There were numerous undertakers in Berea over the years, and it seems that their business changed hands fairly frequently by either consolidating or selling to another concern. Rarely was there more than one undertaker in the village for very long. The Lang family was only in the furniture/undertaking business in Berea for less than 10 years, but the eventual success that followed returned to Berea as a lasting legacy.
Louis John Lang was born March 23, 1867 and George Christian Lang was born September 27, 1870, both in Dunkirk, New York to German immigrants John A. and Theresa Fischer Lang who had arrived in 1853. They had three sisters all born in Dunkirk: Elisabeth (1874-1942), Rose (1868-1887), and Maria/Mary (1876 – 1962). Their grandfather Alois Fischer had also settled in Dunkirk and was employed in the local area as a carpenter. It is likely this is where the brothers learned their future trade. George and Louis grew up on their father