never heard of his wife Nellie.  I never heard of Nellie Krusman.  Do not know who she is.  Hear you read what you say is written in a statement which I see bears his signature:  that his former wife was Nellie Krusman.  I never heard of her before.  And that his son Frank was born in September 1883, and that he had, in 1898, a son named Rudolph born Dec. 1, 1887.  I do not know who this Rudolph is, unless he refers to my son Rudolph, who was all the time making his home with us, and who has always been with me.  Rudolph was aged 34 years last December.  His Frank and my Rudolph were nearly the same age. . . .

 . . . . I have no attorney . . . etc. 

  /s/  Henrietta Lang

Deposition of Rudolph Eichendorf

10 April 1918

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 Southside Township, Wright County, Minn.

 My age is 33 years last Dec. 2, my postal address is South Haven, Minn., a farmer.

This claimant, Henrietta Lang, is my mother.  I was born in Germany, and Julius Eichendorf was my father.  I was aged only between 3 and 4 years at his death, and do not remember him.

I was naturalized at Buffalo, Minn, June 5, 1911.

I knew Frank Lang, my step-father.  He lived in Wadena and Minneapolis, Minn., the only places I know of, until he came here.  I do not know how long he lived in Wadena.  I do not know of any one who knew him there.  He was farming there, before I knew him.

The only child I know of his having was Frank Lang.   Do not know where Frank is.  Last I knew of him, some 4 or 5 years ago, he was in Minneapolis.  He was then a traveling salesman; do not know for whom he was working.  Gus Jaekels, was last fall cashier for the Gund Brewing Company in Minneapolis, and he and Frank used to come up here together, in auto.

I never knew or heard of my step-father Frank or Franz Lang having a child named Rudolph, and none other than Frank.

I know twice of my said step-father being married before his marriage to my mother:  One wife was Clara, mother of Frank; the other was Minnie, and I do not know what the name of either of them was before marriage to him.  Clara died.  Do not know where; but he was written to, I do not know by whom, to send some money for her gravestone.  I do not know that he sent the money.

I do not know what became of the wife Minnie.  I do not know where he and Minnie got married or where they lived.  Do not know whether she died or whether they were divorced or anything about it. 

I never heard of any other wife he had.  I never heard of Nellie Krusman.

I do not know of any one who was acquainted with him before he came into my mother's life, except John Alexander, Minneapolis.

I hear you read the statement which I see bears the genuine signature of Franz Lang; in which statement it is made to appear that he was married in 1884; that he had a wife named Nellie Krusman; and that he had a son Rudolph, born in Dec 1, 1887.  I do not know anything as to any of those facts.

I have no interest in this pension claim, except that it is my mothers, I stay at home with her, am not married, and look after her, the farm belonging to my mother.  There was no estate settled after his death.  This farm has always been in her name since we have had it.  Mother has not married or had any husband since Frank Lang's death.

Q:  How did you hear of Minnie?

A:  I do not know.  Think I heard of her, but do not know whether I ever heard him speak of her. . . .

          /s/  Rudolph Eichendorf

Deposition of John Alexander, Minneapolis

12 April 1918

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My age is 53 years, my address is 816 6^th Ave. So., Minneapolis, Minn., I am a grocer.

I became acquainted with the older Frank Lang when I resided at 621 Ontario St., and he was living at 619, next door to me.  This was some 3 to 5 years before he left the city and went to the farm where he later died.  I knew his son Frank.  When I became acquainted with him, he was living with his wife Clara, mother of the son Frank.  I knew Clara.  As I understand it, she died in this city, living with a man to whom not married.  I do not know who the man was.  It seems to me that it would be close to ten years after the divorce between her and Lang that she died.  But that is only a guess.

He had been previously married, as he told me.  I know only what he told me of it.  Did not know the woman or her name, or where he married her, but they had a child and her parents here took the child, as he told me.  I do not know who the parents of her were.  Do not know whether the child was a boy or a girl.  That was his first wife, as I understand.  They were divorced.  Do not know where it was obtained or by whom.  But from the way he spoke of it, I think it was in this city.  Do not know where he married her, but rather think here.

