History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 139

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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Our subject was married in October, 1886, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Bernard Weyer, of Ferdinand, Indiana. Five children born of this marriage are: Mary Schilderink (wife of John Schilderink, a merchant of Cincinnati), Louisa, Amelia, Ceilia, and Caroline. The family reside on Kline street, Walnut Hills; they :are members of St. Francis de Sales Church.

GEORGE HENRY KOTTE was born in Germany in 1837, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 1, 1893. Having great faith in the United States, and being a carpenter by trade, which was that of his father, he came to Cincinnati when a young man. He was very ambitious, and anyone seeing the youth engaged in vari- ·ous lines of business, yet finding time, while engaged during the day, to attend night school for two years, thus acquiring a knowledge of our language and mastering bookkeeping, could have safely prophesied a future to one who could bring to bear such energy, such indomitable will and self-denial. In 1860, being by that time

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well qualified therefor, he took a position as bookkeeper with Louis Hudepohl, Sr., and was admitted to partnership in the firm of Hudepohl & Kotte, wholesale liquor dealers, in which he was engaged twenty-two years. In 1880, becoming interested in the Fairmount Distilling Company, he was elected president. This business was sold to the trust in 1888, Mr. Kotte having previously established with Mr. Hude- pohl the Buckeye Brewery. Mr. Kotte before he became interested in this concern had made a reputation as one of the shrewdest and ablest business men in the city of Cincinnati. The great growth and phenomenal increase of the business of the Buckeye Brewery is conclusive proof of his executive ability and tremendous- push.

Mr. Kotte was married in 1870 to Mary Kate, daughter of John H. Taphorn, an old resident and business man of this city. Nine children were born of this mar- riage, namely: Clara, Harry, Edward, Louis, William, Frank, Albert, Katherine, and George. The eldest child is the wife of Henry C. Kaiser, manager of the Buckeye Brewery, and Harry, Edward and Lewis are also connected therewith. The family reside on Ohio avenue; they are members of St. George' Church.

GEORGE M. HERANCOURT, who was long known in Cincinnati as one of its princi- pal producers, was of Huguenot stock, and was descended from John de Herancourt, who moved from France in 1685, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to Muehlhofen, Rhein Pfaltz, Bavaria, where the subject of this sketch was born July 4, 1807. The father, George Michael Herancourt, was a farmer in good circum- stances, and put the son to school until he was fifteen years of age, when he was sent to learn the brewing and distilling business, for which the proprietor was paid eighty-eight florins. This he followed two years, then obtained employment in another establishment, where he remained one year; then traveled and worked his- way through the cities of France, Germany and Switzerland for four years, after which he returned to his native place, thoroughly imbued with Republican princi- ples, and with a desire to go to America. The monarchical government of Bavaria was soon made more obnoxious to him by his being drafted into the army before he had been home two weeks. His father, however, purchased a substitute for him, and would have established him in business, but being bent on going to the great Republic of the West to try his fortune, he preferred a passport to Havre, France, where on the thirteenth of June, 1830, he took passage in a sailing vessel, and cross- ing the ocean landed at New York, August 27. During the few days he was in that city, he ascertained that there were only four ale and porter breweries there. From New York he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed in the ale and porter brewery of Badenheimer & Drexel until the following spring, when the works were stopped, as the manufacture of those beverages was not carried on during the sum- mer until several years after, by Reichert, of Philadelphia, and Lauer, of Reading, Penn. He then traveled through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. Cincinnati he visited for the first time in 1833, during the prevalence of the cholera, and found half of the stores on Main street, between Fifth street and the river, closed, some of the parties having died, and some removed to the country. The first day he was here no less than sixty five deaths occurred, the largest number of any one day during the epidemic. He then returned to Philadel- phia for a few months, but again came west, this time to Columbus, where he engaged in the jewelry and music business, continuing in same from 1834 to 1844, when he sold out, as his health was suffering from confinement. Being one of the charter members of the Ohio Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company, he was appointed its general agent, and served in that capacity about five years. In con- nection with a partner he also carried on brewing; in 1836 he formed another part- nership, building the City Brewery, and this business connection he maintained some twenty-eight years, although he came to Cincinnati in 1847, and started a sep- arate establishment. In 1834 he first tasted lager beer in the saloon of a Mr.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Fleishman, on Main street, between Ninth and Court streets, who merely brewed enough to supply his customers over the counter. One year later he built a lager beer vault on the corner of Main and Twelfth streets; but it was closed the follow- ing year, because the beer would not keep during summer. In 1843 or 1844 two others commenced the manufacture of lager in an alley between Fourth and Fifth streets, on Western row, and continued about two years. In 1846 Fortinann & Muenzenberger were manufacturing it on Main near Twelfth streets, and continued the same for two years. Next in order came Peter Noll, who also brewed lager in a small way on Vine street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets; from which it can be seen that the growth of this branch of business has been very remarkable within the last forty-five years. Mr. Herancourt erected his brewery on the site of the present extensive establishment, with a capacity, at first, of fourteen barrels per day, but increased to forty-five per day the second year, and continued to increase until 1851 when he commenced brewing lager. From that time forward the business developed rapidly, and became correspondingly remunerative. In 1852 he built the first large cellars in Cincinnati for keeping lager during hot weather, making his contracts at Christmas for the whole year; and when others wished to buy from him they were refused, on the ground of not having bought of him in win- ter. His connection with the City Brewery was continued until 1864, when be dis- posed of his interests to his partner, Mr. Huster. Besides this, Mr. Herancourt pur- chased a brewery built by his brother in 1854, on the corner of Central avenue and Denman street, and successfully operated it for five years, and then leased it to other parties.

