WILLIBALD KUEBLER.
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ 514
Kindly submitted by: Shirley Reese
Siltala
WILLIBALD KUEBLER. Among the
worthy German-American citizens who have been prominent factors
in the prosperity of Easton is this gentleman, who has made his
home here for forty-three years. He is sole proprietor of a
large brewery, in connection with which he runs a bottling
establishment. He has invested considerable money in real
estate in and near this place, and as a result of years of
industrious and enterprising business management has accumulated
a goodly fortune.
A native of Baden,Germany, Mr.
Kuebler was born November 12, 1826, to Andrew and Nothpurga (Baechle)
Kuebler. The former was a farmer and dealer in heavy timber in
the Fatherland, where he continued to reside until his death.
Of his eight children our subject is the only survivor. He came
to the United States in 1850, and first located in Philadelphia,
where he remained for two years in the employ of Engle & Wolf,
brewers. This business he had learned in his native land, and
worked at the calling until coming to Pennsylvania. In 1852 he
concluded to leave Philadelphia, and on coming to Easton engaged
in Partnership with a Mr. Glenz. They started a brewery in the
rear of what is now called “Nightingale’s Corner,” and conducted
the same for about two years.
It was in 1855 that the brewery
was established at the present place, and before many years had
passed their increasing trade made it necessary to enlarge the
plant. In 1876 Mr. Kuebler became sole owner of the business.
He is a man of considerable mechanical genius and has patented
some valuable and labor-saving brewery machinery, one of these
being called the Automatic Reversing Machine. The capacity of
the brewery is about twenty-five thousand barrels per year. Mr.
Kuebler is a first-class brewer, and to his own efforts is due
the fact of his success. The latest improvements used in the
trade are to be found in his establishment, where beer, porter,
export lager, etc., are manufactured. In 1862 he took the first
premium for brewed lager at New York, the first award of the
kind ever given in the United States.
In politics our subject is an
active Democrat and in former years especially was a leading man
in his party. Socially he is a member of the Masonic
fraternity. In 1857 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Christian
Klusmeyer, of Easton, and they have five living children,
namely: William, Charles, Frank, Kate and Mary. The eldest
son, William, is general superintendent of the brewery, and is
also a Director in the Northampton County Bank. He is a man of
good business ability, and progressive in his ideas. By his
marriage with Miss Alice Thume he has one child, Karl
Ferdinand. The second son, Charles, is manager of the bottling
works and general bookkeeper of both establishments. The third
son, Frank, assists his brother in the brewery. Mr. Kuebler is
now erecting a building which will be used as a stable to
accommodate the forty head of horses utilized in the business
and also to be used as the bottling works. This building will
be on the grounds of the brewery, in connection with the other
structures. The trade will be carefully looked after, and all
orders will receive the prompt attention in the future that has
been given them in the past.
Submitted by Shirley Reese Siltala