            Then he had a wife between her and Clara, name I do not know.  I understand from what he told me she was from Minneapolis, and I know of her only what he told me.  I never knew her.  He said she had two grown-up children, I believe both girls, but do not know their names.  I never knew them and do not know what became of them.  It was here in the city he lived with her.  As he informed me, he and that No. 2 were divorced.  Do not know who got the divorce.  As he told me, she just went off and left him, and would not live with him.  The third one was Clara and after her he married this claimant, Henrietta, whom I know. . . .

            Those above named are the only wives I have any knowledge or information of Frank Lang's ever having.  I do not know whether any of them is Nellie or Minnie. . . .

            Frank Lang was a cooper when residing next door to me.

            He also had a daughter, of whom Clara was the mother.  She is married, was living in this city the last I knew, some ten years ago.  I do not know whom she married.  She was older than her brother Frank. . . .

            I have it:  Lang's daughter by Clara was Jennie.  OK.

                     /s/  John Alexander

Declaration of Rudolph Eichendorf, South Haven, MN

16 April 1918

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Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, St. Paul, MN 

April 12, 1918

To Mr. Rudolph Eichendorf, South Haven, MN

Sir:  If your half-brother Frank Lang had a full sister, please give me her full name and address as last known to you, stating when that was, and the name of her husband if she is married.  Early reply is requested.  Did you find the naturalization papers?  /s/ Special Examiner E. W. Young

[ handwritten response: ] My memory goes back 15 years and there are some facts that I [was] in error.  To the best of my knowledge the above Frank Lang had no full sister, but he had a half-sister named Jennie by a previous marriage.  I have not heard of her for about 15 years and at times she lived in Minneapolis but her address was and is unknown to me.  She was married to a man named Walter Thornhill whose address I never knew.  Yours truly,  /s/  R Lang

[ typescript: ]  St. Paul, Minn, April 16, 1918

Respectfully returned.  Can you tell me where and about when Jennie married Walter Thornhill?  Was her name Jennie Lang until her marriage to him?  (over) 

[reverse side not photocopied – bummer!]

 

Special Examiner E. W. Young, St. Paul, to Commissioner Pensions, Washington D.C.

29 April 1918

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W.O. 1089.937

Henrietta Lang of Franz Lang, K, 7 Mich. Inf.

Address:  South Haven, Minn.

Dept of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, St. Paul, MN

April 29, 1918

[To] The Commissioner Pensions: . . . .

Issues:  Dissolution of all former marriages of the soldier [Frank Lang], except to that of Clara; any remarriage of the claimant. . . .

This claimant [Henrietta Lang] is evidently an alien enemy.  Asked for her husband, the soldier's, naturalization papers she exhibited an advertisement as to how to become naturalized.  Her son Rudolph thought he could find a certificate of naturalization and mailed to me the soldier's declaration of intention which was executed in Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 31, 1867.  This I returned to him.  He has offered no other.  Rudolph himself, claimant's son by her former husband Eichedorf, has been naturalized.  This claimant never has been.  She is the owner of alien property.

            Finding from the divorce records in case of soldier vs. Clara that marriage in Red Wing, Minn., in 1879 was alleged, I secured a certified transcript of the marriage record.  This is the beginning of the authentic record of this soldier's marital career.  But from Red Wing am unable to trace any one:  witnesses to a marriage ceremony, the bride's family, or any one else.

            Clara evidently was his wife during the whole period of his residence at Wadena, where there is no record of any other marriage or of divorce.

            Nor is there record of any other in Minneapolis, than those we already have in the brief.

            In short, I have exhausted every resource here.

            He seems to have had a daughter or step-daughter named Jennie who married Walther Thornhill.  I fail to find in Minneapolis a record of Jennie.  In the Minneapolis directories I find the name of Walter, listed also as Walter G. Thornhill.  The directory does not show Jennie Lang.  But running down the directories from 1890, I find Thornhill boarding until the 1901 book shows his residence 1010 Nicollet Ave., the same place where Jennie Thornhill is shown as a dressmaker.  After the 1907 issue the entire family disappears and there is no trace to be found of them. . . .

            It looks as if we shall have to go to Milwaukee, Wis., where I find Clara's son by the soldier, namely, Frank Lang, was stopping at the Republic Hotel, the last address I can find for him, which was when he quit the Pure Oil Co. of Minneapolis, sometime last fall.

            Frank should be asked whether he has ever been naturalized; as to what became of his mother; who the woman was to whom the soldier was married before marriage to Clara; and what has become of his sister (see John Alexander's testimony herewith).

