Pranges in Indiana
The Pranges in Indiana
When Christian and Caroline Prange arrived in Indiana in 1857, they immediately purchased 40 acres of land from Francis Heidbrink on June 6 for $1,155. The property was located on Moeller Road in Adams Township (now New Haven, Ind.), Allen County, just east of Fort Wayne.
Their new home was very near the Martini Lutheran Church, which was founded in 1853 by former members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne. There the Prange family was served by Pastors Frederick Koestering (1853-1858), J. George Streckfuss (1858-1860), and Martin Stephan (1860-1865). The congregation was later known as the Buuck Church because of the long pastorate of August Buuck (1919-1945).
Four additional children were born to the Pranges while they lived on this property:
Carl Friedrich Christian (Chris), born August 8, 1857, and baptized August 23
Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm, born October 27, 1859, and baptized November 6
Wilhelmina Carolina, born August 16, 1861, and baptized August 18
Heinrich Carl Wilhelm (William), born April 14, 1863, and baptized April 26
All four children were baptized at Martini Lutheran Church.
On February 13, 1864, Christian sold his land to G.H.F. Rebber for $1,400 and moved to Preble Township, Adams County, seven miles northwest of Decatur, Ind. He purchased an 80-acre farm from Pastor Friedrich Wyneken and his wife, Sophia Buuck-Wyneken, for $2,000. Mrs. Wyneken had owned this property since 1850.
In 1874, Christian Prange purchased an additional 50 acres from Michael Rock for $2,000. It was located about 1.25 miles north of the family home. His son, Henry, now 22, bought 20 acres in the same section and likely farmed the entire 70 acres from 1874-1877.
Faithful Members at Zion, Friedheim
Two additional children were born while the Pranges lived in Preble Township:
Diedrich, born January 25, 1865, and baptized February 5
Caroline, born November 2, 1867, and baptized November 10
Both children were baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Friedheim, Ind., where the Pranges became members and were served by Pastors Gerhard Jaebker (1845-1877), Herman Meyer (1877-1883) and J.L. Daib (1883-1888).
All the Prange children were confirmed at Zion, Friedheim, except for Hanne, who is thought to have died around 1866 at the age of 12.
Henry Prange on March 25, 1866
Chris Prange on April 2, 1871
Ernst in January 1874
Wilhelmina on March 21, 1875
William on March 25, 1877
Diedrich on April 6, 1879
Caroline on April 2, 1882
Zion Lutheran Church, Freidheim, Indiana
The Wyneken-Prange Home
In 1864, Friedrich Wyneken was still officially called to be one of several pastors at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. But already in July 1854, he had been elected as president of the Missouri Synod. His new synodical responsibilities prompted the St. Louis congregation to call Pastor Gottlieb Schaller to serve as his vicar (substitute). As a result, the Wynekens returned to Friedheim, Ind., and in 1855 they built a new house for their growing family of 13 children.
In 1864, Wyneken ended his service as the synodical president and accepted a call to Cleveland, Ohio, leading to the sale of the family's Friedheim home to Christian and Caroline Prange. He served the remainder of his ministry in Cleveland, retiring in 1875. He died in San Francisco the following year.
In 2008, the Friends of Wyneken was organized to restore the former Wyneken home which had stood vacant for more than half a century. The home was relocated to 11730 Winchester Road, Decatur, Ind., and the main renovation work is now complete. The Wynekens lived in this home for nine years; the Pranges for 22 years.
The Wyneken-Prange House and Property, 1980
Pastor Friedrich Wyneken
Heading West to Nebraska
In 1878, the 26-year-old Henry Prange pulled up stakes and moved to an out of the way place called Staplehurst, Nebraska. Over the next decade, almost the entire Prange family would follow in tow.