Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 480 Includes portrait HANS LAGE No citizen of the Hood River valley holds a higher place in public esteem than does Hans Lage, who ranks among the leading farmers of the valley. He located here over fifty years ago and, in spite of the privations and hardships of pioneer life, by his grim determination and persistence along rightly directed lines, has gained not only large material success, but also that which is of more value, the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen. Mr. Lage was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 18th of March, 1847, and is a son of Joachim and Abel (Weise) Lage, both of whom were lifelong residents of that country, where the father followed farming. They were the parents of seven children, of whom three are living, namely: Ferdinand, who lives in Davenport, Iowa; Trena, who still lives in Germany; and Hans. The last named was educated in the public schools of his native land to the age of ten years, when he went to work, his program then being five months of work and ten months of schooling. He remained with his father until March 22, 1867, when he emigrated to the United States and proceeded at once to Davenport, Iowa. There he was employed as a farm hand for a few years and, carefully saving his money, he was then able to lease a farm, which he ran until 1875, when he sold out there and started for the Pacific coast, making the trip by railroad to Sacramento and thence by steamer to Portland. He spent some time looking for a location and having, while on a hunting trip, come into the Hood River valley, where be was caught and detained in a severe snowstorm, had an opportunity to view the country. So well satisfied was he with this locality that not long afterwards he paid the sum of three hundred dollars for the homestead of Milton Neal, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, located four miles south of Hood River. It was all woods and brush land, and after building a small house, Mr. Lage began the task of clearing the land and getting it in shape for cultivation, in which he was assisted by his sons. The place is now entirely cleared. Mr. Lage planted a small orchard, raised garden truck and had a few chickens, cows and hogs. In the fall he butchered his hogs, made good sausage and sold it in The Dalles for fifty cents a pound, also selling eggs and butter, and thus securing the ready cash for current expenses. He also worked out, taking hay for his pay at the rate of two hundred pounds for a day's work. He was one of the first farmers in the valley to raise hogs and cure the meat, which was always in demand among the settlers and which became a useful medium of barter. Later he planted more fruit trees and now has thirty acres in apples, pears and prunes, the remainder of the land being in hay, grain and pasture. As he prospered Mr. Lage made improvements on the ranch and in 1887 replaced the first modest house with a better structure, which in turn was replaced in 1913 by the present modern and attractive home, complete with all modern conveniences, and regarded as one of the finest farm homes in the valley. The other farm buildings are in keeping, including a substantial and well arranged barn, in connection with which are two large silos, and a milk room, in which all modern facilities are installed and operated by electric power. The farm is now under the active management of Mr. Lage's son, Edward E., who keeps a fine herd of registered Jersey cattle and a purebred sire. Edward is assisted by his three sons, Edward, George and Charles, who have been given an interest in the stock and dairy and thus have a personal incentive for their efforts in promoting the work of the ranch. Mr. Lage has been married twice, first, in 1871, in Davenport, Iowa, to Miss Lena Hock, who was born in Germany in 1852. When two years old she was brought to this country by her parents, Claus and Gretchen Hock, who located at Davenport, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lage became the parents of ten children, namely: Louise, the first born, who died in Iowa in infancy; Mrs. Meta Scobee, who was born in Iowa and now lives on a part of the homestead in the Hood River valley; Mrs. Emma Koberg; Henry, who lives in Santa Rosa, California; Mrs. Laura Henderson, who lives in Bingen, Washington; Benjamin, of Hood River; William, Edward, Alfred and Charles, who are deceased. The mother of these children died in 1908 and in 1912 Mr. Lage was married to Mrs. Karoline Augusta (Franz) Von Goerres, a daughter of Karl and Victoria (Finkenzeller) Franz, both of whom were natives of Germany, and died there. Mrs. Lage was married in 1876, in Germany, to Augustine Keller, who died there in 1896. They were the parents of eight children, Franz Joseph, Louise Victoria, Karoline Augusta, Karl August, Marea Hermina, Karl August (second), Mrs. Paulina Hermina Schneider, and Mrs. Elizabeth Victoria Calbeck, of Portland, Oregon. For her second husband she was married, in 1899, to Dr. Robert Von Goerres, who died in 1908, and they became the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. Lage now has the following grandchildren: Mrs. Zoe (Scobee) Williams, Dale Scobee; Mrs. Lena (Koberg) Imholz, Earl, Prince and Clara Koberg; Florence and Dimple Lage, the former deceased; Ruth (Henderson) Dickey, Dr. J. W. and Donald Lage, the latter deceased; Keith and Lenora Lage; and Riddle, George and Charles Lage. There are also twelve great-grandchildren, namely: Betty Colleen Williams; Vivian, Human, Franklin, Howard, and Lois Imholz; Gorton and Donald Koberg; James and Donald Dickey, and Allan and Loree Henderson. Mr. Lage has always given his political support to the republican party and has taken an active and effective interest in local public affairs. He served as road supervisor for twenty years and for many years as a member of the school board. In 1879, with D. A. Turner, F. M. Jackson, Clarence Hock and Henry Hock, he organized the first school district on the east side of the Hood River valley and Mr. Lage has assisted in the building of the fifth schoolhouse here, all being built without bonding the district. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Maccabees at Hood River. The Lage farm is unquestionably one of the best in the valley and is widely known for the progressive methods. which are employed in its operation. It has every modern convenience and a fine supply of pure spring water is piped to all the buildings and houses. Mr. Lage is personally known to almost every resident of the valley and is held in the highest esteem. In marked testimony to this fact was the gathering of the entire countryside at Pine Tree Grange hall, on March 3, 1926, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the day when he first moved onto his homestead. Despite his four score years, Mr. Lage is still in good health, retaining his physical vigor to a remarkable degree, and is spending the golden sunset years of his life amid ideal surroundings, secure in the love of those about him and the friendship of his neighbors, who have long appreciated his genuine worth as a man and citizen. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.