Here are copies of the first census records of the Lang family in America, beginning with Patrick and Honora Lang in Black Brook, Clinton County, New York, in 1850. The records from the next three decades show them and their children in Houghton County, Michigan. Click on each photo in the slide show for a larger view. Click again to remove the captioning.
lang_census_1850_clinton_ny
My late uncle, Thomas Bertrand Lang, said that his grandfather was born in Plattsburg, NY. I found them in the 1850 census from Black Brook Twp., Clinton County, New York, which is pretty close to Plattsburg. It took a lot of searching, but here’s the payoff. It’s the first record I have found of the Langs in this country. Patrick and Ann (Honora?) Lang were born in Ireland. Oldest son, James was born in New York in 1841. This helps narrow down when they came to America, but I haven’t found any record of that yet. (James is 9, although most of his records said he was born in 1843.)
1860
I found Patrick and his family again in 1860, same location: Clinton County, Black Brook Town, NY, page 1062.
1870
In 1870, they were in Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan [census page 46]. Patrick, Ann, children Hugh, Michael, William, & Hanna [listed as Honora in other records].
Daughter Julia was married and she and husband John McCormick are Franklin Twp, Houghton County, on page 12.
Son James (my great-grandfather) had married Catherine Lawlor (Kate) in July 1969, and they are in Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan, Roll 674, Page 602.
1880
1880 Census: Michigan, Houghton County, Calumet Twp., ED 10, page 2. John with his wife and children.
The Langs stayed in Calumet for quite awhile. When the factories opened up in Detroit, most of my grandfather’s family moved down from “the big house.” Personally, I don’t think the house could have seemed very big with this huge family all living together.
1900
1900 Census: Michigan, Houghton County, Calumet Twp., ED171, page 34, 542 East Pine Street shows James, Kate, and children: Mary, John, James, Catherine, Julia, Hugh, Margaret, Florence, and Thomas [my grandfather]. Their son, William had died in 1892 at the age of 19 [cause of death not known at this time]. Another daughter, named Honora, had died at 7 months of age in 1877. Another son was named also named Hugh in 1880, but died within one day of his birth. They had twelve children in all.
Calumet Township, Houghton County, Michigan, Roll 714, book 1, Precinct 1, ED 170, page 50 shows John and his wife Mary Hennesey Lang with their 8 children lived at 1562 Rockland, right next door to his sister Julia McCormick. [Bernice and John are in that census picture.]
Julia and her husband lived right next door to John and his family on Census Roll 714, book 1, Precinct 1, ED 170, page 50A [address 1564 Rockland]
1920
Most of the Langs were still in Calumet in 1920. I’m pretty sure I have the records for all the children of James, John, and Julia. I just need to post them.
1920 Census of Houghton County, Calumet Township, Laurium Village, ED 134, page 2B, 301 Lake Linden Ave. James died in 1912. This is his widow, Catherine, and some of the children. Julia and Florence have married and are on a different census.
1920 Census of Houghton County, Calumet Township, Laurium Village, ED 132, page 4A, 433/56/66, 433 Pewabic Street shows Patrick Lang, the eldest son of John and Mary Hennessey with his wife and mother-in-law. Sadly, Laura died in 1929 of “lethargia and encephalitis.”
I found the families in 1910 and 1930 and will post those records soon.