            Further examination is recommended accordingly.

            I kept in view Order March 20, 1917.

            Very Respectfully,  

  /s/  E. W Young, Special Examiner

 

M. Dawkins, Chief of Special Examinations Division, Bureau of Pension, Washington, to Ernest W. Young, Special Examiner, St. Paul, MN

11 May 1918

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. . . The above named claim was referred for special examination to determine, among other things, the number of times the soldier had been previously married and how and when such marriages were dissolved.

            From an examination of all the paper it appears that the soldier was married at least once, and perhaps twice, prior to his marriage November 18, 1879, to Clara Morris, from whom he was divorced May 5, 1892, the names Nellie Krusman (or Kuesman or Kinsman) and Minnie being mention ed as former wives.

            It appears that the soldier lived in Wisconsin [circled to bubble reading "Minn"] from about 1868, in early days making his home in Minneapolis and Wadena, just when he went to Wadena not being shown.  Before moving to Wisconsin [circled to bubble reading "Minn"] his home appears to have been in Hillsdale, Mich.

            [Recommendation to interview Charles A. Nimocks of Minneapolis.]

Correspondence filed in your report indicates that there are persons at Wadena who knew the soldier from a date prior to the time when any of the witnesses who testified before you knew him, but it does not appear that you made endeavor by personal interview to develop the information desired.

            The case is returned to you for the testimony of Charles A. Nimocks, and any other available evidence bearing on the point in question.

            It is also suggested that while the case is in your hands you endeavor to verify the present address of Frank Lang, for whose testimony you have recommended further examination.

Very respectfully, 

/s/   M. Dawkins, Chief of Division

Deposition of Charles A. Nimocks, Minneapolis

29 May 1918

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My age is past 75 years, my residence and address are The Leamington Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn. . . .

            I did not know Frank Lang before enlistment.  He and I at the same time enlisted in the 7 Mich. Inf., both as privates, I in Co. C and he in some other, and do not know which one.  I was later made Hosp. Steward, and later became lieutenant and he was in the hospital as a nurse, and I saw much of him and became well acquainted with him from then on.  He was a German and spoke with a German accent.

            Some years ago, ten or more, he called on me concerning his pension, and I recognized him as the same Frank Lang who had served with me in the 7^th Mich. Inf.  I never knew any wife he had.  But I believe that when he called on me here he spoke of his wife, either that she had then but recently died or that he had married, or something of that kind.  I do not know whether he was a married man in Michigan.

           He and I both enlisted at Jonesville.  Immediately after the war I resided at Hillsdale, Mich. For 7 years and then came here.  Hillsdale is 5 miles from Jonesville.

            I do not know who was any wife he had or the name of any.  Or who any child was.  Know nothing about his family. . . .

            /s/  Charles A. Nimocks

 

E. W. Young, Special Examiner, St. Paul MN, to Commissioner Pensions, Washington D.C.

31 May 1918

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I am returning herewith all papers . . .

A careful review of all the papers fails to show that the soldier was ever at Wadena prior to his marriage to Clara, and probably not prior to 1883.  His address there first appears in his declaration filed in December of that year.  And he probably left there in 1889, when he traded his Wadena farm for a Minneapolis house. . . . At the time I reported the case formerly, it was evident that Clara Morris was his wife all the time he was at Wadena . . .

The soldier filed his first declaration from Hillsdale, Mich., where he had his first medical examination Aug. 1, 1865.  My former report shows that he took out naturalization papers in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1867.  There is nothing in the papers to show that he was outside Minnesota thereafter. . . .

. . . it seems that our only source of reliable or direct information is the soldier's son Frank Lang. . . . He is in all probability an alien enemy . . . As I understand, he is a man without family and might not be found if he I ascertains the government is seeking him.  And he is an important witness.

I am free to confess the utter denseness of the matter of finding the papers wherein it is stated that the soldier ever resided in Wisconsin, as stated in Bureau letter returning the case to me.  I think the volume and page will have to be designated to this benighted intellect.  [ see letter of May 11, 1918 ]

My recommendation is as before – Milwaukee, Wis., for the testimony of Frank Lang.