In 1840 Mr. Herancourt was married to Miss Louise Ampos, of Columbus, a native of Bavaria, by whom were born to him two children; she died in 1843. He was married, the second time, in 1847, to Mrs. Barbara Juengling, and the fruit of this union was children as follows: Christina, married to H. Heuck, of Memphis, in 1865, and died in February, 1870, at the age of twenty-six, leaving three children; Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Faehr), Paulina, Wilhelmina, Louis Albert, George L., Ed- ward S., Robert H., Lilly C. and William. Mr. Herancourt died June 29, 1880. He acquired an abundance of this world's goods, and spent the eventide of life quietly and comfortably. As a man of business, Mr. Herancourt had the reputation of be- ing prompt, energetic and methodical; one whose foresight in reference to mercan- tile probabilities was remarkably correct. He never withdrew from an enterprise in which he was fairly engaged, until success was evolved from it, although the pros- pect at times might be very poor. He was a man of a thoughtful turn, and kept pace with the times in all that pertained to trade, commerce and natural science, and might be emphatically called a man of progress. He had an enviable reputa- tion for candor and integrity among his fellow citizens; was possessed of high am- bition, and was thorough in all his undertakings. To be able to appreciate him, it was first necessary to gain his confidence; for, after he was assured of the real worth of a person, there was hardly anything he would not do for him. To the truth of this many flourishing business men in the city can testify. In fact he was possessed of many manly virtues that made him worthy of the remarkable success that fol- lowed him through life, and gathered about him a host of ardent friends. He was president of the board of trustees of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church of Cincinnati, and a thirty-second degree Mason.

WILLIAM EDWARD BRACHMANN was born in Frankfort on the Oder, Prussia, October 21, 1837. His parents, Ernest and Ernestina Brachmann, were also born in Prussia, the former in Nordhausen, the latter in Berlin. Both paternal and maternal ancestors were native to Prussia, as far back as the genealogy of the families is traceable. William's parents came to this country in 1840, locating at once in Cincinnati, where an elder brother of his father, Henry Brachmann, was at that time, and for many years thereafter. a prominent merchant. Ernestina Brachman died in 1868, Ernest Brachmann in 1891.

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William received a public-school education. Upon attaining his majority, he had alternately the charge of a farm and distillery in Ohio, both of which were owned by his Uncle Henry. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Forty-seventh Ohio (known as the old Wilstach Regiment). At Charleston, W. Va., in the fall of 1862, while on detached service as acting sergeant with a mountain howitzer battery, word was sent to Private Brachmann, by his captain, that he had been promoted to corporal, and ordered him to rejoin his company. The- battery having been deserted by its officers, Acting-Sergeant Brachmann determined to remain at his post, where he was found by Lieut. - Col. A. C. Perry, who ordered him to remain. For this service, Corporal Brachmann was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. In the Atlanta campaign he was made first lieutenant, and in the March to the Sea he was promoted to a captaincy. Capt. Brachmann's war record embraced active service in many of the greatest battles of the war (fifty-two engagements in all), including Vicksburg, Jackson, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, the engagements of the Atlanta Campaign, and the March to the Sea. While in charge of a battery at Vicksburg, Capt. Brachmann was wounded by a minie ball which passed through the body of one of his cannoneers, killing him. After participating in the Grand Review at Washington, where all drafted men were mustered out, the remainder of the division proceeded as far as Little Rock, Ark. (en route to meet Maximilian's forces in Mexico), but were there mustered out of service August 11, 1865.

In 1866 Mr. Brachmann went into the wholesale wine and liquor business with C. J. Glossner under the firm name of Brachmann & Glossner, which partnership was dissolved two years later. He then formed a partnership in the same line with John Peter Massard, and the business still continues to be conducted under the firm name of Brachmann & Massard. Mr. Brachmann was for several years treasurer and general manager of the Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth railroad, of which his. uncle, Henry Brachmann, was for some years owner and president. Capt. Brach- mann was married, in May, 1872, to Georgiana Robb, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Robb, of Highland county, Ohio, and they have four children: Jessie D., Willard G., Sarah E. and Frederick Edward. The two eldest children are students at Oxford, Ohio, and the two youngest are attending the public schools in Cincinnati. The family reside in Morris place, Tusculum. Capt. Brachmann is a member of the Ohio Commandery, of the Loyal Legion, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Veteran Union League Corps. He is a Republican in politics.

HENRY VARWIG, president of the Banner Brewing Company, was born in Hannover, Germany, November 30, 1835, son of Joseph H. and Maria (Dickman) Varwig. His mother died in Germany. His father immigrated to Cincinnati in 1841, and died here in 1857, at the age of forty-four. He was a brickmaker by trade, but engaged in the grocery business at Cincinnati. He had three children: one died in Germany, and one on the ocean, during the voyage out, Henry being the only survivor.

Henry Varwig received a public school education at Cincinnati. Upon the death of his father he succeeded to his grocery business, which he continued two years. From 1859 to 1870 he conducted a bakery, and since 1870 has been engaged in his present business. In 1885 he was elected secretary of the Banner Brewing Com- pany, of which he became president in 1888. He is also interested in the manufacture of electric fans, having organized the Varwig Manufacturing Company for that pur- pose, and is a stockholder in the Bedgood Artificial Stone Company. Mr. Varwig resides at Carthage, where he is now a member of the village council. He also served eight years as alderman of Cincinnati; he is independent in politics. On November 9, 1858, he married Emily S. Brenner, of Cincinnati, and they are the parents of four children: Ida, wife of Alexis Darusmont, secretary of the Banner Brewing Company and president of the Cincinnati Stamping Company (Mr. and Mrs. Darusmont reside at Mt. Auburn; are the parents of one child, Alexis, Jr.);

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Emma, who married Frank M. Le Boiteaux, machinist and electrician, and has two children, Elsie and Beatrice (they reside at Carthage); Rudolph, who married Ruth Bouser, and Harry, who married Winifred Ferrell. Mr. Varwig is a Unitarian in religious faith; he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., and the Masonic Fraternity, in which he is Master Mason.

JACOB FREY, secretary and treasurer of the Schmidt Brothers Brewing Company, was born in Cincinnati, December 12, 1853, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hess) Frey, natives of Germany who came to Cincinnati in 1845; here the father died in 1854 at the age of thirty-five, the mother June 11, 1893, aged seventy. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are living: Frederick and Jacob. The last named attended the public schools of Cincinnati, and graduated from Gundry's Commercial College in 1868. He was an apprentice under his step-father, August Goetze, and a workman in the furniture factory of Mitchell, Rammelsberg & Com- pany, until 1875, when he learned the brewing business at the Lackman Brewery. In 1876 he entered the employ of Schmidt & Brothers as bookkeeper, and upon the organization of the present company, in 1891, was elected secretary and treasurer, which position he has since held. This company manufactures thirty-five thousand barrels of beer annually, ranking among the largest of its class in the city. Mr. Frey resides at No. 62 Bogen street. On November 29, 1876, he married Mary Ferkel, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of eight children: Jacob, August, Frederick, Lille, Harry, George, Albert and Edward. Mr. Frey is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Protestant Church, and treasurer of the organization with which he is connected. In politics he is independent.

