An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 261.

THOMAS STACKPOLE LANG, deceased, one of the old-time settlers, was well and
favorably known throughout Wasco county. A memoir of him is fittingly placed in
a history of Central Oregon, since he had much to do with business and political
events in that section.      

Thomas S. Lang was born in North Berwick, Maine, on June 16, 1826, and was the
eldest son of John Damon and Anne (Stackpole) Lang. His father was a native of
Gardiner, Maine, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Massachusetts:
his mother was born and reared at North Berwick. John D. Lang was prominently
identified with many large enterprises in his native state. He built the first
steamboat on the Kennebec river, was one of the promoters of the Maine Central
Railroad, was an extensive woolen manufacturer, and one of the most prominent
Quakers of New England.      

Thomas Lang was educated principally at the Friends' boarding school in
Providence, R.I., which is now Brown University, and while a lad removed with
his parents to Vassalboro, Kennebc county. After his days of school life were
over he was associated with his father many years in, charge of the Vassalboro
woolen mills, in which they were both deeply interested. On December 4, 1856, he
was married to Miss Mary M. Varney, of Brooks, Maine, the eldest daughter of
Moses and Margaret McClure Varney, who were both natives of Sandwich, N.H. He
was also interested in lumbering, owning large tracts of timber lands in the
north of Maine and operating an extensive lumber business on the Kennebec river
and at Bath, where his mills were situated. He was also intensely interested in
and owned much fine blooded stock, horses and cattle, at times owning the finest
herds of Jersey, Hereford and Alderney cattle in New England.      

In 1867 Mr. Lang was appointed commissioner from the United States to the Paris
Exposition, and, retiring from business for the time, traveled for about two
years in Europe. After his return he resided in Augusta. For two terms he was in
the State Senate and for one term in the House of Representatives. He was a very
prominent man in his state and was marked by those sterling virtues of integrity
and uprightness which characterized him through life. His political colleagues
were Reed, Dingley, Blaine, Frye and others.     

Owing to ill health he determined to try the west, and in 1875 came to Oregon,
spending the winter in the Willamette valley at Rickreal. The following year he
went to The Dalles, investing in sheep and ranches near Heppner. For twenty
years before his death he had resided in The Dalles, at one time being part
owner and editor of the Wasco Sun, and also edited the Times-Mountaineer. From
1890 to 1894 he was receiver of the U.S. land office at The Dalles. His death
occurred on June 18, 1896. Mr. Lang had lived a good life, had shown himself a
man of patriotism, ability and faithfulness, and was sincerely mourned in many
places. His widow and two daughters, Anne M. and Elizabeth L. Lang, survive him,
his eldest child, a son, having died shortly after the family's arrival at
Rickreal. Mrs. Lang and her daughters reside at The Dalles. Mr. Lang's only
brother, the one surviving member of the Lang family, John Alton Lang, is still
living at Waterville, Maine.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.