1219
BERNARD JOHN MEIRINK, M. D.
One of the prosperous and popular physicians of Germantown, Bernard John Meirink, M. D., is a close student of the science which he has chosen as a profession, and in its practice is meeting with well deserved success. A native of Illinois, he was born July 3, 1872, in Breese, Clinton county, of pioneer ancestry, his grandfather, Henry Meirink, Sr., having been an early settler of this section of the state.
The Doctor 's father, Henry Meirink, Sr., was born in Germantown, Illinois, in 1842. Left an orphan when but three years of age, he was brought up in a family named Kniepman, receiving but meagre educational advantages. As a boy he worked at farming and odd jobs, finally learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully until 1906. Having then by persistent labor, thrift and good management accumulated a competency, he retired from the active cares of business, and is now spending his days in pleasant leisure at Breese. He is a stanch Democrat in politics and a faithful member of the Catholic church, to which his wife and family belong. He married, in 1869, Anna Schonefeld, of Breese and to them two sons and five daughters have been born, Bernard John being the second child in order of birth. His only brother, Henry Meirink, Jr., is a carpenter in Breese.
Brought up and educated, primarily, in Breese, Bernard J. Meirink attended the parochial schools until fourteen years old. He subsequently spent three years in the Franciscan College at Teutopolis, Illinois, and in 1890 was graduated with the degree of A. B. Beginning life then as a teacher, he taught for six years in the Becker school in Wade township, during which time he took up the study of medicine, for which he was eminently fitted. Continuing his studies at the Saint Louis Medical College, he was there graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1899, and the following ten months was engaged in the practice of medicine at Damiansville. Coming from there to Germantown, Dr. Meirink has here built up a large and lucrative patronage and is meeting with flattering results in his professional pursuits, and has also made for himself an enviable position in both the business and social affairs of his adopted home.
The Doctor is a member and the president of the Clinton County Medical Society; a member of the State Medical Society; and of the American Medical Association. He is a Democrat in politics, active in public affairs, and is now serving his third term as mayor of Germantown. He is rendering the city noteworthy service, a fine system of water works having been installed under his administration.
On October, 1899, Dr. Meirink was united in marriage with Frances Becker, of Bartelso, the daughter of Henry Becker, a pioneer farmer of Wade township. The Doctor and Mrs. Meirink are the parents of three
1220
children, namely: Laura, Edward and Paul. True to the religious faith of his ancestors, Dr. Meirink is a member of the Catholic church.