Johann Meineke Family

written by Michael Jindra
updated October 8, 2025

Note: The Meineke Family connects to the Jindra family through Leona, a daughter of Charles Peter Meineke and Wilhelmina Maria Schmidt. Leona married Alvin Jindra, son of George Jindra Jr. Leona came from the farm north of TR on Hwy 42 (current NE corner of 42 and Viceroy Rd/Cty VV, north of the HS), where her parents Charles and Minnie had a dairy farm and hauled milk to the Rangeline cheese factory just north of the farm on 42.

Johann Meineke and Katherine Wilhelmine (Schick) Meineke

Charles' parents, Johann and Katherine (Schick) Meineke came to the US in 1848. Johann was originally from Hanover in Germany, she from Partenheim, west of Darmstadt. (Her mother, Phillipine, gave birth to 13 children, and died in Partenheim in 1845 while giving birth to a 14th child, at age 45). They apparently met in Buffalo, NY, where they lived until 1858 when they moved to Two Rivers, where they eventually farmed 200 acres on Hwy 42 between Hillcrest Rd and Elmwood Rd.

John served in the Civil War. He enlisted as a private on 11 March 1865 in Company G, 51st Wisconsin Infantry regiment. He mustered out on 6 May 1865. The six original companies of this regiment were organized at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, in Feb., March and April, 1865, and then sent to Benton barracks, St. Louis.

The companies were then ordered to Warrensburg, Mo. for railroad guard duty. They were stationed at Pleasant Hill. Company G was discharged on May 6, 1865 under general orders for reduction of the army.

Their children would have attended Rangeline school, where "John Meinecke" served as clerk for a time. Johann died in May 1882, and the obituary published in the local Chronicle newspaper noted that he had a large funeral. He is buried in the Pioneers' Rest cemetery in Two Rivers, close to Forest Avenue.

Minnie (Schmidt), Leona's mother, was born to Johann Schmidt and Dorothea (Gartz or Garz) in 1867. They came to the Two Rivers area in the early 1860's from Riebau (near Salzwedel) in Saxony, Germany, and bought 160 acres in 1863 on Hillcrest Road. Their son Henry (Minnie's brother) later took over this farm (the brick house still stands today) where in later years the Meineke family would often join them for family picnics in the woods. Minnie moved to Two Rivers after Charles died in a 1920 farm accident, falling from his wagon while driving north to the Rangeline Cheese Factory. Erhardt Meineke bought this home after Minnie died, and lived there until his death in 1993.

Three of Minnie's brothers, Otto, August and Ernest, founded Schmidt Bros. Construction Co. in Chicago, and were helped by some of the Meineke relatives who moved there for a time, such as Erwin Meineke (in 1920). In the late 1920s, their company built the famous Medinah country club near Chicago, which regularly hosts major tournaments such as the U.S. Open. (The Medinah website mentions the Schmidt brothers and that they were Shriners and charter members of the club.) Erwin and Hilda lived in an apartment on the north side of Chicago at 2105 Byron St. He also directed the construction of the Two Rivers post office. Erhardt Meineke also spent time in Chicago, and married Viola Hels there before moving back to TR. Alvin and Leona Jindra visited Chicago at least once, for a Schmidt or Meineke anniversary dinner of some kind at Medinah.

Henry Schmidt also went to Chicago for awhile. He had a daughter Laura. Laura died at a young age. Her obituary reads as follows:

LAURA SCHMIDT
Two Rivers Section:
DIES AT HOSPITAL

Laura Schmidt, 15 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schmidt passed away yesterday at the hospital at Manitowoc of pneumonia and appendicitis, after a week's illness. The deceased was a sophomore at the high school. She is survived by her parents, two sisters, Della and Bertha and one brother, Herbert. Burial will take place on Saturday morning from the St. John's Lutheran church, the remains being taken to the home of the family on Rural Route 2 out of the city. Manitowoc Herald News, Thursday, May 03, 1928 Page 11

Schmidt
The untimely death of Laura Schmidt, fifteen year old daughter of Mr and Mrs. Henry Schmidt occured at 6:30 Wednesday omrning(sic) at Holy Family hospital. Pneumonia and appendicitis caused her death after only a week's illness.

Miss Schmidt was a sophomore student at Washington high school. She is survived by her parents: two sisters, Bertha and Della and one brother, Herbert. The body was taken to the family homestead on Rural Route 2 and the funeral will be from there with services at St. John's Lutheran church Saturday afternoon, Rev. W. G. Haase officiating. Two Rivers Reporter Thu, May 03, 1928 Page 1

One relative remembered the story that she had beautiful blond hair but was overweight and had surgery to take the fat from her legs. She died after the surgery. While the family was at the funeral, their house was stripped of many fine goods by burglars. We have been unable to confirm this story. A photograph of her perhaps at a younger age, does not make her appear overweight. More about Laura.

Emma Schmidt Bach also lived in Chicago, would give things to family and occasionally would stay at the Jindra farm.

Other Meineke Facts:

• Many of this generation, such as the Meinekes, fought in World War I.

• The father of Raymond Meineke's wife Elvira (Ahrens) had a farm on the north side of Two Rivers, near Tannery Rd. by the river, which they turned into Fairview/Emerald Hills golf course around 1930. The Meineke brothers played lots of golf there, along with relative Bud Stoer, and the Jindra boys (Al, Roy, Dan) also learned to golf there.
• Another Meineke, Esther and her husband Dwight Holsopple ended up in CA (address of 430 N. Palm Dr. Beverly Hills, on a 1934 letter) where she was a nanny for actor Erich Von Stroheim, and he was a fireman.
• Their son Carl worked at Hughes Aircraft as a mechanical engineer and worked on various projects like the Surveyor spacecraft (1960s) and jet aircraft.

(For more details on the Meineke family history, see the information compiled by Marilyn Rohr that was distributed to relatives around 1980).

More about Johann

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