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Discouraged, by not disheartened

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GREEN BAY – Francis (Frank) Henry Hagemeister emigrated from Prussia, first settling in Milwaukee where he learned the butchering trade while searching for a better life.

With a partner, Hagemeister started a small meat business in Green Bay.

“The partners were able to save a little money, with which they intended buying cattle, but Mr. Hagemeister’s partner proved dishonest, absconding with the money and leaving the young German with but $23,” Ellis Baker Usher wrote in Wisconsin: Its Story and Biography, 1848-1913, Volume VIII.

Discouraged, but not disheartened he started over on his own.

“It was Mr. Hagemeister’s custom, during the early days of his business experience, to make frequent trips through the country, purchasing cattle from farmers, and while on one of the journeys was one day charmed by the beautiful voice of a young lady who was making her way through the woods singing, unconscious of anyone’s presence. Mr. Hagemeister was able to make the young lady’s acquaintance — she proved to be Miss Barbara Martin, and it was not long afterward that the two were married. That, Mr. Hagemeister always considered was the most fortunate occurrence of his life.

“Gradually, Mr. Hagemeister worked his way up in the butcher business until 1866, with three other businessmen he erected the buildings and established the Union Brewery on Main Street in the town of Preble.

He later bought out his partners, Anton Klaus, Herman Mertz and Joshua Whitney.

An Oct. 28, 1871, a legal notice shows Frank purchasing one-quarter of the brewery property from Mertz for a sum of $5,500.

In 1872, Hagemeister doubled the size of the brewery’s manufacturing area as well as storage space.

“The beer from that institution seems to be popular, and has a large sale in this section of the country,” a June 13 Press-Gazette article stated.

One year later, Hagemeister installed a new steam kettle, which tripled its capacity.

Hagemeister and his wife brought six children into the world, and he hoped to give them the opportunities he was not afforded.

Frank put his son, Henry, to work at a young age.

He then became manager at 24 and made a partner at 27.

In March 1890, letters of incorporation were filed for Hagemeister Brewing Company, with Frank as president and Henry secretary-treasurer, which by that time also included a facility in Sturgeon Bay as well.

That year, the company reported the production of 38,406 barrels of beer — a 42% increase from the previous year.

In November 1892, Frank became ill and died; his worth was estimated at $100,000 — about $34 million today.

The company continued to expand, including a four-story addition, two large ice houses, two barns, a bottling house, an office and wagon storage, with three wells on the property by 1907.

Henry served as an alderman and supervisor in the local legislature and in the state assembly, 1893-97.

He also served as a state senator from 1901-1909.

In 1909, Hagemeister resigned from active management of the company to focus on his work in the financial and real estate industries.

In June 1915, Hagemeister died.

A couple of years later, U.S. Congress passed the Volstead Act and the country entered the Prohibition Era, making it illegal to produce intoxicating liquors.

“Green Bay will, during the next year, become one of the largest ice cream manufacturing cities of the state. The Hagemeister Products company, formerly Hagemeister Brewing Company, will engage in the manufacture of ice cream on a large scale and act as distributor for some of the nationally-known beverages also,” a November 1919 Press-Gazette article stated.

“The articles of incorporation of the old company was amended to change the name to the Hagemeister Products Company and to enlarge upon its line of business.

“Under the amended constitution, the state gives the company authority to manufacture, market and prepare for market, sell and deal in foods and edibles, the brewing of malt and cereal beverages, the manufacture of health products.

In June 1925, the Green Bay Hagemeister plant was raided by federal prohibition marshals.

The raid came after a shipment of beer was discovered being transported from Green Bay to Hurley.

After locating what the federal officers determined was “good beer,” seven men were arrested and injunction proceedings to padlock the facility began.
Company management issued the following statement in response:

“None of the officers or directors of the Hagemeister Food Products company were aware of the fact that this beer was being sold. About a month ago, we put a young man in charge of our soda water department, and in his zeal to make a good showing in receipts, he apparently began selling beer. We were told today that the beer was being sold to runners from the northern part of the state when the arrests were made last night,” the statement read.

Later that month, receivers were appointed for the company to protect the interest of its creditors and bondholders.

Months later, involuntary bankruptcy proceedings were started by three of its creditors.

Later that year, the company started reorganization plans, adding butter and cheese to its products; but, on Feb. 10, 1926, the plant was put up for sale but all bids were deemed inadequate.

In April 1926, articles of incorporation papers were filed for the new successor to the Hagemeister products — Bellevue Food Products.

Later that year, liens on the Hagemeister property were filed in federal court against the company for failure to pay taxes, which would cause ongoing issues for locally organized Valley Brewing and Refrigerating Company which was looking to secure the property.

In 1934, the Hagemesiter facility was closed.

Today, Schreiber Foods exists on the grounds that once served as home to the Green Bay brewery.

Hagemeister, Prussia, Usher, history, butcher business, Union Brewery on Main Street, Preble, Klaus, Mertz, Whitney, beer, Henry, Leonhardt, Hagemeister Brewery

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