Merrill Historical Society’s (MHS) announces another Lincoln County Century Farm. Established in 1914 by Carl & Hulda Lange, the Lange farm at W251 Second Ave., Gleason, in the township of Russell, was recognized at the 2018 Lincoln County Fair with the Century Farm Award for continuous family ownership for over 100 years. Peggy Lange accepts the award for the Lange Family.
Hulda Karau Lange, a widow, married Carl Lange on Nov. 9, 1910, in Merrill. Hulda joined Carl as owner of the farm in the Town of Russell on Aug. 19, 1914. Unfortunately, a number of years later, Carl left the family and farm to work in the logging camps of Minnesota, never to return.
Hulda became the sole owner of the farm on May 4, 1921. Over the years, she built a new home and went into dairy farming. Along with the dairy cows she had the usual farm animals – sheep, pigs, chicken, geese, ducks, etc. Her two sons, George and Ervin, joined her in farming. In 1942, Hulda turned over the farm to her sons, who continued farming into the 1950s. Hulda passed away in September 1946.
In July 1965, Hulda’s grandson Delmer D. Lange and his wife, Peggy A. Lange, bought the farm from Delmer’s uncle George Lange. Delmer passed away in October 2012. In March 2015, their grandson Gregory J. Lange bought the farm from Peggy.
Greg lives on the farm and continues to make improvements and updates to the property. Greg owns 40 acres, which includes the homestead. Delmer and Peggy’s son Russell and grandson Kevin own the balance of the land, keeping the Hulda Lange Farm part of the family for over 100 years.