                      /s/  E. W. Young

 

Commissioner Pensions, Washington, to E. W. Young, Special Examiner, St. Paul, MN

12 June 1918

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Soldier was pensioned on June 11, 1869, to date from July 14, 1865; his first certificate was sent to one A. Plummer, Minneapolis, Minn.  His original declaration was filed August 21, 1865, and he then gave his residence as Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Michigan.  He was identified by Gilbert Chaddock and Byron Ellis, of same address.  In that declaration soldier stated that he enlisted at Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Michigan.  In a declaration filed on November 7, 1868, the soldier gave his address as Minneapolis and stated that he lived in Michigan a short time after his discharge and from that time on in Minneapolis; he was identified by Jacob Murbach and Charles Rampag.  On December 17, 1883, he filed an application for increase giving his address as Wadena, Wadena County, Minnesota; he was identified by J. Katzky and Louis Metzger.

            The medical certificates show that the soldier was examined as follows:  at Hillsdale, Mich., August 1, 1865; Minneapolis, Minn., November 1, 1868; St. Paul, Minn., September 4, 1873, September 4, 1875, and September 4, 1877; at Wadena, Minn., on April 30, 1884, and August 22, 1888; and at Minneapolis, Minn., on June 25, 1890.  [ rest of letter missing from file ]

 

I. D. Laferty, Special Examiner, Milwaukee WI, to Commissioner Pensions, Washington D.C.

11 July 1918

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. . . I found Frank W. Lang, to procure whose deposition the claim came to me to be a reputable fellow.  He is not an alien enemy, having been born in this country, though his father seems never to have been naturalized.  He freely told me all he knew of his father.  He does not know much which will aid in the settlement of this claim but supplies data for further inquiry. . . .

            I suggest further examination as follows, namely:

            At Minneapolis, Hennepin Co. Minn. For the testimony of Mrs. George Morris (Clara's mother) No. 2817 Morgan Avenue North, as to soldier's marital history prior to his marriage to Clara.  There are also three (3) of Clara's sisters residing in Minneapolis and they might possess knowledge of value. . . . There is another sister, a widow, Mrs. Mary Meier, residing at 266 Lafayette St., Winona, Winona Co., Minn; a brother George Morris, Jr. – express messenger – residing in Seattle, Washington . . . and Clara's daughter, Mrs. Walter C. Thornhill – sister Jennie – resides at Wenatchee, Chelan Co. Washington.  It is now disclosed that Clara was a widow when Lang married her and that Jennie is not Lang's child.

            Should old Mrs. Morris and the daughters to be found in Minneapolis not be able to clear up the soldier's marital record prior to his marriage to Clara, then the other data referred to in the preceding paragraph should be utilized.

                     /s/  I D Laferty

Deposition of Frank W. Lang, Milwaukee, WI

11 July 1918

 

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. . . I am 35 years of age; a traveling salesman, selling automobile accessories.  My postal address is 549 40th Street, Milwaukee, Wis.

            I am the son of Frank and Clara Lang.  I was born at Wadena, Minn. August 10, 1883 so I have always been taught.

            I last saw father alive perhaps 8 months before he died.   He died while living on a farm near South Haven.  I attended his funeral however.  I know this claimant, Henriette, and father and this woman were living together at the time he died which was in 1904.  He died during the month of March but the exact date I do not remember.  He fell off a load of hay, lit on his head and was killed.  I do not remember the exact date in March.

            I remember father's marriage to this woman.  I was somewhere around ten years of age at the time he married her.  She was a widow, named Eichendorf who had five children when he married her.

            My mother's name was Clara whose maiden name was Morris.  I believe – have always heard – that she and father were married at Red Wing, Minn.  Mother had two children by my father, sister Jennie who now lives in Wenatche, Washington.  Her name is now Walter C. Thornhill who runs an automobile shop out there.  She is not, however, my full sister, that is to say she was a daughter by my mother but by a different man, mother having been a widow when Lang married her.  So that I am the only child of Frank Lang by Clara.

            Mother is dead now, died in Minneapolis in 1891.  She was dead two years before I knew it and I do not, therefore know the exact date of her death.  Her name when she died was I believe Grenier, first name George – not Frank nor Paul as I remember but George.  My sister, being five years older than I, will know more of this than I do.  Mother procured a divorce from father.   I am pretty sure she procured it in Minneapolis but the date I do not know for it was before I was old enough to know much about such things.

            I am not sure as to the date of death of my mother.  I might be wrong about that.  If they were not divorced until 1892 I must be wrong but I do not think she lived as late as 1903.  As I remember she died when I was about 18 years of age.  Oh yes she died after father married this claimant.

