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Gregor Menzel
| Name | Gregor Menzel |
| Ortssitz | Milwaukee (WI) |
| Art des Unternehmens | Maschinenbau-Unternehmer |
| Anmerkungen | Stammte aus Schlesien, 1847 in die USA ausgewandert. Teilhaber der Firmen "Menzel & Keuck" bzw. "Menzel, Stone & Co." bzw. "Menzel, Cummings & Goderich" (siehe alle). |
| Quellenangaben | [Warner: History of Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis (1881)] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 21.08.1826 |
Geburt von Gregor Menzel in Bielendorf, Schlesien. Sein Vater stirbt vor seiner Geburt. |
| 1836 |
Gregor Menzel geht zu Fuß nach Friedeberg (Böhmen), wo er bei seinem Onkel lebt und das Schmiedehandwerk erlernt. |
| 07.1842 |
Nach Abschluß siner Schmiedelehre geht Gregor Menzel nach Preußen, wo er bei Glatz eine Maschinenbauer-Ausbildung macht. - Danach geht er auf Wanderung und arbeitet in verschieden Firmen in Breslau, Frankfurt, Berlin und Bremen. |
| 07.04.1847 |
Gregor Menzel wandert nach Amerika aus, wo er am 7. April in New York ankommt. Er begimmt sofort bei James Bogardus, dem berühmten Erfinder, zu arbeiten und bleibt dort bis August 1850. |
| 08.1850 |
Gregor Menzel zieht nach Milwaukee, wo er in den "Menominee Locomotive Manufacturing Company" als Vorarbeiter in der Maschinenabteilung arbeitet. |
| 01.12.1854 |
Gründung der Firma "Menzel & Keuck" durch Gregor Menzel und seinem Teilhaber L. Keuck. |
| 1855 |
M. und M. Stone kaufen den Anteil von L. Keuck; damit Umfirmierung in "Menzel, Stone & Co." |
| 1855 |
M. und M. Stone kaufen den Anteil von L. Keuck; damit Umfirmierung aus "Menzel & Keuck" |
| 01.02.1857 bis 31.12.1857 |
Die Finanzkrise, die über das ganze Land fegt, bringt G. Menzel um seine Ersparnisse. In dieser Zeit widmet er sich Erfindungen. |
| 05.04.1859 |
Gregor Menzel erhält das Patent für einen Dampfkessel |
| 1860 |
Die Firma baut eine Achtstempel-Quarzmühle für Colorado, Menzel nimmt diese in Betrieb und kehrt zurück in der Absicht, eine weitere für Colorado zu bauen; aber der Abfall der Südstaaten beginnt, und seine Pläne zerschlagen sich. |
| 24.04.1860 |
Gregor Menzel erhält das Patent für einen feuer- und einbruchssicheren Tresor |
| Herbst 1861 |
Gregor Menzel übernimmt die Verantwortung für den Aufzugs- und Maschinenbau der "Angus Smith & Company". |
| 11.06.1864 |
Gregor Menzel nimmt den Posten des Betriebsleiters (Superintendent) der "Bay State Iron Manufacturing Company" an. - Seine erste Arbeit dort ist der Bau einer 250-PS-Niederuckdampfmaschine, die erste in der Stadt, gebaut für Smith's neuen Aufzug. |
| 11.06.1864 |
Gregor Menzel baut als seine erste Arbeit in "Bay State Iron Manufacturing Company" eine 250-PS-Niederuckdampfmaschine, die erste in der Stadt, gebaut für Smith's neuen Aufzug. |
| 1866 |
Die "J. Dean & Company" in Milwaukee kauft einen großen, von Menzel patentierten Tresor |
| 16.08.1866 |
Beginn der Aufstellung der Dampfmaschine (Hersteller: Bay State Iron Mfg. Co.) durch Gregor Menzel in der Pacific Mill, Minneapolis |
| 08.10.1866 |
Die Aufstellung der Dampfmaschine durch Gregor Menzel in der Pacific Mill, Minneapolis ist fertiggestellt. Die Firma ist so zufrieden damit, daß Menzel 100 Dollar als Belohnung erhält. |
| 01.07.1868 |
Gregor Menzel erwirbt einen Anteil an den "Cream City Iron Works" in Milwaukee, und die Firma trägt seither den Namen "Menzel, Stowell & Company". |
| 11.1870 |
Gregor Menzel zieht sich aus den "Cream City Iron Works" in Milwaukee zurück. |
| 01.11.1870 bis 31.12.1870 |
Gregor Menzel nimmt die Stelle als Leiter (Superintendent) der "North Star Iron Works" in Minneapolis an. Unter seiner Aufsicht entstehen das berühmte Sägwerk von "W. D. Washburn & Company" in Anoka und das von Isaac Staples' in Stillwater, die Dampfmaschine im Nicollet House, Dampfmaschine und Machinerie in der City Hall, einschl. Personen- und Lastenaufzug, den ersten in der Stadt, die Dampfmaschinen im Sägewerk von Captain Rollins, bei Barnard and Company's factory usw. |
| 01.04.1874 |
Gründung der "Northwestern Foundry" durch Gregor Menzel, seinen Sohn Charles G. und D. C. Howard |
Zeit = 1: Zeitpunkt unbekannt
| ZEIT | 1874 |
| THEMA | Lebenslauf |
| TEXT | Born in Bielendorf, in the province of Silesia, Prussia, August 21st, 1826. For his family record, see volume eleven, page 397, of American Cyclopedia., His father died before Gregor's birth, but his last request was that if his offspring was a boy, and lived, he should learn a trade. When five years of age he nearly lost his life in a flood, which swept away their little home and nearly all the property his mother possessed. When ten years old he went on foot across the mountains to Friedeberg, Austria, to live with an uncle, and fulfill his father's last wish. In July, 1842, having learned the blacksmith's trade, he returned on foot to Prussia, and went to work in a large machine shop, near Glatz, to learn the machinists trade. After this he considered it necessary to travel and work in different places, in order to perfect himself as a mechanic. He walked to Breslau, Frankfort, Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, being