IN MEMORIAM. 
ADOLPH MEINECKE). 
Mr. Adolph Meinecke, the subject of this sketch, was born on 
August [6, 1830, in Burhave, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, on the 
German Sea. His father, Dr. Ferdinand Meinecke, was a physi- 
cian and a man of liberal culture, who had traveled widely and 
who frequently entertained visitors from foreign lands, the recip- 
ients of his hospitality being often scientific men of high reputa- 
tion. Brought up amid such surroundings there was aroused in 
the boy an interest in travel, and an enthusiasm for science and 
art. The love for the higher things of life, which ever remained 
a part of his character, probably had its beginnings in these early 
influences. 
When very young he attended the village school, but in his 
thirteenth year he entered the Gymnasium at Oldenburg. Later, 
we find him taking a business course at the Commercial College of 
Osnabruck, Westphalia. Even at this early date, the English 
language was taught in the business colleges of Germany. At the 
age of seventeen the boy was working in the office of a ship 
chandler, but he was now pondering upon his future career and 
before his next birthday he left Germany for America, beginning 
life in his new home in 1847, with twenty six dollars in his pocket. 
For the ensuing year he earned two dollars a week, and thereafter, 
for some time, three dollars a week, in an importing house ; and in 
1851 he was left in entire charge of the business, when the owner 
went abroad, at the munificent salary of four dollars a week. 
In 1854 he was married to Miss Maria Louise Kraft of New 
York, and in 1855 they moved to Milwaukee. Mr. Meinecke, 
after looking over the field, decided to engage in the toy business. 
His former employer gave practical proof of his confidence b> 
lending him $6,000 with which to lay the foundations of his 
enterprise. From being confined to a small retail store on East 
Water St. his business gradually increased until it occupied an 
entire block and, in time, it became a large wholesale importing 
house. As early as 1864 ne began the manufacture of willow 
baskets and bamboo furniture. The supply of material in this 
state being limited, it became necessary for him to introduce the 
growing of willows by the farmers and it was through him that 
the manufacture of willow ware .became common throughout Wis- 
consin. 
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