Fred Menge 1890-1973 My Grand Uncle on my Mother's Side

Fred Menge as a young man

Hugo Friedrich “Fritz” Menge was born in Hildesheim, Germany, where his mother Elisabeth Stolte was from. He was born on June 6, 1890, and was baptized at St. Magdelena Church in Hildesheim. He and his family returned to California in 1891, where he would be known as Fred. I don’t know why the family went to Germany for a visit at that particular time, but I do recall that my grandmother Emma went with them — the only time she was in Germany.

Fred attended school in Oakland but only through the fifth grade. When he was 20 Fred spent some time in Seattle, Washington. I found him on the 1910 census, living at 518 Virginia Street. He was a lodger along with five other men in a house owned by Gottlieb and Minnie Topp. All six men were in their 20s and were from Germany. Four were sailors and the others were tradesmen like Fred, who was listed as a truss maker working in a truss factory. My guess is that this was part of a training program, but I don’t understand why he did

Fred holding the parasol with two friends

not simply stay home and learn the trade from his father.

The Oakland City Directory tells us that Fred was living at 1833 San Pablo Avenue in 1912 and that he was working as a salesman for his father or brother at the Oakland medical aids shop. So he was back in California after being in Seattle. In 1916 he was working as a truss maker at 718 Washington in Oakland.

On June 16, 1913, it was reported that Fred was arrested for speeding in Oakland while riding a motorcycle. The news article reported that a total of 18 were arrested and seven were riding motorcycles. I think that included our Fred, so it seems Fred had a bit of a “wild” side to him.

On April 6, 1916, Fred married Beulah A. Trexler, with whom he had four children: Fred Vernon Menge, born May 29, 1917; Robert W. Menge, born about 1920; Marjorie G. Menge, born September 16, 1921; and Ralph Henry Menge, born April 14, 1923.  The family lived in San Francisco in 1920, but between 1922 and 1943 they owned a home in Oakland at 3225 East 17^th Street. Today, that lot is occupied by a commercial building.

Fred was 27 when he registered for the draft in 1917, during World War I. He was described as five feet, ten inches tall, slender, with light blue eyes and light hair. 

A portion of Fred's draft record 

Fred was a self-employed truss manufacturer from 1917 to 1930. He had a shop in San Francisco at 2814 Mission Street. In the 1921 Oakland City Directory he was listed as President of Menge Truss Company, so he was in direct competition with his father and brother. Then in 1926 he was listed as a manager at M&P Surgical Appliance Company. By 1930 he was a manager at the Pacific Truss Company, which was located at 904 Broadway in Oakland. I wonder if this might have been Heinrich’s business? From 1933 to 1937 Fred’s business address was in Hayward at 2867 Mission Boulevard, but he was still living in Oakland during that time.

Beulah and Fred from Janet

Fred and Beulah divorced on October 23, 1936. The final divorce decree said the grounds were “cruelty,” although it did not specify who the victim was. 

Fred again registered for the draft when he was 52, on April 26, 1942. That was pretty old for military service, but it was four months after the United States entered World War II, when all men aged 18 to 64 were required to register. His registration described Fred as five feet, ten inches tall, 156 pounds, with a light complexion and a scar on the first finger of his left hand.

Fred taken at his sister
Emma's home

I found no information about Fred during the next 30 years of his life. He died on November 22, 1973, at the age of 83, and is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oakland, in plot Y. There is no headstone for Fred.

Fred standing at the left next to John Thirbakkt

Fred with his son Freddie

3 of Fred's children - Marjorie, Bobbie and Freddie

Fred's son Bobbie

Fred's daughter Marjorie

Marjorie as a senior, posted by her son Daniel

Sympathy card from Gertrude Menge, one of Fred's nieces

Fred's obituary

Fred's granddaughter Janet with the author in 2017

Sources for this Post: Archive newspapers, census records, draft info, family stories and photos, birth record from Germany, social security death records, cemetery files, voter registration files, and City Directories.