HENRY CHARLES KAISER Was born March 2, 1864, at Cincinnati, son of Theodore and Anna (Weber) Kaiser, natives of Germany, who came to this country in their childhood. They were married in Cincinnati, where they have since resided, Theo- dore Kaiser being engaged in the feed business. Henry was educated at the paro- chial schools and St. Joseph's College, Cincinnati, graduating from the latter insti- tution in 1880. He filled various clerical positions until 1885, when he became associated with the Buckeye Brewing Company, where he is now engaged in the capacity of confidential man. He was married, in 1889, to Clara, eldest child of George H. Kotte, deceased, one of the founders of the Buckeye Brewing Company. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kaiser have one child, Norma; they reside on Jefferson street, and they are members of St. George's Church.

CONRAD WINDISCH, brewer, Cincinnati, was born March 6, 1825, in Bavaria, son of Ulrich Windisch. After obtaining a common-school education he commenced work for his father on the farm and in the brewery, being then only thirteen years of age, continuing this until he reached the age of twenty-three, by which time he had become thoroughly disgusted with the country that would barely allow him to live for the time being, and he determined to emigrate. Sailing from Bremen November 1, 1848, he landed at New York February 1 following, having been thir- teen weeks on the voyage. He hastened to Pittsburgh, where he found employ- ment in a brewery at $5 per month and his board for the first month, and $7 for the following six months. Tiring of such poor wages he determined to go to St. Louis, where he had friends. As the river was low he and three others went via the Beaver canal to Erie, and took a steamboat for Chicago, where they arrived in seven or eight days, and then proceeded to St. Louis. Finding no employment there, how- ever, Mr. Windisch went to Belleville, Ill., and engaged himself to a brewer at $11 per month. But as his employer used an old coal mine for his cellar, the approach to which was constantly under water, his health began to fail, and at the end of two months he was so prostrated with fever and ague that he was obliged to quit the place, leaving the old blind horse that drew the barrels out of the mine to the care of another. After medical treatment in St. Louis for several months he secured employment at a brewery in that city, receiving $12 for the first month, $14 for the second, and $15

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for the third, working at this rate for several months. But having no idea of settling in St. Louis he embraced the first opportunity to come to Cincinnati, where he had friends. When he left the firm owed him about ninety dollars, but as he had never seen any paper money in his native country he declined to take paper money here, hence they paid him in five-franc silver pieces. This, with a few twenty-franc silver pieces brought from home, constituted his cash capital. He came to Cincinnati by way of the river, which reduced his funds to $60. He soon found work in Herancourt's brewery, where he remained eight months. His reputation as a brewer was good, and to better his condition he shortly after- ward entered the employ of Mr. Koehler, of the Buckeye Street Brewery, where he was soon promoted to the superintendency of the work. He retained this situation three years, during which time he was very economical, spending only what was absolutely necessary. His savings had only amounted to a few hundred dollars, however, when an opportunity offered for going into business himself, and he formed a partnership with Mr. Moerlein, whose partner had died. This was in 1854. Both men being of sound judgment and possessed of indomitable persever- ance, their business rapidly increased from year to year, until they commenced making lager, when it received a wonderful impetus, and for twelve years they en- joyed great prosperity. In September, 1866, Mr. Windisch sold out his interest to his partner and formed another business alliance with Messrs. Gottleib and Henry Muhlhauser for the purpose of starting the Lion Brewery. This establishment will be found described in the chapter on manufactures.

Mr. Windisch was married in 1854 to Miss Sophia Wilhemine Kobmann, from his native village in Bavaria, and seven children blessed their union, four of whom are living. He died in 1887. Two of his sons, Charles and William, are now members of the great firm he assisted in founding. Mr. Windisch possessed remarkably quick penetration, was an excellent business man, and was noted for his many acts of quiet charity. His deathi was sincerely mourned among his numerous friends.

DR. ALOIS ZECKENDORF was born in Prague, Austria, October 23, 1865, and is the second eldest of six children born to Siegfried and Rosa Zeckendorf, both natives of Austria, residing in Prague. Dr. Zeckendorf received his primary education in the schools of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and for five years attended the Uni- versity of Basel, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1888. In 1892 our subject came to America, and was employed as chemist in the Fleischman Distilling Company's establishment in New York City. In the fall of 1893 Dr. Zeckendorf removed to Cincinnati, and is now engaged here as superintendent of the malt house for the same company.

