"Benjamin Raupfer was born in Baden, Germany, November 3, 1838, was reared and received a good education in his native town. His father, Peter Raupfer, died in 1851, and that fall our subject went to Switzerland and engaged in teaming and selling silks and other goods, continuing thereat until 1865, when he embarked at Havre de Grace on the English ship "Belonia," bound for New York.

After a stormy voyage of twenty-two days, he arrived in safety at his destination and soon after cause to Columbia City, and took charge of an engine, which he ran for three years. He then opened a saloon, which he managed until 1879, when, in partnership with Fred Walter, he purchased the "Eagle" beer brewery, which the new firm enlarged and remodeled, and converted into one of the finest in the country, giving it a capacity of 6,000 barrels per annum, and the product is pronounced to be the best in Northern Indiana.

In 1869, November 9, he married Mary Myers, who has borne him two children, Joseph and William, and the family are highly respected. - "History of Whitley and Noble Counties, Indiana" Written by Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard, published in 1882.

"The brewery property of Messrs. Raupfer and Walter, on the banks of Blue River, is probably one of the most extensive of its kind in Northern Indiana. It is now in the very best of shape, ably managed and is turning out kegs of foaming beer that is said by the followers of Gambrinus to be of the very best quality." - History of Whitley and Noble Counties, Indiana, Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard, 1882

"Jacob Portman, junk and feed dealer of this city, has for a private consideration. purchased the buildings of the Walter-Raupfer brewery, which closed down some time ago. The realty included in the deal, and the buildings six in number, are the brewery building which will be converted into cold storage, with its several miles of pipes: the ice plant, which will be refitted to manufacture ice for the public: the bottling works, which will be dismantled to make room for a coal yard: a malt house, barn an the office buildings. The buildings and realty were owned by the heirs of the late Benjamin Raupfer of this city and the heirs of the late Anton Meyer who now reside in Fort Wayne." - Fort Wayne News, April 5, 1917

"According to an article in the Huntington News-Democrat evening, the Commercial club of this city has been seeking for some time to the Huntington Brewing Company to move to this city. This, denied by officials of the brewery who state that the question is the first thing they had regarding the project. The News-Democrat, after springing this declaration, goes on to say that Messrs. Hoch and Kneipp (sic), owners of the establishment, do not care to move from Huntington, despite the fact that that place is dry. Instead of moving, it is declared that they have purchased land west of this city Wabash railroad, where they will erect an immense modern cold storage plant. The plan is for the brewing company to manufacture its beer in Huntington and then ship it to the cold storage plant here. From this place it will be sent out to the different places where the customers live." - Fort Wayne News, Feb 12, 1910

"BREWERY MEN SENTENCED
Escape Jail Sentences, However, and Pay Fines

HUNTINGTON, Ind June 12  - Hoch and William P. Knipp, proprietors of the Huntington Brewery, today were sentenced to thirty days in jail each for illegal sale of liquor, though Judge S E Cook suspended the sentence on their showing that they employed a number of men about their plant who would be thrown out of employment if they were deprived of their liberty." - Indianapolis Star, June 13, 1911

In 1877, he bought one-half interest in the brewery with William Seifert, which they conducted until the death of Seifert in September 1879, when Mr. Wichmann became the sole owner, and which he has conducted up to the present time, being now, by a subsequent change in proprietorship, manager for the owner, Henry C. Paul, of Fort Wayne. This brewery was built in 1867, by Louis Schwartzkopf and Geo. Aichele, subsequently becoming the property of Francis J. Beek, Seifert and Heinike, and the parties mentioned above." - Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana, Historical and Biographical Illustrated, F.A. Battey & Co., publishers, 1882.

"KENDALLVILLE, Ind., May - East Lake Brewing company, the distributing agency for the Berghoff Brewing company, of Fort Wayne, has operations. two weeks ago. Net Drake notified his customers in this city that he would be unable to furnish them with the Berghoff beer on account of the other firms making such inroads on the Berghoff business that it was no longer profitable for him to handle it, and that they would have to get It direct. Joseph Becker, the former owner of the company, has served notice on Mr. Drake of the intention of foreclosing the same. The Berghoff company also holds a mortgage on the property but It Is not known what they will do in the matter." - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - May 3, 1908

"WON HER CASE ONLY TO DIE"

"Mrs. Bertha Kelp, wife of John G. Kelp, head of the Columbia Brewing Co., died suddenly Friday morning about 3:45 o’clock at her home 623 Miami avenue, Logansport, aged 51 years. The news of her death came as a great shock to many people, as they did not know she was ill. Mrs. Kelp had been ailing for some time, but she was not forced to her bed until Monday. She had been suffering with typhoid fever and death was the result of a sudden change for the worse, which is peculiar of the disease.

