He became an instructor in chemistry and physics at Gettysburg College from 1886 to 1896, and then head of the science department of York High School from 1897 to 1903.
He made a soil survey of the State of Pennsylvania, and was the author of numerous articles on scientific agriculture. In 1914, his book, Soils of Pennsylvania was published.[1]
Menges was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-ninth, Seventieth, and Seventy-first Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1930.