Born in western Germany in 1832, Johann Heinrich Mencke emigrated to the United States in 1850. He met and married Louisa Lobach, another immigrant, and he found work in a livery stable in St Louis, Missouri.
Johann Heinrich Mencke was the grandfather Dr Dave Menke's grandfather, Oscar Menke (1888-1972). However, it has become clear through various family stories that the first-born son of Johann became estranged from him. He even "Americanized" his name and made changes, becoming "John Henry Menke," and even dropped the "c" from name.
Apparently, Johann had some skill with horses, worked for livery stables, then saved enough money to start his own livery company. Johann had chosen to live in St Louis as he was sponsored by Mencke cousins who lived there in the German "ghetto" of the time - South St Louis. Ironically, Johann bought property on Chouteau Avenue in downtown St Louis for his livery. Many years later, his grandson, Oscar Menke, bought property on that same block for the Menke Printing Company.
Johann's oldest son was a disappointment to him, as he had married too young, then divorced with a child, and then later married the daughter of a dirt farmer from Illinois. Family stories say that Johann, his wife, his other kids, were "too good" for Henry John Menke. There is also a story that Louis Lobach Menke was a "witch."
The Johann Heinrich Mencke branch of the family seemed to fade away over time. It is believed that Johann died in 1906, leaving his worldly goods to another son, Lewis.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Mini Biopics of Russell Menke, Marvin Menke, Harry Menke, and Richard Menke - Grandchildren of Henry John Menke
Dr Dave Menke's great-grandfather, Henry John Menke (1854-1911) had six children with Philippina Ottwein Menke (1861-1937) that lived to adulthood. Only three of those, in turn, had children: Fred Menke (1885-1960), Oscar Menke (1888-1972), and Harry Menke (1902-1988).
As mentioned in Fred Menke's biopic, he and his wife had two children: Russell Menke, who died as a child, and Marvin Menke (1930-1994).
Marvin Menke had a number of simple jobs after he grew up. Plus, his parents left a trust for Marvin which paid Marvin a few hundred dollars per month. Later in life, Marvin got a job as the custodian for a local YMCA in the St Louis area. He also met and married a divorced lady who had a child. It is not known if Marvin adopted the boy. When Marvin passed away, his trust was divided into two parts. One part went to one of the grandsons (Stephen A Menke) of Fred Menke's brother, Oscar, and the other part went to the other grandson (David H Menke). In other words, Stephen and David each got about $20,000.
Oscar Menke had two children: Wilbert A Menke (1914-1972) and Dorothy Menke (1921-1981). Their biopics are already published.
Harry Menke had two sons: Harry (1930-) and Richard (1934-). Harry ("Little Harry") grew up in St Louis, got a college degree in engineering, then got a civililan job with the U.S. Navy. He worked most of his profesional life as a civilian engineer for the Navy, and lived in the Dallas area. Harry married and had two daughters, who have now grown up and have lives of their own. Harry and his wife retired to Colorado where they purchased a small "mom and pop" motel near the Rockies.
Richard Menke also grew up, got a college degree, and spent his career in accounting and economics for various companies. Richard married, but later divorced, and had no children. He lives north of St Louis.
As mentioned in Fred Menke's biopic, he and his wife had two children: Russell Menke, who died as a child, and Marvin Menke (1930-1994).
Marvin Menke had a number of simple jobs after he grew up. Plus, his parents left a trust for Marvin which paid Marvin a few hundred dollars per month. Later in life, Marvin got a job as the custodian for a local YMCA in the St Louis area. He also met and married a divorced lady who had a child. It is not known if Marvin adopted the boy. When Marvin passed away, his trust was divided into two parts. One part went to one of the grandsons (Stephen A Menke) of Fred Menke's brother, Oscar, and the other part went to the other grandson (David H Menke). In other words, Stephen and David each got about $20,000.
Oscar Menke had two children: Wilbert A Menke (1914-1972) and Dorothy Menke (1921-1981). Their biopics are already published.
Harry Menke had two sons: Harry (1930-) and Richard (1934-). Harry ("Little Harry") grew up in St Louis, got a college degree in engineering, then got a civililan job with the U.S. Navy. He worked most of his profesional life as a civilian engineer for the Navy, and lived in the Dallas area. Harry married and had two daughters, who have now grown up and have lives of their own. Harry and his wife retired to Colorado where they purchased a small "mom and pop" motel near the Rockies.