employed in different shops. While working near the latter place, he became acquainted with Henrietta D. Roesner, whom he married. Soon after they started for this country, stopped a short time in London, and arrived at New York April 7th, 1847. He at once commenced work with James Bogardus, the celebrated inventor (see volume two, page 780, American Cyclopedia) and worked for him until August, 1850, when he removed to Milwaukee. He was given the position of foreman in the machinery department of the Menominee Locomotive Manufacturing Company, and held the situation until December 1st, 1854, when he went into partnership with L. Keuck, and under the name of Menzel and Keuck, carried on steam engine building. In 1855, M. and M. Stone bought Mr. Keuck's interest, and the new firm name was Menzel, Stone and Company. They were also extensively engaged in manufacturing threshing machines, and in 1855, made the first threshing engine used in the west. The following year he took an active part in politics, helped organize the Republican party, and was the presidential elector from the first district of Wisconsin, and cast his vote for John C. Fremont and Dayton, in the electoral college. On the first of February, 1857, Messrs. Cummings and Goodrich bought the Stone interest. The shop was moved and enlarged, and carried on under the name of Menzel, Cummings and Goodrich. The same year the first elevator was built in Milwaukee, by Angus Smith and Company. For this he manufactured the engine, boiler, and all the other machinery and iron work. He also made the first mash machine driven by power in that city, for V. Blatz's brewery. After years of prosperity came reverses. The financial crisis of 1857 which swept the whole country, relieved him of all his hard earnings. He then devoted his time to inventions. He obtained a patent on a steam boiler, April 5th, 1859 (see Patent Office Report of 1859, and for cut see Scientific American of October 1st, 1859), and also on a fire and burglar-proof safe, April 24th, 1860 (see Patent Office Report of 1860). One of his large safes was bought by J. Dean and Company of this city in 1866. In the spring of 1860, he took an eight-stamp steam quartz mill to Colorado, put it in operation, and returned with the intention of building another quartz-mill to work the claims he secured in Colorado; but the rebellion broke out and his plans were frustrated. In the fall of 1861, he took charge of the elevator and engines for Angus Smith and Company and remained with them until June 11th, 1864, when he accepted the position of superintendent of the Bay State Iron Manufacturing Company, at that time the largest works of the kind in Milwaukee. His first work there was to build a 250 horsepower, low pressure beam engine, it being the first in that city, and was built for Mr. Smith's new elevator, A. In 1866 the steam engine, boiler, etc., were built under his supervision for J. Dean and Company's Pacific mill, and August 16th of that year he arrived in Minneapolis, to put the machinery in the mill. It was accomplished on the 8th of October, and the firm were so well pleased with his work that they presented him with one hundred dollars, as a token of appreciation. He liked this city so well that he determined to make it his home, in time. July 1st, 1868, he bought an interest in the Cream City Iron Works, in Milwaukee, and the business was carried on under the name of Menzel, Stowell and Company, until November, 1870, when he withdrew from the firm, to come to Minneapolis and accept the position offered him as superintendent of the North Star Iron Works, of this city. The following is some of the work done under his supervision: the celebrated saw-mill of W. D. Washburn and Company, at Anoka, also Isaac Staples', at Stillwater; the engine at the Nicollet House, engine and machinery in the City Hall, including passenger and freight elevator, the first in the city; the engines at Captain Rollins' sawmill, Barnard and Company's factory, etc.; he also designed all of the above machinery. On the first of April 1874, he formed a partnership with his son, Charles G., and D. C. Howard, to establish the Northwestern Foundry. The works are located on the corner of Third street and Tenth Avenue south, on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. The first gray iron castings were made July 13th, and the first car-wheels, first in the city, were cast October 12th, 1874. On the 1st of September, L. V. N. Blakeman bought the interests of C. G. Menzel and D. C. Howard, and the business is still carried on under the name of G. Menzel and Company. It may well be said of the firm, they have a good, hard-earned reputation. His family circle, until their arrival here, was unbroken, and consisted of his wife Henrietta, Maggie H., Carrie M., Charles G., Minnie A., and Emma D.; but to his great sorrow, his eldest and beloved daughter, Maggie H., passed away, January 24th, 1872. |
| QUELLE | [Warner: History of Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis (1881)] |
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