California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


F. R. MEILIKE. Numbered among the German-American citizens whose thrift and energy 
have contributed to the advancement of California is Mr. Meilike, member of the firm of 
Wehrmann & Meilike, and a leading business man of Madera. He was born in the province of Bran- 
denburg, Prussia, Germany, February 12, 1858, being a son of Gustav and Theresa (Luther) 
Meilike, natives of the same province and members of families of agriculturists. His great- 
grandfather removed from the interior of Germany to Brandenburg, where he helped to build 
a large dam and was in other ways connected with local enterprises. The father and mother 
are deceased, the former having been accidentally drowned. Of their six living children (all in 
America), the subject of this narrative was third in order of birth and is the only one in California. 
Following the usual German custom, he was kept in school until fourteen and then appren- 
ticed to a trade. For three years he served under a locksmith and at the expiration of his time 
traveled as a journeyman through different parts of Germany. 

Coming to America in 1880, Mr. Meilike secured employment on a farm in Mitchell county, 
Iowa, but later removed to Milwaukee, Wis., where he was employed as a machinist in Bayliss 
iron works. After a short time he went to Menominee, Mich., and secured employment in 
a sawmill. From there he went south to Arkansas and Missouri, and next worked as a 
machinist in Kansas City and at Rosedale, Kans. After a short time in the Santa Fe shops at 
Topeka, Kans., he became a blacksmith in the Silver iron works at Salt Lake City, and in 1882 
settled in California, where he was first engaged in the Southern Pacific Railroad shops at Sacra- 
mento. Then from the Union iron works in San Francisco he went to Seattle, Wash., and 
secured work in a sawmill. On his return to California, January, 1884, he came to Madera 
county and for four years worked on Mr. Mordecai's ranch, after which he took up land and 
engaged in teaming. In 1890 he secured employment as a clerk with Rosenthal & Kutner, at 
Madera, and for nine years remained in their mercantile establishment, leaving in 1899 to em- 
bark in business for himself under the firm title of Wehrmann & Meilike. The firm owns the 
site and the building, the latter having been erected in 1899 and increased in size by the 
building of a brick structure adjoining in 1903, so that the space utilized is now 50 x 150 feet in 
dimensions. The stock is varied, including groceries, house furnishing goods, queensware, 
bakery goods, flour and feed. An excellent business has been established among the residents 
of Madera and the surrounding country, and the reputation of the firm is unexcelled for accuracy 
in all business transactions. 

The Madera Board of Trade is one of the local organizations to which Mr. Meilike gives his 
support as a member. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, In religion he adheres to the Lutheran faith, and 
politically votes for the men and measures of the Democratic party. Since coming to Madera he 
has established a home of his own. His wife was formerly Marie Birch, a native of Germany. 
Three children have been born of their union, namely : George R., who died at the age of three 
months ; Carl William and Louise Birch, who are being educated in local schools and trained for 
positions of usefulness and honor in the world.