Richard Menke also grew up, got a college degree, and spent his career in accounting and economics for various companies. Richard married, but later divorced, and had no children. He lives north of St Louis.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Biopic of Philippina Ottwein Menke
Dr Dave Menke has a great grandfather named Henry John Menke (1854-1911). Henry's wife, and Dr Dave's great grandmother, is Philippina Ottwein Menke (1861-1937). Her picture is on this blog.Philippina was the 2nd of 5 children of Karl Ottwein (1838-1910) and Philippina Shroeder (1840-1895). Philippina's other siblings included Mary Ottwein (1860-1930), Valentine Ottwein (1863-1893), Oscar Ottwein (1865-1945), and George Ottwein (1870-1960).
Philippina grew up on the family farm in Troy, Illinois, where it still is. A day laborer, John Henry Menke, used to work on their farm, and she fell in love with him. They married in 1881 and moved to St Louis. John and Philippina had 7 children: George, Fred, Oscar, Augustina, Lillian, Walter, and Harry. Only Augustina did not live to adulthood. She died at age 2 years old.
Philippina outlived her husband by 26 years. As a result, she lived with several of her children. The last family that she lived with was with Walter and Pearl. There is a family photo of Philippina in a swimming suit in the 1920's in a Ford with her children and grandchildren. The story is that Philippina fell down a flight of stairs at the home of Walter and Pearl Menke in 1937 and died.
Biopic of Henry John Menke
Dr Dave Menke's maternal grandfather was Oscar A Menke. And Oscar's father was Henry John Menke (1854-1911), who was born as Johann Heinrich Mencke, Jr, the son of Johann Heinrich Mencke (1820-1885) and Louise Lohman (1830-1905), in Kirkwood, Missouri (a suburb of St Louis, Missouri), in 1854. The photo here is of Henry John Menke in 1890. Johann Heinrich and his wife had emigrated to the United States in 1852 to begin a new life. Their first child was Johann Heinrich Mencke, Jr.
The younger Johann Heinrich had "issues" with his father and mother, and moved to Illinois to work on a farm. He then changed his name to an American type name of Henry John Menke, dropping the "c" in the name. While Johann Heinrich Menke had several livery stables in the St Louis area, Henry John Menke worked as a driver (teamster) for Lemp's Brewery in St Louis.
Henry John met and married a lady and they had a daughter, Matilda Menke, born in 1878. But he divorced her and when to work on a farm in Troy, Illinois, where he met, and married, the farmer's daughter, Philippina Ottwein.
Henry John Menke and his wife, Philippina, had seven children. Six of the children lived to adulthood: George, Fred, Oscar, Lillian, Walter, and Harry. Only Augusta did not live past age two.
Henry John became an alcoholic and eventually died of cirrosis of the liver in 1911.
Biopic of Wilbert Allen Menke
Dr Dave Menke's mother, Dorothy Menke (1921-1981), had an older brother, Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972), aka "Bert." For any reader following the family trend, most, if not all, of Oscar Menke's brothers had the middle name of "Allen." Oscar's son has the same middle name. Oscar's grandson, Stephen Menke (who is also Dr Dave Menke's brother) also has that middle name, as does the son of Stephen Menke. No genealogical reason can be determined why "Allen" was used.
Bert Menke was born in St Louis, Missouri, on December 18, 1914, some four years after the marriage of his parents, Oscar A. Menke (1888-1972) and Bess Menke (1889-1972). In later years, Bess Menke confided that the childbirth process for her to give birth to Wilbert was so painful and uncomfortable, she decided to have NO MORE children. Luckily, she gave birth to Dorothy Menke 7 years later.
Bert was a highly intelligent and precocious child. He often stood in a "pose" that resembled today's rappers. (see the photograph as the main picture for this Blog). As a child, Bert took piano lessons, and learned how to play the piano like a maestro - like Tchaikovsky himself. His parents bought a grand piano for him to play on, and it remained in the living room of the Menke home from 1927 until 1972. Bert was so "bright" that he graduated from Webster Groves High School at age 16, two years before his same age cohorts. He then went to the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, graduating at age 19. As a chemist, he learned to make "bathtub gin" so during his days at college, during prohibition, he never lacked for ethanol to drink.
After graduating college, he worked for several years as a chemical engineer at DuPont and then Monsanto Chemical, both near St Louis, Missouri.
World War II intervened, and Bert signed up with the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator. He flew a number of sorties in the Pacific Theatre against Japan, but was shot down. After that, his injury prevented more flying, so he was tapped as a flight instructor for other Naval Aviators. He looked pretty cool in his uniform, as a Navy Lieutenant.
After World War II was over, Bert's father, Oscar, wanted to retire. So, Bert didn't return to working in chemical plants. He became the President of the Menke Printing Company, and over the next 15 years made millions for himself and his father. Bert was a wonderful businessman and salesman. He married Ruby Tango in 1946, but they never had any children. Later we learned that Ruby's womb was not shaped properly.
