HENRY MENKE

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     HENRY MENKE, who resides four and one-half miles northwest from Hesseltine. was born in Germany, on October 25, 1867. He is a son of John and Mary (Ahlers) Menke, natives of Germany. The father was a prominent contractor of his country. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Germany after which he went to work for wages for two years. In 1884, he came to the United States and settled in Nebraska where he worked for wages for nine years. Then, it being 1893, he journeyed to Washington and after due investigation, selected his present location and took a homestead. He has bought various pieces of land since until he now owns four hundred and forty acres. Nearly the entire estate is good wheat land and is well improved, having residence, large barn, orchard, and other equipments. Mr. Menke has a number of horses and gives his attention mostly to raising grain. Like many of the pioneers, he started with very little capital aside from two good strong hands, but now is a wealthy man.

     In 1897, Mr. Menke married Miss Lucinda Dehmlow. She was born in Nebraska, the daughter of Henry and Sophia (Will) Dehmlow, pioneers to Nebraska. To this union, four children have been born, Marie S., Frederick J., Paulina A. M., and an infant, unnamed.

     Mr. Menke has the following brothers and sisters, John, George, Garhard, Dedrick and William. In political matters and local affairs, Mr. Menke has always taken a keen interest and displays good judgment and sound principles. He has many warm friends and is highly respected in the community.