"- - - at Winamac Thursday at midnight when she was given judgment against the Chicago & Erie Railroad Company for personal injuries sustained in the auto smash-up near Rochester, Aug. 12, 1910. The ink on the court docket was only dry about three and one-half hours when Mrs. Kelp passed away. - - - She was awarded a verdict of $5,000, but the attorneys for the railroad company asked for a new trial. Thursday the arguments were made and the presiding judge overruled the motion, signing the docket at the close, which was midnight Thursday." - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 16, 1912.

"Last Friday noon we made a little run over to Peru and returned in the evening. - - - On our drive we expected to take in Col. Sol. Hathaway, of Indianapolis, one of the rock-ribed (sic) Hoosier newspaper men, but after putting himself outside of one of Bob Pelkey’s ten pound dinners it was thought unsafe to subject him to a shaking up behind Kratzer’s careering steeds. From the water works we drove across the river to Omer Cole’s (formerly Rettig’s) mammoth brewery, where it is said the purest and best beer in Indiana is manufactured."  The Rochester Sentinel, February 7, 1879

"Dissolution Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing between John B. Eidleman and Geo W. Haslett, in the brewery business in Rochester, has, by mutual consent, been dissolved.... Either member of the late firm are authorized to settle." Rochester Standard, Januarv 6, 1870

"John Adleman, the brewer, and one of his employees, were arrested Saturday for stealing meat from Jake Rannels and chickens from James Elliott." Rochester Union Spy , January 12, 1872

"We have trustworthy information to the effect that the Rochester Brewery is now making a first-rate article of beer." Rochester Union Spy, Thursday, Julv 24, 1873

"John B. Metzger (sic), of Wabash, has bought the old brewery at this place and having refitted it throughout will begin brewing beer next week." - Rochester Sentinel, November 4, 1876.

"The Rochester Brewery is now supplying its several customers with what is pronounced good beer at less than city rates. By all of the home trade patronizing the Rochester Brewery it is estimated that at least $10,000 will be kept within the borders of Fulton county." - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 13, 1877

"The Rochester Brewery is in operation again turning out some fine beer." The Rochester Sentinel, August 2, 1879

"GETS AROUND THE LAW
THE WABASH BREWERY SELLS THROUGH FORT WAYNE MAN.

People Wanting Home Beer Send Orders Here and Delivery is Then Made.

The recent decision of the supreme court, construing the Beardsley law as preventing Indiana breweries from retailing beer, hit the Wabash Brewery rather hard, but through a clever scheme, in which Albert Weber, of this city, acts as agent, the concern expects to still retain its large Wabash trade and not suffer at all as a consequence of this decision. Under the new plan Wabash parties are to give their orders to Mr. Weber, who is the proprietor of the Weber hotel here, and he, in turn, will deliver the goods in Wabash free of charge.

The plan has been broached to the Wabash customers of the company In the following advertisement Inserted in the newspapers there: Wabash Beer For Sale. Since the decision of the supreme court, holding that a brewery cannot sell to a customer, I am buying and will continue to buy beer of the manufacture of the Wabash Brewing company in bottles and cooperage. I am prepared to sell such beer at my licensed place of business at Fort Wayne to you if you should see fit to favor me with your orders which will have my attention. All goods will delivered to you In Wabash free of charge, for delivery. I Have employed Sam Snyder to solicit and collect for me In Wabash. Thanking you In advance for any favors, I beg to remain, Yours respectfully, ALBERT WEBER, Fort Wayne" - Fort Wayne News, Dec 21, 1909

"The former Hammond Brewing located at 548 State Street, West Hammond, has been sold by the Puro Products Co. to Frank Rossello ..." - Lake County Times, Aug 30, 1923.

"The Walker Burt Brewing Company are erecting their ice house and several sheds on Second Street next to the Michigan Central railroad tracks." - The Lake County Times - Fri, Dec 6, 1907