Biographical Sketch of the Author 



Dr. Rudolph Menger, of San Antonio, is a native of Texas, and was 

 born in that city in 1851. He is the son of Simon M. and Augusta Louisa 

 Menger, both parents being natives of Thuringia, Germany, who came to 

 Texas in 1846, landing at old Indianola. Mr.' Menger had been i well ed- 

 ucated in Germany, was a thorough musician, and had there taught 

 school and music. From Indianola he pushed inland to Comal County, 

 and located on a farm near New Braunfels; at the same time he began 

 .teaching vocal music. He moved to Bexar County, and located on a 

 farm a few miles from San Antonio, and from his home he rode into San 

 Antonio and gave singing lessons: Then he located with his family at 

 Boerne, Texas. About 1850 or a little earlier, he moved to the city, and 

 probably continued teaching music incidentally for several years. About 

 1S58 he started a soap factory, the first ever conducted in all the south- 

 west. Several of his spn^ were associated with him in, business, as they 

 grew to manhood, and his son, Erick, conducted the business later on. 

 August went to Houston and started in business there for himself, and 

 ■established a flourishing business which he conducted until his death, in 

 1893. Two sons, Oscar and August, served in the Confederate army; Au- 

 gust served until the close, but Oscar was twice severely wounded, and 

 disabled from his wounds, and was compelled to return home. The 

 father died in 1892 at the ripe old age of eighty-five years; he was a 

 prominent Mason. The mother had died some years prior. Our sub- 

 ject's primary education was secured in San Antonio, at the old Ger- 

 man-English school on South Alamo street, and he began life as a 

 clerk in Kalteyer's drug store, and then under the able instructions of 

 the proprietor, he also began the study of pharmacy. He was thus en- 

 garjed from 1866 to 1869, when he went to Germany, and entered the 

 University at Leipsie, in Saxony, where he began the study of medicine. 

 He spent five years in study there, and graduated in November, 1874. He 

 returned at once to San Antonio, and became assistant surgeon in the 

 ITnited States army imtil.the close of 1875, when he was appointed city 

 physician, and served until 1881; then for several years he devoted his 

 time to his private practice which became quite extended. In 1892, 

 he was again appointed to the office of city physician, where he served 

 in that office to the satisfaction of all. In fact, he greatly improved the 

 appointment of the city hospital, and that institution under his direction 

 was almost perfect in its operation and utility .^f He also has a large gen- 

 eral practice; had been an active member of the West Texas Medical 

 Society, and contributed freely to various mldical journals. He was 

 for a long time medical examiner for the New jork Life Insurance Com- 

 pany, and many other old line companies. H^was married in 1879, to 

 Miss Barbara C. Menger, a native of San Antoaio, and daughter of Wil- 

 liam' L. Menger of the same family name, but no kin. Her father was 

 an old and well known pioneer to San Antonio, from Germany. He erect- 

 ed the Menger Hotels one of the finest hotels in all the United States, and 

 a popular resort to all visitors to the Alamo City. He was a very prom- 

 inent and active citizen of San Antonio, and' started the first brewery 

 in the city, conjointly with Charley Degen. lately deceased. 



To the union of our subject and wife eiglit> children have been born: 

 Minnie, (now Mrs. Wm. R. Hoffman), born July 4th, 1880, Edward, August, 

 Louis, Gustavo, Rudolph, Theodore and Margaret Menger. The sons all 

 have prominent and responsible positions, and the elders are the proprietors 

 of the elegant "Menger Apartment House" on East Commerce Street. 



