Our Meinke Ancestors: The Genealogy of Fritz Meinke and Christine Ruge who Immigrated to La Crescent, Minnesota from Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Later Moving to New Hartford, Osage and Park Rapids, Minnesota

Jochen Freidrich "Fritz" Wilhelm Meinck, illegitimate son of Johann Friedrich Conrad Schomann and Catharina Maria Elisabeth Meinck, was born 20 Apr 1835 In Jesow, Mecklenburg, Germany. Because of his birth, he was given his mother's surname. He immigrated to the United States in 1853 with his mother and step-father. He married Christine Ruge, daughter of Johann Höft Ruge and Trina Schlüter, on 23 May 1861 in La Crescent, Minnesota. They had 10 children. Fritz died on 7 July 1896 in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Christina died on 11 June 1908 also in Park Rapids. Their ancestors lived in Mecklenburg, and Holstein, Germany. Their descendants have lived in Minnesota, Illinois, and other areas in the United States.