|
(My Great Grandfather - on mom's side of the family)
Written
by: Dr. Thomas Nussbauer
When I, some time ago,
browsed through the "milk-economical" literature, I
came across a photograph of a man with an attractive
face: high forehead, strong eyes, wary hair and a
van Dyke beard. Below the photograph a name was
given: J.B. Meyenberg. This name sounded familiar,
it aroused my interest and when I continued reading
I found the reason : born in ZUG in SWITZERLAND. The
fact that JBM's appeared next to that of the
American Borden, the founder of the "condensed milk
with sugar" industry, pointed to the fact that he
must have been an important man, who was highly
thought of in America.
Although the name
Meyenberg is often found in the American literature
and since long has taking its place with the
"Prominent Americans of Swiss Origin", it is unknown
in the Swiss and Zug literature. When some time ago
an article appeared in the "New Zurich Newspaper"
describing the history of his fathers house, JBM's
name was not even mentioned.
Now I asked myself, what
kind of "AUG"-man was he and where did he come from?
I acted as I always do when I want to know something
about "the old ZUG", I contracted Mr. Josef Bossard,
retired administrator of the hospital. He, at once,
remembered a certain Johann Meyenberg who had worked
in the milk industry in Cham and who married a
member of the Bossard family. He also gave me the
address of the still living relation in Zug. From
the latter I indeed got the information I wanted as
Mr. Brossard still corresponded with the sons of
Johann Meyenberg.
J.B. Meyenberg was born
on December 11, 1847. His father was Johann, who
died in 1906. His mother came from a family of 13
children, her name was Maria Anna Meier. The
youngster inherited from his parents excellent
spiritual gifts.
Regarding his childhood
I could not get many details. He was baptized in
Zurich and went to primary school in Baar and to
college in Ober-Elsasz, where he studied mechanical
engineering. In 1875-80 we find him employed in the
milk industry in Cham.
He had a very lively,
enterprising, energetic nature. He could work well
with tools and machinery and was also a good
observer. In his circle of friends he was called
"the tall Johann" and it is said of him that he
could not sit still, he had to be moving about and
doing something.
On June 1st, 1878 he
married Josephine Bossard. She was a caring wife,
who helped him even in their most difficult years.
He seemingly had the intention to remain in Cham,
for he built there his house. Here his first
children were born, a girl Hedwig and a boy Johann
Philipp, who at present is the Executive Manager of
the Meyenberg Milk Products Company.
In Cham he got the idea
to develop a new process, on which he worked from
1880-83. The new process promised great
possibilities and indeed made him later world
famous. The most important product in the Cham
factory was condensed milk made by adding sugar
according to a method of the American Bordens. The
"sugar added" condensed milk however, had certain
disadvantages as it was not suitable for all uses in
the kitchen and the bakeries. For this reason the
search for a procedure to make condensed milk
without sugar had been on for a long time. This,
however, was not at all easy and even today it is
not.
During the period that
Meyenberg worked in Cham the factory already
produced condensed milk without sugar according to a
method by Scherff, which, however, had several
drawbacks. Meyenberg did not like this method at all
and studied to improve it. Through the introduction
of a new principle, he hit the jackpot. The new
principle was that the cans with condensed milk
always had to be kept in motion during
sterilization. He constructed the first equipment
for this and so he was able to conquer the
difficulties encountered so far and thus to
manufacture a better product.
He made the new
procedure available to the milk factory in Cham, but
management was not interested. Why, they asked,
change a system that works for a new one that may
not be feasible at all. So they denied the necessary
money for the conversion. This disappointment
decided him to go to the U.S.A., hopeful that there
he would find more understanding. He must have has a
very difficult time, for it was not easy to leave
wife, children and house in view of uncertainty
facing him. Only his energy, trust in himself and
his firm belief in his new method, conquered
everything.
He resigned in 1883 from
his job in Cham. Before he left for the U.S.A. he
made a model of the mew machinery, which he used to
apply for a patent in the U.S.A. Indeed in 1884 he
received two patents for his invention.
Meyenberg traveled in
the spring of 1884 to St. Louis, because it was
there and in the surrounding area that many Swiss
had established themselves. He met many of them in
the bar of the "Green Tree" Hotel and he tried to
explain to them, how his new method to make
condensed milk without adding sugar would shortly
receive a patent. Most of the people he spoke to
were very skeptical and ridiculed him, but one among
them suggested he go to Highland, 35 miles away,
where many Swiss had settled in the dairy business.
He did so and he succeeded, through his sincerity
and his winning manners, to establish a company by
the end of the year. As a good Swiss he named the
company "Helvetia Milk Co.", which would use the new
procedure. The company's capital amounted to
$1500.00
In the shareholders
meeting of February 15, 1885, a quarter of the
shares were promised to Meyenberg, under the
condition that he would only get if his method
proved to be economically sound. The installation of
the necessary machinery and equipment took place in
a small old building. Before the installation was
ready however, the bank where the money had been
deposited went bankrupt, so that the shareholders
had to pay again. Many of them considered this a bad
sign for the future, but Meyenberg himself remained
optimistic.
