Today is the birthday of Max Helmrich (January 24, 1824-March 24, 1879). Helmrich was born in Germany, but later relocated to Stockton, California, where he opened the Chicago Lager Beer Saloon and ran it for around five years until his premature death at 55 in 1879.

There’s not much information I could find, but this ad from the Daily Evening Herald of Stockton, California on September 13, 1875 is announcing the opening of his brewery saloon.

It appears he also owned another saloon in Stockton, Helmrich’s Weber Avenue Saloon.