Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Marbacher Brewery and Kohl & Bean Brewery

 

 By Sharon Gothard

John G. Marbacher Sr. died in Easton, PA on a Sunday, November 15, 1835. His age was around 55 years. John G. was a brewer born in Germany and first came to Philadelphia on the ship Maria Elizabeth, September 11, 1804. With him was his father; Johannes, mother; Caroline, brothers; Valentine, Carl and sisters; Anna Maria, Francisca, Christina, and Caroline. According to his obituary, John G. later came to Easton, PA sometime around 1822. He is not mentioned in the 1820 or 1821 Easton taxes, but first appears in the 1822 Easton Tax list as a brewer and appears in the Easton Census in 1830. His mother died a few months before him in 1835. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Philadelphia in 1854.  John G.’s brewery was on the long gone North Green St. (alley) & Bushkill St along the Bushkill Creek.

 

1850 Map of Easton


Courtesy: Glass Works Auctions

 

Among John G.’s children were John Jr., born June 1809. John Jr. took over the running and ownership of the brewery after his father’s death. On August 17, 1834 he married Maria Catharina Raub. On the 1850 map, Plan of the Town of Easton, Marbacher Brewery is marked. On May 1, 1850, John Jr. passed away at age 45 years. Maria appears to have been involved in the Marbacher Brewery as she is listed in the 1852 and 1853 taxes in the Bushkill Ward. Both years had her with six horses, two carriages, one cow and the estate of brewery and lot, included was a house. Maria C. (Raub) Marbacher, John G. Jr.’s wife, was born November 29, 1810 and died August 28, 1855. Both she and her late husband, John Jr. are buried at Easton Cemetery, Easton, PA.

 In Deed H8-113, the brewery was sold at auction on August 24, 1853 for $12, 600 to George A. Kohl of Lambertville, Hunterdon County, NJ and deeded October 19, 1853.

From the 1852 & 1853 Easton Bushkill Ward taxes, John A. Kohl was listed as a brewer, but owned no property. John A. was most likely working for Maria at the Marbacher Brewery. The 1854 Bushkill Ward tax has Nelson Bean and John A. Kohl listed as brewers, with George Kohl taxed for NR (non-resident) Brewery office & lot Marbacher with a valuation of $5,000.

From an engraving on stone by E. Herrlein on the Map of Easton & 12 Miles Around 1855, we see a Kohl & Bean Brewery image. It is apparent that Kohl & Bean was where the Marbacher Brewery was.


 

1855 Map


George A. Kohl, was a brewer living in Lambertville, NJ. He married John G.’s daughter, Anna Maria Marbacher, born 1800 in Germany and died 1851. Their son John A., was living with them in the 1850 Lambertville, NJ census, as a lumber merchant. John A. must have had interest in brewing because by 1852, he is in Easton, PA as a brewer. Nelson Bean is listed in the 1850 New Hope, PA census as a clerk.

The 1855 Bushkill Ward taxes have John A. Kohl as brewer. Kohl & Bean is listed with 14 horses and one carriage. George Kohl is NR Brewery Office & lot.  

 

Courtesy: Glass Works Auctions
 

In the 1856 Bushkill Ward taxes, both Nelson Bean & John A. Kohl are listed as brewers, with Kohl & Bean with 15 horses and one carriage. Again, George Kohl with the NR brewery office & lot.

By the 1857 Bushkill Ward taxes, Nelson Bean is not listed. John A. Kohl is a brewer and the same for George Kohl, NR Brewery office, lot and 10 horses and one carriage. Kohl & Bean is still marked on the Map of Easton, South Easton & Phillipsburg, 1857.

 

1857 Map

The 1858 & 1859 Bushkill Ward taxes, no longer has either Nelson Bean or John A. Kohl listed. Only George Kohl with NR Brewhouse & lot.

By the 1860 Census, John A. Kohl is listed as a brewer in Roxburg, MA. In the same year census, Nelson Bean is living in Belvidere, NJ and has been married to George Kohl’s daughter, Mary Frances. He no longer appeared as a brewer up to his death on May 4, 1894. John A. Kohl died in Brookline, MA on August 2, 1901. His obituary states he worked for Norfolk brewery, partnered with A. J. Houghtor and then established the Vienna brewery in Roxbury, MA. George Kohl died August 27, 1868 in the Lambertville, NJ, according to his tombstone.

The 1860 Bushkill Ward taxes has George A. Kohl with Brewhouse & Office lot with a value of $2,000. Seitz & Brother had Brewhouse, Stabling, 24 horses & lot with a value of $4,500. John Seitz, brewer a value of $200. Lastly, John Marbacher est. house & lot, late residence, value $1,300.

1861 Bushkill Ward taxes the same as the year before for George A. Kohl, Seitz & Brother, $5,700, John Seitz, brewer, $400. Frederick Seitz, Lot on Front & Bushkill, $1,200. John Marbacher estate, house & lot Bushkill St., $1,500.

George Seitz on October 24, 1864 received the deed from George Kohl. In the Easton Sentinel on October 20, 1864, “Real Estate Sales – The old Brewery Property, on the Bushkill, in this Borough, was purchased last week by Mr. George Seitz, from George Kohl, for $8,000. Mr. S. intends putting the establishment in complete order for the manufacture of Lager Beer.”

The 1867 Bushkill Ward tax had no Kohl or Marbacher entry.  It had George Seitz, Brewer, Brewhouse, $1,750, residence, $1,000, 3 horses, $150., 1 cow, $10. And two watches. John A. Seitz, Brewer, Brewhouse, Stables, $2,000, 30 horses, $1,200, residence, $1,250, one carriage, $50. and 1 watch.

Without exact dates, Marbacher Brewery seems to be in business from 1822 to 1853. The Kohl & Bean Brewery (owned by George A. Kohl) was in business from 1854 to 1864.

 

 Notes

When John G. Marbacher Sr. died, his obituary from the Northampton Whig, Wednesday, November 18, 1835, stated he “prosperously pursued his business among us with unblemished character for punctuality and integrity. By his death a vacancy has occurred in our Town Council, of which he was a useful and excellent member. Indeed, our place could boast of few more public spirited or prosperous citizens then John G. Marbacher.”  He was most likely buried at the Easton Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery, as their records mentioned his death. He is currently buried at Easton Cemetery.

John Marbacher Jr.’s obituary from the Democrat and Argus on Thursday May 2, 1850, much like his father said, “he was a useful and much respected member of our community, whose death is universally regretted. He was a kind and indulgent father and a true sincere friend.” 

Both John G. Marbacher Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth was married before. Elizabeth Opperman was possibly married to an Anthony Kohl and together, they had George A. Kohl. John G. was married to unknown and had Anna Marie Marbacher. These two, George and Anna Maria married. This may explain why John G. Sr. was a guardian for George Kohl; see John G.’s will.

Micro-film at the Easton Area Public Library

Maps - All the mentioned maps are located in the Marx Room at the Easton Area Public Library.

Deed to George Seitz – A-11 page 243 at the Northampton County Archives.

Taxes – Northampton County Archives

Wills – Northampton County Archives

 

Thanks to Shayne Schafer at the Northampton County Archives.

MANY thanks to Richard Musselman for all his help and skill. Without him, I could not have done this research.

And BIG thanks to Leonard Buscemi for inquiring about Kohl and Bean.