Wilhelm Menger was born
in Windecken, Nanau, Hessen, Germany. In his native land, he was a cooper
and brewer. He immigrated to America in 1847, and became a U.S. citizen
on Nov. 12, 1852. In 1855, he established a brewery in San Antonio and
by 1856 he hired Charles Degen, as brew master. The Menger beer was well
received. The hops and malt were brought from New York and from Indianola
to San Antonio by oxcart.
Due to unsuitable quarters and a threat to go elsewhere by the U.S. Army. Menger contracted with John. H. Kampmann in 1858, to build the Menger Hotel for $15,712 and it opened on Jan. 31, 1859, with many notable guests. Wm. Menger also had Kampmann build a warehouse between the hotel and river for $20,166 on May 7, 1867, and the Government rented it until Ft. Sam Houston was completed, but the lease ran to June 30, 1879.
In 1851, William Menger married a widow Mrs. Mary Baumschlueter Guenther, who operated a boarding house before marrying Menger. In 1855 the Menger's built a one-story boarding house. The Mengers' son Louis was born in 1854; Mary was born in 1855, Peter Gustav was born in1857 and Catherina Barbara was born in 1860.
The Herald told of Menger running an omnibus from Main Plaza to his hotel on Alamo Plaza on June 7, 1859. William Menger served as City Alderman during 1857-1859. Menger was Capt. of the volunteer Fire Dept. He purchased San Antonio's first steam fire engine in New York and it was brought to the rail terminal at Columbus, Texas on to San Antonio by oxcarts.
On Sept. 12, 1868 Menger bought out Naylor's Brewery and now was called "Beer King".
William A. Menger died and the Odd Fellow Fraternity conducted the funeral rites and was assisted by Rev. Grossweiler of German Lutheran Church. Menger was laid away in a metallic casket and burial was in City Cemetery #1, in the southeast corner. After Menger's early death Major Kampmann took over the hotel on a mortgage he held. Today the Moody interest of Galveston operates the hotel. The Menger still exists as a symbol of the old and the new.
Bibliography:
Glen Lich. The
German Texans, 1981
The Handbook of Texas online