            I do not know that father was married before he married my mother.  I never heard that he was.  I have no half brothers or half sisters on my father's side so far as I know or ever heard.  As I have the story father and mother married in Red Wing; lived there awhile; then moved to Minneapolis; then father bought a farm at Wadena and lived there awhile and then moved back to Minneapolis where they separated.  I do not know how long they lived in Red Wing or in Minneapolis the first time or in Wadena or in Minneapolis the last time before they separated.  Mother had no children but sister and me.  My grandmother – mother's mother – is yet living.  Mrs. George Morris, 2817 Morgan Ave No, Minneapolis.  She is living with her niece, Mrs. Laymon Locke.  There is one brother living, namely George Morris, Jr., Seattle, Wash.  I do not know his city address.  He is an express messenger on the Northern Pacific.  There are also sisters as follows, Mary, May, and Belle and Ida.  Mary is now a widow and resides at 266 La Fayette Street, Winona.  Her name is Mary Meier.  She is my mother's youngest sister.  I do not know the names or addresses of the other sisters but Mary or the grandmother does.  I think they are all in Minneapolis.

            I do not know where father resided prior to his turning up in Red Wing.  The home of mother's parents was at Red Wing where I suppose he met her but how long he had been there or where he had lived prior to meeting her I do not know.  I did not know that he ever resided in Michigan.  Neither do I know what service he rendered. 

            As hitherto stated, I never heard that he was married before he married my mother.  I never suspected that he was previously married.  I do not know the name of mother before she married father but the name of her former husband I do not know.  Grandmother will know all about that.  I do not know how that marriage was dissolved.

            I never heard of a woman named Nellie Krusman, or similar name, in connection with father.  Neither did I ever hear that he had a wife named Minnie.  If Rudolph states father had a wife named Minnie perhaps he did but I never heard it before today.

            I never heard that father had brothers or sisters and I know of no one aside from possibly mother's mother and sisters who will know anything of father's marital relations before he married my mother.

          I well remember a John Alexander who lived next door to us and he and father were intimate.  He was and is a reliable man and if he says father told him he had been married twice before he married my mother I have not the least doubt but what he did but I never heard of it.  As stated, I never heard of a Nellie Krusman or a Minnie.  Neither did I ever hear that he had children by any woman save by my mother.

            I have no interest in this matter . . .

                     /s/ Frank W. Lang, 11 July 1918

Deposition of Ida Rose, Minneapolis, MN

4 Sept 1918

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            My age is 48 years, my residence and address are 506 15th Ave N., Minneapolis, Minn., am the wife of Peter Rose, a lineman.

            Clara Lang was my full sister.  Frank Lang was her first husband, whom I knew well.  He got a divorce from her.  Then she married George Grindel, here in city.  They were separated for a time, but were living together the last year of her life.  She died in this city, in the 300 block, 2nd house from University on 2nd Ave, S.E.  I do not know when she died, but about 25 or 30 years ago – all of that.  She was buried under the name Grindel in the family lot at Lakewood Cemetery.  I really do not know how long she has been dead.  I was not in close touch with her.  She was kind of hard to get along with.

            I do not know Frank Lang, her husband's, first wife.  I heard of her; heard that he had five children by his first wife.  Do not know where he lived with her, or where or who any of the children are.  I do not know and never did know, when, where, or how sister Clara became acquainted with him.  I was aged but ten years at the time and did not pay any attention to it.  Clara was working about Cannon Falls, which was our home at that time and where mother, Mary Jane Morris, still resides.

Q.    And not Sarah Jane?

A.  Well, May be it is.  Father just called her mother, about the house.  She resides at Cannon Falls.  Father, George T. Morris, is dead.

I have a brother, George F. Morris, residing in Seattle, baggage-master, do not know on what road. . . . He is next to the oldest of us children, Clara being the oldest.  Then Belle, Sadie, now dead; myself, May, Mary, and Charlie, dead.

I do not know how you can get any trace of Frank Lang's first wife, unless sister Belle or mother can tell you.  Mother's memory is bad, as she had a stroke of paralysis.  But sometimes she is fairly clear.

I have no financial interest in this claim.

Father was a soldier, and mother is a pensioner . . .

