Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Enzbrenner, John M. September 8, 1860 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 January 13, 2025, 7:00 am Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley JOHN M. ENZBRENNER, the proprietor of the Empire Brewery, of Altoona, and a member of the Tammany democratic club of that city, was born in Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1860, and is a son of George J. and Elizabeth (Laubacher) Enzbrenner. The Enzbrenners are of old German stock, and George J. Enzbrenner was born in 1815, in the kingdom of Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. He was reared in his native land, and served an apprenticeship in a brewery. Germany at that time was recovering from the heavy shock which it had received from the policy of Napoleon Bonaparte prior to annihilation of his power on the field of Waterloo, and although reviving industries offered increased opportunities for the young and ambitious, yet Mr. Enzbrenner did not accept any situation that was within his grasp, and sought, in America, for a wider field than what the Fatherland afforded. He landed in New York City in 1849, and in a short time settled at Hollidaysburg, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Altoona. He resided there until his death, December 21, 1880, at sixty-five years of age. Soon after coming to Altoona he started the first brewery of that place. It was known for many years as the Enzbrenner brewery, and then its name was changed by his son, John M., to that of Empire brewery, by which it is now known. George J. Enzbrenner was a democrat in political opinion, and in religious faith and church membership was a Catholic. His success in the new world justified his wisdom in leaving the shores of the old one. He married Elizabeth Laubacher, a native of Wittenburg, Germany, who was born in 1825, and is a consistent member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Altoona, where she resides. Mr. And Mrs.Enzbrenner reared a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. John M. Enzbrenner grew to manhood in Altoona, and received his education in the public schools of that city. Leaving school he learned the trade of baker, which he followed from 1877 to 1882, and during a part of that period of time was the proprietor of a first class bakery. In the last named year his brother Conrad, who had charge of the Enzbrenner Brewery, died, and he succeeded him as proprietor of the brewery and changed the name Enzbrenner to Empire, as has been stated before in this sketch. The Empire brewery is at No. 1424 Thirteenth avenue, and has a capacity of six thousand barrels per year. Mr. Enzbrenner has a very large home trade, and fills many orders from various cities and towns in this and adjoining counties. He seems specially qualified for the brewery business, in which he has made quite a reputation for furnishing a choice and pure article of beer. In addition to his brewery he owns some very valuable property in Altoona. He is a member and liberal supporter of St. Mary's Catholic church, and has held membership for some time in the celebrated Tammany Democratic club of Altoona. He is an ardent democrat, has always been an active supporter of his party, and has strong faith in the future triumphs of its principles. On May 5, 1884, he married Rose Kiesel, a daughter of Coonrod Kiesel, of Altoona, and their union has been blessed by the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters: John, Barbara, Catherine, and Charles. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Denise This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb