Today is the birthday of Rudolf Brand (April 10, 1851-March 25, 1916). He was born in Odenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany. When he was seventeen, in 1868, he emigrated to the U.S., initially to New York, where he worked as a cooper. A few years later he was a foreman at the Busch and Brand brewery in Chicago, Illinois, which was founded by a Michael Brand, who appears to be Rudolf’s uncle. In 1880, he partnered with Ernest (or Ernst) Hummel and founded his own brewery in Chicago, initially known as the Brand (Charles) & Hummel (Ernest) Brewing. A few years after opening, they started trading under the name South Chicago Brewing Co.

The brewery was located at Avenue L and 100th Street. Unfortunately it closed for good in 1922, presumably due to Prohibition.

In May of 1873, he married Clara Sophia Uhlich. The couple had three children two boys and a girl.

He appears to have served as President of the Brewers Association around 1899.