          /s/  Ida Rose

Deposition of Cora May Morey, Minneapolis, MN

4 Sept 1918

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            My age is 45 years, my residence and address are 1205 Bryant Ave., No.,    Minneapolis, Minn, am the wife of Arthur G. Morey, whose business is a druggist.

            Clara was a full sister of mine.  Her first husband was Frank Lang.  Her last was George Grindel.  She is dead.  Died here in this city.  She was divorced from Frank Lang.  I was at her funeral.  She died when I was aged 32 years when she died.  She was buried at Lakewood Cemetery.

            I knew Frank Lang, her husband, who fell off a wagon and broke his neck on the farm.  They were married, she and Frank, in Red Wing, and then came back to mother's home, our home, in Cannon Falls and lived with mother there until they went to their farm at Wadena, Minn.  There they lived together all the time they were at Wadena.  We became acquainted with Frank when he came to Cannon Falls to work as a cooper.  That is where Clara got acquainted with him.  Do not know where he had been or where he came from.  None of us knew him till he came to Cannon Falls. 

            It was not till after his marriage to Clara that we heard that he had ever been married before.  Other men who came there to work in the cooper-shop who knew him and his first wife, and boarded in my mother's home, for she kept a boarding-house, told us that he had been married before.  I do not know who any of them was or where any of them came from or where they knew Frank Lang and his first wife.  I never knew or heard that he had any child by his first wife, and do not know what the name of his first wife, who she was, where she was from, or where any of her people were.

            He never told us that he had been married before he married Clara, and we knew nothing about it till the other men came there who knew him and her; and they said that first wife was dead.  But I do not know who they were.

            I have no financial interest in this claim.

           I guess Frank Lang coopered about a year in Cannon Falls after he married Clara before going to Wadena.

The foregoing is correct as read to me.     

/s/  Cora May Morey

 

Deposition of Sarah J. Morris, Cannon Falls, Goodhue Co, MN

23 Sept 1918

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            My age is past 76 years, my residence and address are Cannon Falls, Minn., am a widow, keeping house for my daughter Belle.  I am pensioned as the widow of George T. Morris, E & B, 3 Pa H.A., under certificate No. 840,418.

            I had a daughter named Clara, whose first marriage was to Frank Lang, who, I believe, was a soldier.  I did not know him very well.  Before her marriage to Frank Lang, she gave birth to a child called Jennie, and whom Frank Lang took to bring up and did bring her up.  I do not know who her father was.  Clara was not at home at that time.  She never told me who was the father of Jennie, who was born in my home.

            I first met Frank Lang when he came here to this house to see Clara, who was at that time working out, do not know at what place, but it was in the country here about Cannon Falls.  This was after their marriage.  No, I never knew Frank Lang until after their marriage.  No, he never boarded at my place.  I kept boarders, but he was not one of them.  He was here at the house once when I was not at home; and I never saw him until after their marriage.  He was a cooper when she married him, and they moved right away when they got married; do not know where to, but I think to Minneapolis.  I do not know whether they ever lived at Wadena, or where they lived.

            Clara has been dead 20 years or more.  She died in Minneapolis.  I was at her funeral. She was the wife of a man named George Grindel, who also, I understand, has since died in Minneapolis.

            These are the only husbands I ever knew of Clara having.  I do not know whether there was a divorce between her and Lang.

            Yes, I believe Frank Lang was married before his marriage to my daughter Clara.  He and that former wife lived here in town, in a row of houses, perhaps a quarter-mile from my home.  I do not know where he married that former wife, or what her given or maiden name, or who any of her folks were, and did not know her.  But she died before his marriage to Clara.  I was not at her funeral.  I do not know where she was buried.  But I saw the funeral procession going past my house here, which is the main road right to the main part of Cannon Falls.  I live across the river from the main part of the town.  So did they.  They lived near the mill.

            Q.  How is it you know so little of your son-in-law, tho he lived in the same small town as you?

            A.  I never knew him before he married Clara and they left here right after.

            Q.  How did he board and live at your place after their marriage, if they left immediately after?

            A.  They came her for just a short time and then moved away.

            I hear you read the testimony of daughters May and Ida, as to Frank Lang's first wife.  It does not help me.  I do not know that he had five children by his first wife; do not know that he had any child by her.  I believe it was his wife's funeral that I saw.  I supposed it was.

