Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-03-02

In 1852 two old men came to POtosi
from Savanna in Germany, named Hail
and Albrecht and built small brew
cry on the present site where the
large brewery now stands. Beer
previous TO this time was hauled to
PotOsi by teams from Galena, bot
tied beer, however, was brought here
from Galena and Rock Island for
several years after the small brewery
was III operation. The old gentle
men did not conduct the business very
long, before relinquishing it to their
sons, Gabriel Hail and John B. AL
brecht, and the brewing firm OF Hail
and Albrecht became we'll known
They continued in the business for
many years, or until Albrecht with
drew from the firm, and with his
family removed to Lancaster and en-
gagged in the Saloon business, sub
sequently removing to a farm in the
town of Waterloo where he died
Gabriel Hail continued in the business
as sole owner until his death in 1878.
John Hail, brother, then took
charge of the brewery, but for short
period, brooding over family difficult
ties, he committed suicide April 18th.
1881, by shooting himself in the
brewery. Theodore Hail, nephew
then took charge and in very short
time the business became so diminish
ed that the brewery was closed By
virtue of a foreclosure of mortgage,
Nathan-Schreiner & company OF Lam
caster became owners of the property
which was then of small value.
Adam Schumacher, young man,
having a little knowledge of knowing
how to make beer, came to Potosi
from Bavaria, Germany, in 1878. After
working in Halls brewery in Potosi
for a short period, and in breweries at
Milwaukee, Dubuque and Indepen-
dence, Iowa, and lastly in the British
Hollow brewery, came to the conclu-
sion to go into the brewery business
for himself and in 1886 purchased the
Potosi brewery from Nathan-Schrei-
ner & company.
Beginning with small capitol in
poorly equipped brewery, Mr.. Schu-
macher was somewhat handicapped,
but by hard work and good manage
ment became very successful. His
beer was pure and of excellent quality,
and it is said that the beer he manu-
/ I0Clufcu Was Iu0 UScI liIdI IhdoC
Potosi famous He was ably assist
ed by his brother, Nick, who was
brewmaster and superintendent of the
plant. Mr.. Schumacher made great
improvements by enlarging the brew
cry building, erecting large additions,
adding a bottling department, and
equipping the plant with the latest
improved machinery The business
grew to such large extent that the,
brewery became inadequate to supply
the trade, and at the time the pro-
hibition enforcement act went into eff
feet the sales amounted to about four
thousand barrels per month. En-
ployment was given to about forty
people in and about the plant with
monthly payroll of thirty-three hun
dred dollars The brewery is still in
operation with greatly reduced force,
manufacturing root and near beers.
In 1855, the citizens of Potosi en-
tered into negotiations with the war
department at Washington for piece
of Artillery, and after all necessary
preliminaries were made. a six pound
err brass cannon with caisson mount
ed on four massive wheels was
brought to Potosi from the U. S. Ar
senal at Rock Island. An artillery
company was organized and Samuel
Runnion. then living in Potosi, and
had belonged to the artillery service
in the Mexican War, was made captain
and Chief Gunner of the gun squad.
He was very bow-legged and when
drilling the company in military man
euvers, he would admonish the boys to