San Joaquin County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



WILLIAM H. MENZEL
 
        An enterprising man of business affairs is William H. Menzel, who was 
born in Minnesota, having first seen the light in Lac qui Parle County, on 
September 16, 1887, the son of August A. and Louise Menzel. His father, a native 
of Wisconsin, was a farmer, and he is still living in Lodi, but his mother, 
esteemed and beloved by all who were privileged to know her, died in San Joaquin 
County in 1908.
        In 1906 Mr. Menzel settled in this county at Lodi. William had attended 
the school of their district in Minnesota; and when eighteen years old he 
started to work for himself. He found employment for a short time in the steam 
laundry, and after that he clerked in various stores in Lodi, and in 1915 he 
returned to the laundry business, as a driver. He worked in this capacity for 
five years, and then he purchased F. R. Polenske's business, making the deal for 
this important establishment in August, 1920. There was another partner, a Mr. 
Stevens; and since his death his widow has managed her husband's affairs, being 
the partner now with Mr. Menzel, and contributing much toward the success of the 
undertaking.
        At Hamburg, Minn., on May 12, 1913, Mr. Menzel was married to Miss 
Helena Buckentin, the daughter of Fred and Louise Buckentin, pioneer farmer 
folks of high standing in Minnesota, in which state she was born. Three children 
have blessed their union: Ewald A. F., Mildred Louise, and Ellen Emma. Mr. 
Menzel may well be proud of what he has accomplished for Lodi in his laundry 
service. Having begun very modestly he has today three auto-delivery wagons 
covering a territory of about twenty square miles in the Lodi vicinity; and he 
employs from twenty to twenty-two persons the year around. He has installed 
strictly modern equipment throughout since he purchased the business, including 
presses and tumblers, and has left no stone unturned to make his laundry most 
sanitary and it is widely known on account of the care taken of all the fine 
fabrics committed to its charge.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p   1608       
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.