            I do not know where he married his first wife.  I have no idea who knew Frank Lang here.  I do not know this claimant or who she is.  Have no interest financially in this pension matter. . . .                              

/s/  Sarah J. Morris

 

Deposition of Anabelle Burke, Cannon Falls, Goodhue Co, MN

23 Sept 1918

---

My age is past 58 years, my residence and address are Cannon Falls, Minn., am the wife of J. E. Burke, who does not live with me.  I am at home with my mother, Sarah J. Morris.

            I had a sister named Clara, who was the oldest of us children.  I am next to her.   My earliest recollection is of this town of Cannon Falls.

            Clara's first husband was Frank Lang.  But she had a daughter named Jennie before her marriage to Lang.  I do not know who was Jennie's father.  But Frank Lang brought her up.  Clara died in Minneapolis about 19 or 20 years ago, under the name, - well, I do not know.  Do not know whether it was Grindell.  I was in Iowa and in various places.

            Frank Lang was married once and only once, so far as I know or ever heard, before his marriage to my sister Clara.  I did not know her; I really almost knew nothing of Frank Lang.  But we knew at the time of his marriage to Clara that he was a widower.  His first wife and he lived her in town, where he was a cooper.  She was sick with the consumption and she was taken to her folks out in the country here about Cannon Falls.  Do not know who her folks were or where it was that they lived. She died out there.  I knew that at the time he married sister Clara and it was so understood.  It was clearly the understanding hereabouts and in our family, that he had no wife living at the time of his marriage to Clara.  His first wife died in this, Goodhue, county.

            If he had any child by his first wife, I do not know it.  I do not know where sister got any such idea.  I was living at home, had never been away from home, at the time that Lang married Clara.  I was not married until after Lang and Clara got married.

            One thing I do remember:  That was that when he first came here to see Clara he was still wearing crepe on his hat, and we had a good deal of laugh over it.  I suppose he thought he could not get along without having a woman about.  What he said was that he wanted a housekeeper.  And I feel sure that his wife had been dead more than a few weeks when he married Clara.

            I have no idea who or where any of his first wife's folks were.

            I do not know who this claimant is and have no financial interest in this claim.

            If, as John Alexander states, he had one or more wives in Minneapolis, it is new to me.  I did know of his wife here; and while I had no personal acquaintance with her, I knew where they lived and would see her as I would go past their home.  And that woman, I know as well as any one can know without being present and seeing her, is dead and was dead when he married sister Clara. 

  The foregoing is correct as read to me 

   /s/  Bell Burke

 

Commissioner, Pension Bureau, to Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer, Alien Property Custodian, 16th & P Streets NW, Washington D.C.

21 Nov 1918  

---

Dear Mr. Palmer,

            I have the honor to state that Special Examiner Ernest W. Young of this bureau in his report of September 28, 1918, with reference to the pension claim of Henriette Lang, of South Haven, Wright county, Minn., as the widow of Frank Lang, late of Co. K, 7thh Michigan Infantry, original No. 1089,937, states, among other things, that the claimant owns a first-class farm and other property, and that she holds fealty today to the Kaiser, and is registered with the postmaster, at St. Paul, Minn., as an alien enemy.

            In her deposition of April 10, 1918, Mrs. Lang testified, among other things, that she was born in Alkischau, Germany, the daughter of Johnann and Louse Schwonke; that she was married to her first husband, Julius Eichendorf, at Palaschke, Germany, and that she was married to Franz Lang, at Minneapolis, Minn., on June 17, 1892.

Very truly yours,  Commissioner

                        GCS/jem.    [ stamped "Law Division" at top ]

[ NOTE:  Mitchell A. Palmer headed the predecessor to the FBI in the Attorney General's office of the Department of Justice, and staged a series of "raids" against suspected "communist, anarchists, and foreign agents" in 1919-1920 that have become infamous as examples of civil rights violations in US history.  Also, this letter is dated ten days after the formal end of WWI, on November 11, 1918 (Armistice Day).  So all these allegations of "fealty to the Kaiser" and "alien enemy" are completely fabricated, not to mention beside the point since the Kaiser and Germany are defeated.  The rest of the file is probably in Justice Dept records in the National Archives, perhaps available via FOIA.  The Post Office is also mentioned; perhaps they have a record of it.  Chances are excellent that her "first-class farm" was seized as "alien property." ]

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Frank's Civil War Service Record, 1861-1865