ALEXANDER BENNETT MCAVOY, real-estate dealer, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., January 11, 1844. He is a son of the late Daniel and Mary (Bennett) McAvoy, both of whom were natives of County Down, Ireland, and came to this country early in their married life, locating in Philadelphia, where Mr. McAvoy engaged in his business of horticulturist, having charge of the conservatories, gardens and grounds of James Platt, the millionaire iron merchant of that city. While there he became acquainted with the late Nicholas Longworth, of Cincinnati, who induced him to come to this city. Here he engaged in the same business, his initial work being the laying out of the Garden of Eden, now known as Eden Park. He died in 1874. His wife survived him ten years. Mr. McAvoy was the propagator of the once famous strawberry that bore his name, "The McAvoy Superior Strawberry." He was identified, with his patron, Mr. Longworth, in the culture of the grape, strawberry, and other fruits, in all of which they were eminently successful.

The subject of this sketch, Alexander Bennett McAvoy, received his education in the public schools of Cincinnati, completing it at Woodward High School. He was then for several years in the employ of the Scandinavian Remedy Company,

W. E. Brachen

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

and next became identified with the wholesale clothing house of A. & J. Frounstine, with whom he was associated as cashier and bookkeeper for twenty-two years-from 1868 to 1890. In the latter year he embarked in the real-estate business, laying out the subdivision of Sunset Park, adjoining Hyde Park, East Walnut Hills. Mr. McAvoy was married in 1867 to Ann Eliza, daughter of Edward and Jane (Martin) Wones, and three children were born of this marriage: Irving, Helen and Malcolm, all of whom are graduates of Woodward High School, and the former of Mc- Micken University. Irving McAvoy is a civil engineer with C. P. Huntington; Malcolm McAvoy is pursuing the study of law under Judge Howard Ferris, of the Hamilton county probate court. The family residence is on McMillan street, Walnut Hills, but was formerly for a number of years at Linwood and Van Dyke avenues, Mt. Lookout, of which now populous suburb Mr. McAvoy was one of the early residents, having moved there in 1869, a year and a half prior to the estab- lishment of the street-car service to that locality. The family are members of the Mt. Lookout Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McAvoy is a Mason; politically he is a Democrat and a member of the Young Men's Democratic Club.

CHARLES KAHN, JR., was born June 9, 1833, at Alberschweiler, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. His parents, Solomon and Esther Kahn, both of whom were natives of Bavaria, as were also their ancestors, came to the United States, locating in Cincin- nati, in 1836. Charles was educated in the schools of Cincinnati, graduating from the Cincinnati College in 1849, and the following year went to Europe, where he spent eighteen months in travel and study. Returning to Cincinnati, he engaged in the slaughtering business with his father, whom he succeeded, a few years later, conducting the business alone until 1862. In 1862-63, Mr. Kahn was engaged ex- clusively in filling of government contracts, supplying vast numbers of cattle and great quantities of fresh beef for the Northern armies. In 1863 Mr. Kahn was one of the organizers of the firms of Richard Beresford & Company, and Kahn & Forbus, which were among the largest pork-packing establishments in Cincinnati, then the largest pork-packing market in the world. These firms were dissolved in 1877, and the firm of Charles Kahn, Jr., & Company was formed, which for ten years carried on an extensive grain and provision business. Mr. Kahn was one of the founders of the Union Stock Yards Company. From 1887 to 1890 he was engaged exclusively in handling horses, mules and cattle. In October, 1890, he embarked in the real-estate and loan-negotiating business, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Kahn's business operations have not been confined to Cincinnati. In 1893, in conjunction with his son Sol, he organized the Qualey Construction Company of Chicago, and secured a one-million-dollar contract for the construction of one mile of the ship canal now being built by the Sanitary Department of Chicago. Mr. Kahn has been closely identified with the interests of Cincinnati, and has given much of his time to the discharge of important trusts. He was for a number of years a member of the city council, chairman of the fire department committee, chairman of the finance com- mittee, and fire commissioner. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for more than thirty years, and was an active member of the Real Estate and Stock Exchange. He is a member of a number of secret societies, among them the Masonic Order, Odd Fellows, B'nai B'rith. Mr. Kahn was married, in 1857, to Hannah, daughter of the late Isaac Marcks, the veteran ice dealer of Cincinnati. Of this mar- riage one son, C. Sol. Kahn, is the only living issue. The firstborn of the marriage, Albert A. Kahn, was born June 21, 1861, and died January 4, 1889. He was a promising young business man.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 139

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592