On June 15, 1885, the
production started and that is the birthday of the
worldwide "unsugared" condensed milk (or as the
Americans called it "evaporated milk") industry.
After only one month however, production has to be
stopped. The first centrifuge was not strong enough
and exploded, so that it had to be replaced. Apart
fro this mishap, the production went fine and at the
end of the year, the young company showed already a
net profit of $1000.00. Meyenberg now got his
promised shares and handed over the system to the
director of the factory. Out of this modest
beginning, big factories with beautiful equipment
and specially trained personnel, were established
later.
In the coming year
however, Meyenberg encountered worse storms and dark
days. From everywhere news was received that the
condensed milk was not durable and went bad. The
claims were so many that an extraordinary general
meeting was called to decide if it was advisable to
go on or to liquidate. The forceful intervention of
a young farmer however saved the day and the factory
was not closed. All the criticism was now directed
at Meyenberg and his methods, although he could
prove that the biggest share of the damage was
caused by cans that were not properly closed.
Nevertheless Meyenberg decided to resign.
He was not discouraged
however. In the meantime his wife and children had
come to join him. In Highland his second son,
Walter, was born. The circumstances were such
however that he did not want to stay here any
longer. He journeyed on, contacted other companies
and equipped factories, which applied his methods
and procedures. Next we find him in Monroe,
Wisconsin, where he marketed his product under the
trademark "Monroe". He did not stay there very long.
His next stop was Elgin, near Chicago, where he
worked with the Elgin condensed milk company and
where he marketed his product under the later famous
trademark "Columbia". At the Chicago World
Exposition in 1893, he won a gold metal. This
success made him suddenly very known in America.
The production of
condensed milk according to the Meyenberg procedure
increased rapidly thanks to the superior quality of
the product. Already in 1900 almost half of the
total condensed milk production of 160 million
pounds in the U.S.A was made according to the
Meyenberg method.
From Elgin he moved to
California to establish new factories. In Buena
Park, where his third son, Werner, was born, he was
so successful with the "Lily" trademark that he
built another factory in Kent, Washington, where he
introduced the "Carnation Milk" on the world market.
He moved back to
California and in 1904 he became and American
citizen. Although he was now 57 years old, he
remained strong-willed and energetic. His last
factory was built near Salinas in San Benito County,
where many Swiss emigrants were living. The
trademark "Alpine" was chosen as a remembrance of
his beautiful fatherland. Because of this factory
the whole district got such an economic push that
the Americans assert that the name Meyenberg is
forever linked to the history of the valley.
In 1911 he retired. His
residence became San Jose, his house became known
for its friendship and hospitality. Any foreigner
felt immediately "at home". Meyenberg was
appreciated by high and low society. To the simplest
laborer he showed the same friendship as to the top
employees. Proof of this was the nickname he was
given in California: "Pop".
He and his wife,
however, never could forget their beautiful
Switzerland, notwithstanding their splendid home in
California. They planned to go once more to see
friends and relatives. They hoped to make the trip
through the Panama Canal. However, both of them were
destined not to enjoy their retirement for long.
Mrs. Meyenberg died in March 1914 and seven months
later, on October 29th, Mr. Meyenberg followed his
wife. His death was deeply felt.
His sons and grandsons
continued the work to which their father/grandfather
had dedicated his whole life. The factories have
been united under the name Meyenberg Milk Products
Co. Heading the company is his eldest son Johann
Philipp. In remembrance of their father they now
call their condensed milk "Meyenberg Milk",
shortened by the Americans to "MM Brand". They now
also produce condensed goat milk which is very
important from a medical point of view. By producing
this milk they have realized an idea long cherished
by their father, who for a long time had plans to
import goats from Switzerland, in order to condense
their milk and make it available to the world.
The newest products of
the company are: condensed milk with vitamins added
and "Victory" evaporated milk.
The importance of
Meyenberg's discovery is best illustrated by some
figures. After the invention of "sugar added
condensed milk" it took 30 years to solve the
problems of producing "no sugar" condensed milk.
Today after 60 years, the modern machinery cannot be
compared with the original equipment. However, in
spite of many efforts to improve the procedure this
has hardly been successful. This proves that
Meyenberg had profoundly studied and found a
solution to all the manufacturing problems.
I have pointed out
already the Meyenberg's invention gave a big push to
the entire milk industry. His sugarless condensed
milk surpasses the production of "sugar added" by a
factor of 4. It is also 5 times bigger than the
canned meat production and 1/3 as big as all canned
fruit.
It is however, very
surprising that Meyenberg, this important man and
real benefactor of mankind, this jewel of his
"kanton" and an inspiration to its youth, is
practically unknown in Switzerland. The biblical
wisdom: "A prophet is never honored in his
fatherland" was never more true than in the case of
Meyenberg.
What was neglected in
the past should be corrected in the future and many
readers will agree with me that Meyenberg should
receive the recognition which is due to him. Better
late than never.
In conclusion, I want to
quote what an American said of him: "His home was
marked by kind hospitality and the last years of his
life were doubly pleasant, for he had given far more
for the betterment of humanity than he had received
in return". Yes, he has given much to mankind and
therefore we may be proud of him.
|
