Name William Menz | ||
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William Menz (10 November 1849 – 26 March 1898) was founder of the South Australian biscuit and confectionery business W. Menz & Co..
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History
Menz was born in Wakefield Street, Adelaide, the son of John Menz (16 December 1818 - 10 April 1860), and was educated at the German School conducted by Adolph Heinrich Leschen and Theodor H. Niehuus (also on Wakefield Street), then at W. A. Cawthorne's Victoria Square Academy. He began working for grocers G. Wood & Son, then around 1865 took over the grocery business in Wakefield Street, which had been established by his mother Magdalena Menz (1 January 1819 - 12 October 1895) in 1850. The business prospered, and in 1878 his brother August Hermann Menz (12 March 1855 – 3 December 1922) joined the firm. On the death of William, August Hermann took over the firm until 1919, when a limited liability company was formed, with him as managing director. He married Wilhelmine H. A "Minna" Menz (15 November 1865 – 18 June 1951) on 9 May 1889; they had two sons, Hermann Victor (1890 - 1984) and William Oscar (1896 - 1991), and a daughter, Anna Magdalena (1891 - 1955) and lived at Beulah Road, Norwood.
Hermann Victor Menz became managing director in 1922. He was captain of the Adelaide Rowing Club.