(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley 1920)

Frank Langer owns and occupies a ranch of fifty-two acres on the Boise bench, three-quarters of a mile northwest of the County Hospital of Ada county. Through a period of twenty-seven years he has lived in Idaho, coming to this state across the plains in a covered wagon from Nebraska. He arrived practically empty-handed and his present financial condition is the direct result of his indefatigable industry and enterprise through the intervening years.

Mr. Langer was born in Austria, February 21, 1863, and came to the United States in 1882, when nineteen years of age. His time for several years was spent in different states. For a brief period he was at Baltimore, Maryland, and for a short time at St. Louis, Missouri. He also resided for two years in Greene county, Illinois, and for eight years in Nebraska, and in 1893 he came to Idaho, traveling across the country in a covered wagon, for his financial condition was not such as to permit of other mode of travel at that time. He was accompanied by his wife and two children, and when they reached Boise their cash capital consisted of but seventy-five cents. Mr. Langer was rich, however, in energy and determination and he at once began providing for his family by picking prunes and apples in an orchard that stood within the present city limits, working for one dollar per day. For two years he was employed at wages in and near Boise and in 1895 he purchased forty acres of land upon which he now makes his home. There were no buildings on the tract at that time, but it was partially cleared of its sagebrush. He made arrangements to purchase the property at fifty dollars per acre and was to be allowed eight years' time to complete the payment. So energetically did he work that he was enabled to clear off his indebtedness in four years' time, however. For several years he lived in a little rude cabin but now has a well improved ranch property of fifty-two acres with good buildings, fine orchards and other modern equipment. In 1908 he purchased twelve acres adjoining, for which he paid two hundred dollars per acre. Among the horticultural features of his place is a ten-acre prune orchard, which is six years old and is now coming into full bearing.

While in Nebraska, Mr. Langer was married in 1891 to Miss Bertha Miller, who was born in Iowa but was reared in Kansas. They have five living children and lost four in infancy. Those who survive are Joseph N., Chester P., Julia L., Metta M. and Litha. The eldest son, now twenty-six years of age, served in the World war, spending seventeen months with the American Expeditionary Force in France, having volunteered as a member of the army. He is married and resides in Seattle, Washington. Chester F., twenty years of age, and Julia L., aged eighteen, are at home. Metta M., seventeen years of age, is a member of the senior class in the Boise high school, and Litha, eleven years of age is attending the Cole school.

Mr. Langer and his family are members of the Methodist church although the religious faith of their forefathers was that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Langer belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Though born in Austria, he is proud of the fact that he can claim American citizenship and is a most loyal supporter of his adopted land, where he has found the opportunities for advancement and the chance of rearing his family under favorable conditions, unhampered by the militarism of his native country.

-- transcribed and contributed by Amanda Fox, Findagrave #47429422