Bert and Ruby were a great pair. They loved to go out and play, and they enjoyed getting drunk as often as possible. Sadly, over time, they became hard core alcoholics (and heavy smokers) causing their early deaths. And Bert drank himself into poverty, ruining the Menke Printing Company. He had owned a lake in Missouri, an airplane, expensive cars, and so forth. When he got "tired" of his wife, Ruby, he divorced her and married another woman, dying a few years later.
As family goes, Bert was the nephew of George Menke (1882-1932), Fred Menke (1885-1960), Lillian Menke (1894-1984), Walter Menke (1897-1967), and Harry Menke (1902-1988). Bert was very much like his uncle, George Menke (1882-1932). Both were drunks. Both were hard working but hard spending. Both had mean streaks. Both got divorced. Both died due to their bad habits. Both died broke. Bert's nephews used to refer to him as "Drunkle Bert" instead of "Uncle Bert."
Bert Menke was born in St Louis, Missouri, on December 18, 1914, some four years after the marriage of his parents, Oscar A. Menke (1888-1972) and Bess Menke (1889-1972). In later years, Bess Menke confided that the childbirth process for her to give birth to Wilbert was so painful and uncomfortable, she decided to have NO MORE children. Luckily, she gave birth to Dorothy Menke 7 years later.
Bert was a highly intelligent and precocious child. He often stood in a "pose" that resembled today's rappers. (see the photograph as the main picture for this Blog). As a child, Bert took piano lessons, and learned how to play the piano like a maestro - like Tchaikovsky himself. His parents bought a grand piano for him to play on, and it remained in the living room of the Menke home from 1927 until 1972. Bert was so "bright" that he graduated from Webster Groves High School at age 16, two years before his same age cohorts. He then went to the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, graduating at age 19. As a chemist, he learned to make "bathtub gin" so during his days at college, during prohibition, he never lacked for ethanol to drink.
After graduating college, he worked for several years as a chemical engineer at DuPont and then Monsanto Chemical, both near St Louis, Missouri.
World War II intervened, and Bert signed up with the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator. He flew a number of sorties in the Pacific Theatre against Japan, but was shot down. After that, his injury prevented more flying, so he was tapped as a flight instructor for other Naval Aviators. He looked pretty cool in his uniform, as a Navy Lieutenant.
After World War II was over, Bert's father, Oscar, wanted to retire. So, Bert didn't return to working in chemical plants. He became the President of the Menke Printing Company, and over the next 15 years made millions for himself and his father. Bert was a wonderful businessman and salesman. He married Ruby Tango in 1946, but they never had any children. Later we learned that Ruby's womb was not shaped properly.
Bert and Ruby were a great pair. They loved to go out and play, and they enjoyed getting drunk as often as possible. Sadly, over time, they became hard core alcoholics (and heavy smokers) causing their early deaths. And Bert drank himself into poverty, ruining the Menke Printing Company. He had owned a lake in Missouri, an airplane, expensive cars, and so forth. When he got "tired" of his wife, Ruby, he divorced her and married another woman, dying a few years later.
As family goes, Bert was the nephew of George Menke (1882-1932), Fred Menke (1885-1960), Lillian Menke (1894-1984), Walter Menke (1897-1967), and Harry Menke (1902-1988). Bert was very much like his uncle, George Menke (1882-1932). Both were drunks. Both were hard working but hard spending. Both had mean streaks. Both got divorced. Both died due to their bad habits. Both died broke. Bert's nephews used to refer to him as "Drunkle Bert" instead of "Uncle Bert."
Biopic of Harry A Menke
Dr Dave's maternal grandfather, Oscar Menke (1888-1972) was the 3rd son of Henry Menke. His youngest brother, Harry A. Menke (1902-1988), was the 5th son, and last child, of Henry John Menke (1854-1911) and Philippina Ottwein Menke (1861-1937), and was born in St Louis.
In spite of Oscar and Harry being 14 years apart, for whatever genetic reasons, Oscar and Harry were "twins." They looked identical, although Oscar did look a little older. They also had the same voice. It was eerie and uncanny.
Harry was the baby of the family, and when he was quite young, his older brothers, George, Fred, and Oscar, used to toss him around as if he had been a football or something! Harry grew up under the protective umbrella of his older brothers, as well as the over-protective actions of his sister, Lillian.
