My Genealogy Hound

HERMAN KOSTENBADER, of Catasauqua, is the proprietor of the Eagle Brewery, one of the largest local industries, of this place, which was started in 1867, and has since enjoyed a growing patronage. Mr. Kostenbader is a practical man of business and thoroughly qualified to manage so large a concern, as he has had practical experience in former times with similar institutions, and has made a success of them. The goods turned out by this brewery have a large sale in this vicinity and are noted for uniform goodness and reliability. The present proprietor has been connected with the Eagle Brewery since 1867, and during this time has rebuilt and greatly improved the plant, also extending its sales.

A native of Wurtemberg, Germany, our subject was born in Pfullingen, near Stuttgart, April 9, 1842. His paternal grandfather, John F., was a paper manufacturer. His father, Frederick, also a a native of Wurtemberg, was formerly engaged in running a restaurant, but later obtained the office of forester, which office he held until shortly before his demise, which occurred at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, whose girlhood name was Maria Keppler, was born in the same locality, and was a daughter of Martin Keppler, a butcher by trade. The lady died when only thirty-six years of age; afterward her husband was again married. Our subject is the eldest of the three living children, two others having departed this life. One of his sisters resides in New York, and the other makes her home with him.

The boyhood of Herman Kostenbader was passed in his native land, where he attended the excellent public schools until fourteen years of age. During four years of the time he studied Latin, becoming quite proficient in the sciences and languages. Setting sail for America alone, he landed in New York August 7, 1856. He took passage in the “Bavaria,” at Havre, with Captain Bailey, and it was thirty-seven days ere they sighted land. At once the youth proceeded to Philadelphia, where he served an apprenticeship to the brewery business with the firm which is now known as Schnitzel & Smith, and after completing the business he worked for Bergner & Engel, and also for John Klumpp.

Remaining in Philadelphia until the year 1860, Mr. Kostenbader went to Toledo, Ohio, where he worked for about two years at his vocation, thence going to Cincinnati, and afterward returning to Philadelphia. In 1864 he went to Bethlehem, Pa., entering the employ of John Schilling in his large brewery, and continuing with him for three years. In 1867 he came to Catasauqua, in company with Conrad Schaffer, starting the first brewery in the city, formerly located where the Eagle Brewery now stands, and the old plant bore the same name. In 1872 Mr. Schaffer’s interest was purchased by John Kreutzer, of Philadelphia, and together the partners continued until the death of that gentleman, in 1876, when our subject purchased his interest, and has since carried on the business alone.

The Eagle Brewery is located on Railroad Street, between Mulberry and Willow Streets. The former frame building in time was supplanted by the present fine brick structure, which is perfect in its details. The malt house occupies a space of 31x20 feet, the brewery is 25x37 1/3 feet, the wash house 18x31 feet, and the engine and machine shop covers a space of 55x69 feet, while the stables are 18½ x30 feet in dimensions. The engines for the brewery are ten horse-power, while the two boilers are each seventy-five horse-power. In the ice house is an ice machine with a twenty-horse engine, and having a capacity of ten tons. The Eagle Brewery can turn out twenty-five thousand barrels a year, and this product is shipped to all parts; steady employment is given to six men or more. The brewery manufactures its beer from the best barley and hops, and consequently the product is strictly pure. Starting in business on a very small scale, the goods being made by hand and the brewery having a capacity of only about fifteen hundred barrels a year, as they could only brew during the winter, it is evident at a glance how greatly Mr. Kostenbader has succeeded in his enterprise, and how success has crowned his well directed efforts.

In 1873 the beautiful residence of Mr. Kostenbader on Second Street was erected for his home by him, his property having a frontage of sixty feet. He married in 1868 Miss Maria, daughter of Peter Wagner, a baker of this city. The lady was born in Catasauqua, and here her death occurred in 1872. Two years later occurred the second marriage of our subject, his bride being Miss Matilda Strickler, who was born in Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Six children grace the home of our subject, their names being as follows: Dorothy, August, Herman, Charlotte, Celia and Marie. The family are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Kostenbader votes with the Democratic party.