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

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.