Harry met a lady, Helen Vokurka (1900-80) and they married. Like Oscar, Harry moved to Webster Groves, a suburb of St Louis. Like Oscar, Harry started his own printing company. Like Oscar, Harry's printing company was in the same building as Oscar's company. In fact, Harry rented space on the top floor of a building owned by his brother, Oscar. Like Oscar, Harry and his wife had two children. However, both of Harry's children were boys: Harry Menke (1930-) known as "Little Harry," and Richard Menke (1934-) known as "Dick."
When Harry's sister, Lillian, died in 1984, she left most of her estate to Harry. Near the end of his life, Harry and Helen lived in a Lutheran-based assisted living facility in Webster Groves. When Harry passed away, his estate went to his two sons and his two granddaughters.
In spite of Oscar and Harry being 14 years apart, for whatever genetic reasons, Oscar and Harry were "twins." They looked identical, although Oscar did look a little older. They also had the same voice. It was eerie and uncanny.
Harry was the baby of the family, and when he was quite young, his older brothers, George, Fred, and Oscar, used to toss him around as if he had been a football or something! Harry grew up under the protective umbrella of his older brothers, as well as the over-protective actions of his sister, Lillian.
Harry met a lady, Helen Vokurka (1900-80) and they married. Like Oscar, Harry moved to Webster Groves, a suburb of St Louis. Like Oscar, Harry started his own printing company. Like Oscar, Harry's printing company was in the same building as Oscar's company. In fact, Harry rented space on the top floor of a building owned by his brother, Oscar. Like Oscar, Harry and his wife had two children. However, both of Harry's children were boys: Harry Menke (1930-) known as "Little Harry," and Richard Menke (1934-) known as "Dick."
When Harry's sister, Lillian, died in 1984, she left most of her estate to Harry. Near the end of his life, Harry and Helen lived in a Lutheran-based assisted living facility in Webster Groves. When Harry passed away, his estate went to his two sons and his two granddaughters.
Biopic of Walter Allen Menke
Dr Dave's maternal grandfather, Oscar Menke (1888-1972) was the 3rd son of Henry Menke. His younger brother, Walter A. Menke (1897-1967), was the 4th son of Henry John Menke (1854-1911) and Philippina Ottwein Menke (1861-1937), and was born in St Louis.
Like both Oscar and Fred, Walter was a very convivial person. And a hard worker. He began working as a sales representative for various shoe companies, most notably "Buster Brown" shoes. He amassed $1 million during his lifetime.
Walter met and married a lovely red-headed woman named Pearl Greer (1900-1965). Everyone called her "Red," except for the children! Walter and Pearl had a wonderful marriage, very loving and romantic. They had no children. Family rumor is that Pearl didn't want to lose her sexy figure by having kids.
Walter and Pearl lived a fabulous life style. They moved to California in the 1940's and lived in Hollywood. They traveled a lot, had luxury cars, and fine clothes. It is interesting to note that during Walter's career in the shoe business, he had met Dr Dave Menke's first father-in-law, Al Bornstein, on a number of occasions, as Al Bornstein was in the same business (but with a competitive company).
Walter and Oscar were not only brothers, but "best buddies." They did lots of stuff together, even though Oscar was 9 years older. They both worked hard and became wealthy businessmen. They also travelled together often, on vacations, with their wives - on train trips, ocean cruises, or anywhere. They always had a great time together.
Pearl died in 1965 and Walter lasted only two more years, dying in his spacious Hollywood home in 1967. When he died, Walter left most of his sizeable estate to his sister Lillian Menke (1894-1984).
Like both Oscar and Fred, Walter was a very convivial person. And a hard worker. He began working as a sales representative for various shoe companies, most notably "Buster Brown" shoes. He amassed $1 million during his lifetime.
Walter met and married a lovely red-headed woman named Pearl Greer (1900-1965). Everyone called her "Red," except for the children! Walter and Pearl had a wonderful marriage, very loving and romantic. They had no children. Family rumor is that Pearl didn't want to lose her sexy figure by having kids.
Walter and Pearl lived a fabulous life style. They moved to California in the 1940's and lived in Hollywood. They traveled a lot, had luxury cars, and fine clothes. It is interesting to note that during Walter's career in the shoe business, he had met Dr Dave Menke's first father-in-law, Al Bornstein, on a number of occasions, as Al Bornstein was in the same business (but with a competitive company).
Walter and Oscar were not only brothers, but "best buddies." They did lots of stuff together, even though Oscar was 9 years older. They both worked hard and became wealthy businessmen. They also travelled together often, on vacations, with their wives - on train trips, ocean cruises, or anywhere. They always had a great time together.
Pearl died in 1965 and Walter lasted only two more years, dying in his spacious Hollywood home in 1967. When he died, Walter left most of his sizeable estate to his sister Lillian Menke (1894-1984).
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